Messrs. Giffard and Symons, Printing Office, Trap Lane. THURSDAY POPS. H.M.S. "ALERT." January 20th, 1876. GRAND PHANTASMAGORIAL EXHIBITION and MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT. To commence with A FEW WORDS ON ASTRONOMY, by Com. Markham, Illustrated by the aid of a magic lantern. To be followed by a series of DISSOLVING VIEWS, Consisting of coloured representations of Remarkable places in England, Photographic sketches of foreign countries, etc. After which, the wonderful and startling adventures of SINDBAD THE SAILOR Will be related by the Rev. H. W. Pullen. In the next place Com. Markham will give a life-like and entertaining display of various specimens in NATURAL HISTORY; and Lieut. Aldrich will recite the true and touching TALE OF A TUB. To conclude with some highly amusing COMIC SCENES. To commence at 7.30 precisely. God save the Queen. Messrs. Giffard and Symons, Printing Office, Trap Lane. These amusements may be considered light and frivolous, for men engaged in such a serious undertaking as that upon which we were embarked; still they all tended to one point--namely, the successful issue of the enterprise. For they kept the minds of the men employed with pleasant and agreeable thoughts, drove away all feelings of tedium and dulness, and thus assisted largely in promoting the general well-being and satisfactory sanitary condition of the expedition during the long night of nearly one hundred and fifty days. They effectually banished despondency, and assisted in making all hands cheerful, happy, and contented. FOOTNOTES: [1] Lieutenant Giffard and Robert Symons, A.B. [2] Petersen, the Danish interpreter, and the ship's cook Dominick a native of Gibraltar. CHAPTER XV. WINTER OCCUPATIONS AND AMUSEMENTS. "Darkness, Light's eldest brother, his birthright Claimed o'er this world, and to heaven chased light." DONNE. "Behold the wandering moon Riding near her highest noon, Like one that hath been led astray Through the heavens' wide pathless way; And oft as if her head she bowed, Stooping through a fleecy cloud." MILTON.