2S in the Western Arctic Sea. occasion. For the greatest heat and the greatest cold are al ways found sometime after the longest and the shortest day ; less snow may therefore be found on the mountains here in the end of July than in the end of August. From the same cause the stream which falls into the sea in the bottom of Possession bay, which, like other arctic streams, is produced by the melting of the snow in the environs, was found to be very low. The mean temperature of the air in the shade at noon was 37° 08'; that of the sea at the surface 32° (>': the barometer stood at 29.505 inches; the wind NW. by W. fresh breeze and fine weather. Pieces of birch bark having been found in the bed of the stream in ISIS, it was supposed to denote the existence of trees of that sort, and perhaps of others in the vicinity. No trees of any kind were however discovered in a walk of about four miles up the stream: the bark, therefore, in question, was undoubtedly conveyed thither by some visitors of the Esquimaux nations, of whom some other memorials were found. The time of high water on full and change of the moon seemed to be at a quarter past 11. A. M. and the rise of the tide on those days may be from six to eight feet. The flood-tide comes from the N. and W. along the coast. In proceeding up the stream, human footsteps were traced as per fect as if they had been impressed but a few days before. On better consideration, however, it seemed beyond a doubt that they had remained from the preceding voyage, when persons belonging to that expedition had traversed the same ground in search of ob jects of natural history. The only animals seen to-day, on shore, were a fox, a raven, some ring-plovers and snow-buntings : a soli tary bee was also observed on the wing. Wherever moisture pre vailed, tufts of grass and some other plants were found in plenty: but the only growth of the tree kind was the creeping, ground, or dwarf willow, the thickest of which did not exceed a finger. The rocks consisted of basalt and granite; but in the valley were many loose fragments of limestone. The water near the shore of the bay deepens rapidly; for the depth was fourteen fathoms, on a sandy bottom, within the length of a cable or 120 fathoms of the beach. The flag staff erected on Possession mount was still entire ; but a pile of stones was collected on the side of the stream, at a sufficient distance back from the shore, under which was placed a bottle with a paper containing the date and the names of the ships and the commanders. The boats are now returned from the shore, and all hands are preparing for our eventful attempt to penetrate Lancaster’s Sound. I must therefore bid you all adieu for some little time to come. Ever Your’s, &c. Ac.