been doubled; so that, thus secured, she became almost as capable of resisting outward pressure as a solid block of oak. Having thus strengthened this floating fortress against the fierce assaults of the Giant Frost, we turned to look how they had stored it to withstand the beleaguering siege of—it may be—a two or three years’ Arctic winter. Here we found an ample field for wonder and admiration. Surely human ingenuity and ships’ stowage were never better displayed. Every inch of space had been made the most of. In the centre of the vessel were her engines, cased round with iron, so that outside them could be stowed away no less than 85 tons of patent compressed fuel to feed the fires. Thus surrounded, the engines were literally bedded in a small coal-mine, for their own consumption. The danger to be apprehended from the close contiguity of so much combustible material to the engine-fire is obviated, in case of accident, by eight pumps on the decks and two patent pumps below, besides others in the engine-rooms. There are fourteen pumps altogether, which can be handled in case of fire or leakage. Some of these are worked by the engine, some are placed in warm berths below, so that the men may have exercise at them without exposure on deck. Nearly all these pumps work independently of each other, so that if one is deranged, it does not hurt the rest. The question as to how the ship is to be kept warm?—was answered by our being conducted deep down into the hold; there we found a patent stove, so constructed that pure air was admitted by pipes to its neighbourhood, and being heated there was passed through other pipes through all parts of the ship, until having lost much of its heat and more of its purity, it was allowed to escape, and was replaced by another stream of pure air to be warmed, and used and replaced again; so on from day to day while the ships remained in the ice. This warming apparatus, the 85 tons of fuel, the four years’ provisions, and the Bolton and Watt’s engines occupied, in spite of the most perfect stowage, so much room, that it was puzzle to know where the water was stowed. It was, however, explained that 85 tons of coal round the engine is not all that must go. The ship will take 200 tons of coal altogether, but won’t want much water room, for along with the engine is a contrivance for melting ice for use whilst the ships are locked in. The salt sea there is a surface of ice that comes direct from Heaven. The snow is not salted, and the fires will melt the snow-made-ice for the ship’s use.