Saturday 23 November 1839

Fine morning Fahrenheit 62 1/2 on my bedroom table at 9 5/60 breakfast at 9 1/4

And about 9 1/2 Mr. de Richter came and brought Ann the 19 nos. of Demidoff's work on South Russia for which paid him 15/- to pay Urbin - could not yet take anything for the 6 lessons he had given 3 Russian to me and 3 botanical to Ann and me - he proposed my subscribing, instead of giving to him, the money to the horticultural society here and becoming a member and having a diploma - to pay (subscribe) 100/- per annum - I fought off this on account of the difficulty of paying annual subscriptions - he mentioned a young Russian student who if he had not other views, would be at liberty the end of May next and might suit us as a compagnon de voyage - a natural history student æt 20 - speaks well French and English and a little German - I said he had best bring him here without saying anything to commit either party d'avance - Mr. de Richter staid till 10 3/4 I then finished breakfast and wrote the above of this morning till now 11 1/4

Then trying on cap got second pother about it

Thought of going tonight chez les Goudovich - then give it up on seeing the day promising snow this evening - out at 12 5/60 - walked Ann and I 3 turns together, and then I one turn alone, she above an hour and I 1 20/60 hour and came in at 1 35/60

Then studying the Russian Road book Count Panin gave me till now 3 5/60

Vide St. James's Chronicle of September 12 to 14 page 3. column 4. page 252 Antarctic Expedition Quoted from the Literary Gazette - the 2 ships seemed to have sailed the very beginning of September - the 2 so much alike, difficult to know one from the other - Erebus about 370 tons - Terror about 340 tons - in each the full complement of officers and men = 64 therefore the 2 ships = 128 - each carries 6 guns i.e. four six-pounders and two salute guns - 'the warming apparatus is a square iron tube, above a foot in diameter, running all round the sides, and distributing a comfortable warmth to every berth in the ship' - victualled for 3 years with fresh provisions 'and pemmacan and prepared meats in cases' 'the phenomena of terrestrial magnetism will be independently observed throughout the voyage; and also in connection with the new observatories about to be established', vide Literary Gazette, 'at St. Helena, the Cape, Van Diemens Land, &c. the declination, inclination, and intensity of the magnet, will thus form tables of the utmost importance towards solving this great problem, the declination instrument, the horizontal and the vertical force magnetometers, are constructed under the direction of Professor Lloyd of Dublin; there are besides, dip circles, transits with azimuth circles, and chronometers of the most approved construction there are also pendulums for ascertaining the true figure of the earth, thermometers for determining the temperature of the sea at given depths; other blackened thermometers to measure the atmospheric temperature at different latitudes; photometric sensitive paper for experiments on light; barometers to be observed during storms, white squalls, &c.; glasses for sideral obseervations (particularly on the variable stars a Hydra and Argus); drawing utensils; repositories for geological, botanical, and natural history specimens; actinometers for finding the forces of solar and terrestrial radiation; hygrometers, Osler's anemometers, rain guages [sic], electrometers, skeleton registers of every needful kind; and in short, such means to employ, and so much to be done, that will be no great leisure for our enterprising countrymen when all these instruments are put in requisition, and their results are regularly chronicled for the information of the world'. ....... they 1st. go to 'St. Helena where Lieutenant Eardley Wilmot, of the Royal Engineers, will be left in charge of the new observatory Next, at the Cape, will be landed for the like purpose, another officer, the vessels then make their way across the ocean, touching at and examining Kerguelen's Land, Amsterdam, and other islands, either known or imperfectly reported in that vast expanse of waters. Arrived at Van Dieman's Land, the instruments, &c. for the observatory will be sent ashore, and whilst it is erecting they will cruise to various points where the scientific pursuits of the expedition are most likely to be advanced. On their return, they will start de novo in a direct southern course, between 120 degrees and 160 degrees East longitude towards the Antarctic Pole; and it is a singular and fortunate thing that in this direction, during the present season, a ship of Mr. Enderby's has discovered land on both sides of the longitude we have indicated in about 65 and 68 degrees of South latitude.(c) these shores have been named Sabrina Land, seen March 1839, and Balleny Isle, seen February 1839; and between them as well as upon them, the efforts of the Erebus and Terror will, in the 1st. instance, be employed .... they will afterwards circumnavigate the Pole, and try in every quarter to reach the highest point, whether near Enderby's Land, discovered in 1832, or by Captain Weddell's furthest reach, about 73 degrees in 1823.' 

'It is between Sabrina Land and Balleney Isle, to the northward, in about latitude 50 degrees, and East longitude 140 degrees, that it is expected the South magnetic pole will be found ...... the vessels on the plan which divides them into 3 compartments; so that either extremely or the middle might be stove in, and yet the remainder be a safe hold for the crew. (α)'

'(c) of these recent discoveries in the Southern hemisphere, Mr. Bates, of the Poultry, has just published an excellent chart, under the superintendence of Captain Beaufort. they appear like the pillars of a gateway, between which the expedition should pass. Editor L. G. i.e. editor of the Literary Gazette'

'(α) *** The pumps fitted are those of Massie's patent. the weather-deck is also doubled with 3 inch fir-plank, with fear-nought dipped in tallow, laid between them'

Had just written so far at 4 20/60 - then till 5 40/60 talking to Ann or writing a little of rough draft of letter to Mr. Parker then dressed - dinner at 6 1/4 in 1/2 hour - then at Russian grammar till 7 1/2

Off at 7 35/60 to the Orousoff's - Princess Radzivill better tonight - Count Kutaitsoff there and Prince Michel Orousoff, arrived from St. Petersburg, came and about 9 1/2 Countess Kutaitsoff with the 2 children from a child's ball - the old Princess Orousoff always kind asked us to dine there tomorrow her husband's birthday - Miss Delamine there as usual

We came away as they all sat down to supper - home at 10 1/2 - fine day tho' a little small crystalline snow as we walked today - Reamur -2 + Fahrenheit 28 tonight at 10 40/60 p.m. - Fahrenheit 64 1/2 on my bedroom table now at 12 25/60 tonight. 

WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/23/0132, SH:7/ML/E/23/0133 & SH:7/ML/E/23/0134