about the same height, the mountains very precipitous, and terminating in ragged peaks. We continued our course to the northward, as the winds and ice permitted, keeping on the edge of the main west ice, which we found tending to N. E. On the 8th, in lat. 68. 20, long 55. 50. a few leagues off the Greenland coast, we were so hemmed in with ice on all sides that we could not run through; a fine S. W. gale was blowing, and we were obliged to tack about where we could find room. On the 9th, we made fast to an ice berg aground in 38 fathoms, about a mile off shore. The mode of anchoring to ice is very easy, the boat goes a-head with the anchors, and fixes them before the ship approaches, when ready the ship stands in and makes fast, bow to the ice, a low berg that the bowsprit lays over is preferred, and aground if it can be had. On the 10th, we were obliged to get under way, a small change of wind setting a large body of ice upon us; we continued plying where we could find open water, and fell in with a whaler, the first we had seen, who informed us that none of the whale ships had been able to get past 70 deg.; that the ice to the northward was still fast. On the 14th, called at the Whale Islands, where there is a Danish factory. The Danish Resident came on board; from him we could get little information, except that the preceding winter had been very severe. On the 16th, we reached to 70. 39. N. no clear water to be seen northward, made fast to an ice berg, about a mile off the N. W. end of Waygat or Hare Island. We found here most of the whale-fishers waiting for an opening to go north, the fishery to the southward having failed this season. Waygat is eight or nine miles long, twelve or fifteen hundred feet high, uninhabited, some of the rocks basaltic. Coal is found near the surface on the N. E. part of the island. Some grouse were shot, the cock perfectly white, the hen not unlike that of Scotland. I saw one hare pure white. On the 20th, the ice opened a little to the northward, when we began to warp and tow the ship through the slack, the winds light and variable, and frequent calms. On the 26th, were only twenty miles from Waygat, where we got into a piece of clear water that carried us to the land ice on the north side of Jacob's Bight, latitude 70. 24. We found ourselves in 54. 17. W. per lunars, which agreed well with chronometers. We swung the ship, and took azimuths on board at every four points. Corresponding azimuths were taken, at the same time on the ice. The observations were not taken in so correct a manner as might be done to form a just estimate of the deviation of the compass by ship's attraction. The idea here at present is, that the compasses are not attracted in a line with the ship, but obliquely. From my own observation, I find that the bearings. of distant objects with the ship's head north and south correspond, which would not be the case if the attraction of the ship was [Nov. 1, not fore and aft, but athwart. The azimuths taken with the ship's head north or south generally agree. It is supposed likewise that the error arising from the ship's attraction has increased with the variation and dip. As there were no observations made before leaving England on the ship's attraction, we must have patience until the variation is again decreased. I think that the error has been constant the whole voyage. The ship's head at West gives, according to my own observation, an increase of variation 16 deg.; at East a decrease of 16 deg. On the 27th, we cast off from the ice with the prospect of an opening, and cruized about in a narrow pool till the 2d of July, when a fine fresh breeze opened a passage for us. On the 3d, we were in 71. 30.; on the 4th, 72. 30.; on the 7th, in lat. 74. were again obstructed by ice, the bergs and flaws much heavier than those hitherto seen. We are now in the same place that Baffin, two hundred years ago, anchored : we find the Three Islands just as he describes them; he makes them in 74. 4.; we make them 74. 14. Baffin gives an honest account of them. We stretched to the westward on the 9th and 10th, but found the sea all fast. We are now in daily expectation of the wind shifting to the N. E. and blowing strong, which is the only thing that will do us good. It is strange that, at the same time of the year, almost to a day, Baffin should have been stopped by ice in the same place; he likewise stood west without finding clear sea; his account takes him to 78. N. but he does not say he was at the top of the bay, or saw land there. Our voyage hitherto has been very pleasant: since the middle of June we have had very fine weather, the thermometer in sun 76.; sometimes in the shade it is at a mean about 33. or 34., sometimes below the freezing point. For five or six weeks we have only had occasion to take in the first reef once. The water is as smooth as a mill pond all weathers. We have scarcely seen rain; our changes of weather are from cloudy to thick fogs, and sometimes light falls of snow. Sometimes the sun shines unclouded the whole 24 hours. We have only seen two whales, and have only heard of one being killed since we have been here; they are all north of us. Bears are as scarce; one has been seen. great number of the gull tribe have been shot, and we sometimes procure a mess of eider ducks; seals are more abundant, but we don't trouble them. The coast of Greenland, where we saw it, to the southward of 704. is higher than to the northward of that latitude. Here the coast consists of many high, bold, bluff-like head-lands, which, closer to, are found to be islands. The main land is one continued ridge of smooth snow, which appears like a cloud. I suppose the ground has not been uncovered since the flood. The islands in general are clear of snow. There are no inhabitants to the north of 72. 30. on this coast. We had Α some of the natives on board from 68. 30., 704. and 724,; they are all the same people, the women dressed in the same manner as the men, only their hair tied on the crown of their head, and a small sort of peak on the fore and after part of their jackets. We have been so anxious to get on the more interesting part of our voyage, that little attention has been paid to the natives here. The most astonishing thing to be seen here are the ice bergs; their size and number surpassing fancy. From the 65th degree to this, the sea is literally covered with bergs, and we see no end to them; where they are generated is yet unknown to us; it is not in 74. or to the southward on this coast. That they are formed on the land is certain, from the many stones of great size which are seen; some of them are covered with sand and dirt, others have regular strata of sand and stones running through them horizontally. They are of all forms; generally they have a high cleft on one side, and shelve down to the water on the other; some exceed two hundred feet perpendicular all round. Loose or stream ice consists of pieces about the size of an acre and under; about a foot above the surface, when it is blown together by strong winds, one piece is edged up on the top of another; it is then called packed ice, or a pack. Flaws are large pieces of field ice. The ice generally drifts with the wind, though a current must set southward, or how would the bergs find their way south? We have not been able to detect any current. The flood tide sets here from southward. In At Waygat we had a rise and fall of seven feet at spring tides. Where the ice bergs drift into shallow water (that is to say 150 fathoms or under) they ground, and obstruct the passage of the smaller ice, and form barriers which it is difficult to pass. In 68. there is a reef, in 704. another, in 74. another, generally found full of ice by the fishers: we have found it the same. standing a few leagues from land we find 85 fathoms here, closer on 150, 90, and so on. The water runs in small streams from the bergs, so we have no difficulty in getting it. I am now more sanguine of getting a long way north and west than I was at the first of the voyage. I am of opinion that the ice will clear away, and that very soon. The small ice has been for some time consuming fast, and will be all dissolved the end of this month, even without wind to break it. July 18.-Yesterday an opening in the ice enabled us to get to 74. 43. when we were again stopped the ice here much heavier and in fields. We are at present fast to a field, in thick fog, which freezes as it falls, and covers every thing with ice. When at the Three Islands, we made some further observations on the bearings of distant objects by compass, and found changes of bearings of three points at east and west 335 The compasses for some time have traversed very sluggisly: this, we suppose, is owing to the increase of dip. I think it not at all improbable that, as the terrestrial magnetism begins to act more inclined to the compass needle, it will act with less force-the iron of the ship still acting at the same angle, draws the needle towards the centre of the ship, which causes this great deviation of the compass; and should we reach the place where the dip is 90, I think the compass will stand always north and south by the magnetism of the ship. We did not speak the Leith ship; this must therefore take its chance of any craft. The description of Greenland, given in Dr. Brewster's Encyclopædia, is so correct, that no one need add any thing more on that subject, until the face of the country is again changed. I had picked up some stones from the different parts where we touched for Dr. B.; but having since read the article Greenland in his book, I find that he knows more than a ship load could tell him.*-We have been unfortunate in killing animals, so that I have got no crystalline lenses for him. I bespoke some eyes of whales from the fishers, but the chance of their killing fish, or of our falling in with them again, is doubtful. If we fall in with a Leith ship, I will send the stones. July 22.-Yesterday we got an opening, which brought us to the 75th degree. The whales begin to make their appearance, several having been killed within these eight days. The mainland appears one continued smooth ridge of snow, only here and there the black peak of a mountain appearing; some large islands on the coast less covered with snow; the land ice extends three or four leagues off, so there is no prospect of approaching the coast hereabouts. We sound occasionally from 200 to 400 fathoms soft mud and small stones. Three days we were beset in the ice; could not observe any current, by the lead lying at the bottom, though the ice on the surface was in motion. July 25. Lat. 75. 21. long. 60. 30.Got here this morning, and now see more clear water than we have seen for some time past. We must now be crossing the magnetic pole fast, as the variation increases so much. It is puzzling to find out exactly how the ship is steering by the compass; what with the great variation and error, arising from the ship's attraction, and the sluggish traversing of the compasses, we must consider some time before a course or wind can properly be named. We are now the northermost ship, and have made fast to the ice, on purpose to send away a few letters. The fish are turning so very plenty, that all the ships are employed, and *The article " Greenland," was written by Sir Charles Giesecké, who spent seven years in that country. will probably proceed no further north this I am, &c. P.S. While writing these last lines the ice has closed all round us and fast to the northward. You may guess how fickle it is. We are now about three miles off a small rocky island in 270 fathoms mud; the island four or five leagues from the main land, and ice connecting it. The temperature of the water to-day is 36 degrees higher than it has been for some weeks. We see land bearing N.W. by W. true. One branch of the Expedition to the Arctic regions has failed, in the unexpected return of the Dorothea, Captain Buchan, and her consort, the Trent sloop, Lieut. Franklyn, without having accomplished the object of their mission. It appears, that the highest latitude the ships ever attained was about 80. 30. long. 12. east. They attempted proceeding to the westward; but as in the case of Capt. Phipps, late Lord Mulgrave, in the Racehorse, in 1773, they found an impenetrable barrier of ice. The ships proceeded nearly over the same space as Capt. Phipps did, and met with similar impediments as experienced by that officer. One of them had been in imminent danger of being crushed to [Nov. 1, atoms, with all on board, between two ice-bergs. They approached so close in their passage that they lifted the vessel entirely out of the water. Her irons were forced, her ribs brokea, and it is with great difficulty that she has reached the coast in her miserably shattered state. These are the ships which were equipped with a view to their reaching the Pole, and entering the Pacific Ocean by the North-east. Their failure will probably be a much greater disappointment to the public than that of the other expedition will be, supposing the crew to return safely, as their success was expected with more interest; for surely a clear knowledge of the many circumstances which must have been learned during a passage over the Pole, is more important to the world than a possibility of finding a north-west passage to China. The latter, as a matter of curiosity is little, and as an affair of commerce is nothing; since a passage, effected in a season chosen for its acknowledged peculiarity, and by vessels prepared at the public expense, on that service alone, will be unlikely to become a beneficial example to any commercial adventurer. The chance of success, it would seem, was also greater in the case of the Polar Expedition than of the other, as it would be under no necessity to diverge from the widest, and therefore the freest sea it could find. NEW INVENTIONS AND PATENTS. The following is the detail of the method adopted by the patentee in the application of his principles at Covent Garden Theatre. "The first point being the complete ventilation of the Theatre, I shall begin by describing the means employed for that purpose. "A patent Calorifere Fumivore Ventilating Furnace is erected behind the lower gallery, which draws off the air from the back of the three first tiers of boxes. The fire acts upon twelve pipes of seven inches diameter each, and ten feet in length, unit ing in a single one of two feet diameter. A rarefaction is produced in these pipes, and the flame and smoke having passed through, are evaporated by a large tube, enveloping that in which the air from the boxes is carried off, and which not only continues, but augments the rarefaction, and quickens "At first the ventilation was effected by steam, but afterwards the heat of the gas was substituted, and the chandelier in the centre made the agent for conducting it. "Thus all air which is in any way vitiated is constantly carried off during the performance. It remains now to explain how this is replaced. The pressure of the atmosphere acting with greater force upon 1818.] New Inventions and Patents: the interior, in consequence of this constant evaporation, the audience would be exposed to the most dangerous currents, if precautions were not taken to regulate the temperature in every part of the house, according to the degree of the external cold. At every entrance, therefore, communicating with the outward air, a furnace has been placed si milar to that before mentioned. These are lighted as occasion requires, whenever the exterior temperature is below 50; but their power may be lessened or increased at pleasure, according to the state of the weather. Three or four hours in the day are usually the time required to give a moderate warmth throughout, or to raise the temperature in any particular situation. When the fire is out, warm air will continue to issue from the furnace till every particle of heat has been extracted from the pipes.There are times, however, when it is not necessary to light the furnaces, and yet an augmentation of heat in the corridores is still required; with this view, therefore, Caforifere stoves have been placed in the Shakspeare room, saloons, and the corridores, which produce a quantity of warm air sufficient to maintain an equality of temperature, even in excessive cold weather. The fresh air which supplies the place of that evaporated, will therefore, even in winter, be always at from 55 to 60, so as to prevent any danger from sudden transitions by the opening of doors or otherwise. But it was not sufficient thus to provide the means of maintaining the temperature of the corridores nearly at 60 degrees; it was necessary also to regulate the admission of air into the boxes, to lessen the draught of air on opening the doors, and to supply constantly, for respiration, fresh air, instead of that which was carried off by ventilation. This is done by numerous small apertures, which render the air vent insensible, and as the air is always at the above degree, the sensation thus produced is agreeable, and totally free from inconvenience. 66 Equal care has been taken to maintain the same degree of temperature on the stage, and the different passages to it." New Invention for determining Latitude, &c.-Mr. HUNTER, of Edinburgh, has invented an instrument of great importance in navigation. From two altitudes of the sun, and the interval of time between the observations, he can determine within five minutes after the second observation the latitude of the place, the hour from noon, and the variation of the compass. According to the common form of calculation for double altitudes, the latitude by account is supposed to be known, which in the use of this instrument is not necessary. Mr. 3. Cross, of Glasgow Observatory, attests, that he has tried it in several instances, and always found its results NEW MONTHLY MAG.--No, 58. 337 very near the truth. If a vessel were driven from her course by storms or lost, and the mariner could not get a currents; if the reckoning was altogether meridian observation; with this instrument, and a chronometer, he could in a few minutes after the second observation ascertain his position on the ocean with accuracy. Mr. JOHN BELL, millwright and engineer, of Romsey, has invented a most useful scaling ladder to be used in cases of fire. accompany any fire-engine, will lie to It works on wheels, so as to rails, so that any person can descend by, any angle, extend to any height, and has be favoured with a description of this it with safety.-[We should be glad to important invention.] Mr. W. ANNESLEY has obtained a patent in this country and America for building vessels on namely, by alternate layers of planks, a new principle, the grain of which passes from stein to the vessel from one gunwale to another. stern; and by other layers passing under These are tree-nailed, or bolted together, without timbers, knees, breast hooks, or stern; and without metal below, except a few bolts in the keel, and the rudder irons. The planks are all let into mortices, the cutwater, keel and stern-post, being all added after the hull of the vessel is in other respects complete. He enumerates a great many advantages which, he says, must result from his system of building, such as increased strength, capability, buoyancy, swiftness in sailing, tightness, &c. The co Experiments on the Bilberry, and on of wine, M. Vogel remarks, that of all 2 X to give them a red colour, none of them form with the acetate of lead a greenish grey precipitate, which is the colour that is procured from the genuine red wines. Wines coloured by the juice of the bilberry, by elder, or by Campeachy wood, form with acetate of lead a precipitate of a deep blue colour. Fernanbouc, red saunders, and the red beet, produce a colour which is precipitated red, by the acetate of lead. When wine is coloured merely by beet, it may be rendered entirely colourless by lime-water, but the weakest acid will bring back the colour; it may be reproduced even by blowing into the fluid through a tube. As the colouring matter of red wines is supposed to reside principally in the skin of the grape, the author prepared a quantity of the skins, and reduced them to powder. In this state he found that they were not soluble in ether, but that they communicated to alcohol a deep red colour; a paper stained with this colour was rendered red by acids, and green by alkalies. M. Vogel informs us, that he made a quantity of red wine from black grapes, for the purpose of his experiments, and that this produced the greyish green precipitate with the acetate of lead; he also found the same coloured precipitate in two specimens of red wine, the genuineness of which could not be suspected, the one from Chateau-Marguaux, and the other from the neighbourhood of Coblentz. Captain F. I. THOMAS R. N. has invented a life-boat (to pull and sail at the average rate) with three keels; the two outer support the bilge, and will prevent the vessel from upsetting or sinking.Captain Thomas intends making experiments with his boat during his stay at Portsmouth. A new method of shoeing horses has been introduced. It consists of two pieces joined by a hinge, which is defended by a strong steel-headed rivet, and by adapting itself to the expansion [Nov 1, of the foot, is intended to prevent contraction. New Patents. THOMAS MACHELL, of Great Ryder Street, in the parish of St. James, Westminster, Surgeon; for his improved me thod of applying for medicinal purposes the agency of atmospheric air, liquid, or gaseous substances to the external sur face, and to some of the internal cavities and passages of the human body, and for the more convenient and useful mode of employing oil and spirits, on similar principles, in lamps and other luminous apparatus.-August 24, 1818. JOHN BENNET, of Manchester, Lan cashire, Shopkeeper; for certain improvements in filtering vessels, and in the filtering medium thereof.-August 31, 1818. JOSEPH BOWYER, of Kidderminster, Worcester, Carpet-manufacturer; for an improvement in the machinery for making Brussels and cut pile, commonly called Wilton carpeting, figured rugs, and imperial rugs.-August 31, 1818. RICHARD GREEN, of Lisle-street, Leicester-square, Middlesex, Sadler's Ironmonger; for an improvement upon the spring billet for harness, and the application thereof, to bridles, heads, and reins, bits, sword-hilts, gun-springs, and other purposes.-August 31, 1818. WILLIAM SALISBURY, of Brompton, Middlesex, Botanist; for a machine or implement for the purpose of preparing hemp, flax, and other vegetable fibrous substances; partly communicated to him by a foreigner in the service of his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Russia, and partly of his own invention.-Aug31, 1818. FREDERICK DIZE, of Crabtree, Fub ham, Middlesex; for an improvement on musical wind-instruments, of a certain description.-August 31, 1818. HENRY STUBBS, of St. James's-street, Westminster, Blind-manufacturer; for a moveable heel for boots, shoes, or other purposes.--Sept. 7, 1818. DRAMATIC REGISTER. COVENT GARDEN. WE certainly do not repent of having delayed our criticism upon the performances of Mr. Farren, as we have now had an opportunity of witnessing a full display of his comic abilities, in a great variety of characters, which although in some measure of an uniform style, have yet afforded full scope for the exercise of very extraordinary talent in that peculiar cast of character which we have long regretted, and the restoration of which we hail with feelings of genuine satisfaction. The cha racters of Lord Ogleby and Sir Peter Teazle are very nearly assimilated to each other in many respects. The selfconceited dotard is the object of con |