it aground even in nine fathom water, yet none of it bore marks of being more than one season old; and from the heights of land they could discern lanes of open water outside, so that a ship, properly strengthened for such a voyage, could make way through it with a favouring breeze. Throughout the whole line of coast they had regular tides, the flood setting from the eastward; the rise and fall being from a foot to twenty inches. In the Dolphin and Union Straits, the current, in the height of flood and ebb, exceeded two miles an hour. They found drift timber every where, and a large portion of it, on many parts of the coast, lay in a line from ten to fifteen, and in some places upwards of twenty feet above the ordinary spring-tide watermark, apparently thrown up by a heavy sea. The coast, in such places, was unprotected by islands; and the inference is, that in some seasons at least, if not every year, there exists a long fetch of open water. After the first rapid, in the Coppermine river, Dr. Richardson's party abandoned the boats, with the remainder of their cargoes of provision, iron-work, beads, &c. to the first party of Esquimaux which should chance to pass that way; and on the 10th of August set out by land, with ten days' provisions, and their personal baggage reduced to a single blanket and a few spare mockasins, that they might travel as lightly as possible; and, further to reduce the men's loads, the tents were left behind, and Mr. Kendall carried the astronomical instruments. They reached the eastern end of Bear Lake, at the influx of Dease's river, on the 18th, and remained there until the evening of the 24th, before the boats arrived to convey them to Fort Franklin. The person to whom the boats were entrusted, and who was sent off from Fort Franklin on the 6th of August, with the necessary supplies, and the strictest injunctions from Mr. Dease to use diligence in get ting to the river, did not arrive on the latest day appointed for his appearance (the 20th), from a vague belief that Dr. Richardson's party would never return, and that he should make a needless voyage, and remain long waiting for them in vain. He therefore loitered by the way; and after the 20th Dr. Richardson was obliged to distribute his party into hunting and fishing groups, to procure subsistence. In these operations they were tolerably successful; and they also obtained supplies from a tribe of Indians, so that they had abundance. Dr. Richardson was not able to collect his party for embarkation until the evening of the 28th; and they reached the fort, after an absence from it of seventy-one days, the whole party in perfect health, and more fit, with regard to bodily strength, to undertake a similar expedition than they were at setting out.- Lit. Gazette. Astronomical Occurrences In OCTOBER 1828. SOLAR PHENOMENA. THE Sun enters Scorpio at 32m. after 10 in the morning of the 23d of this month; and he will be eclipsed early in the morning of the 9th; but the eclipse will be invisible in this country. The conjunction will take place at 184 m. past 0 in the morning, in longitude 6 s. 15° 40'; Moon's latitude 6 south. The Sun will be centrally eclipsed on the meridian between 12 and 1 in the morning, in longitude 174° 6 east, and latitude 13° 7' south. The Sun will also rise and set, during the same interval, as in the following TABLE Of the Sun's Rising and Setting for every fifth Day. October 1st, Sun rises 12 m. after 6. Sets 48 m. after 5 '6th 11th TOT 16th 21st 26th 31st .... ...... ...... 9...... Equation of Time. By employing the Equation of Time, as directed in the following Table, the time which should be indicated by a well-regulated clock will be found from that given by a good sun-dial: viz. TABLE Of the Equation of Time for every fifth Day. m. 8. Wednesday, Oct.1st, from the time by the dial sub. 10 25 Monday. .... ..... Tuesday 21st Sunday... 26th ..... Friday ...... 31st 11 55 13 15 14 24 15 18 15 56 16 15 Moon's Passage over the Meridian. The Moon will pass the first meridian at the following times this month, which will afford opportunities for observation, if the weather prove favourable: viz. October 1st, at 23 m. after 6 in the morning Time of High Water at London for every fifth Day. The tide will be at its height at London Bridge at the following times during this month; and those for the intermediate days may be found by proportion, as well as the times of High Water at several other places, by employing the numbers given at p. 19, as there directed. PHENOMENA PLANETARUM. Phases of Venus. This beautiful planet still shines with great brightness; and the following is the proportion of her phases: viz. Illuminated part = 5.64939 October 1st Dark part .... = 6.35061 Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites. None of these eclipses are visible this month. Form of Saturn's Ring. Transverse axis = 1.000 0.360 Conjunction of the Moon with the Planets and Stars. October 16th, with 8 in Capricorn at 10 in the evening. Other Phenomena. Georgium Sidus will be stationary on the 5th of this month; and be in quadrature at a quarter past 9 in the evening of the 21st. Venus will attain her greatest elongation on the 7th, and Mercury on the 23d. Saturn will also be in quadrature at 11 in the morning of the 27th. Venus will be in conjunction with a in Leo, at 1 in the afternoon of the 7th. To the Occurrences of this month, we shall subjoin the following beautiful and poetical description of the southern hemisphere, from the Pelican Island:' Night, silent, cool, transparent, crowned the day; The STARS came lower down to meet the eye, On silver pinions, winged her peaceful way; The Naturalist's Diary For OCTOBER 1828. The SWALLOW. The visitress of man, on earth She resteth not her flagging wing, But seeks at once the blessed roof To which, in youth, she loved to cling. She feedeth not on earthly food, But, glancing through the sunny sky, Seems from the very element To gather immortality. For who hath ever found her grave, Her flight is won: but hath she left No treasure to reward her host, Yes: she hath shown him constant love, Literary Souvenir. |