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?6 Letters written during the late Voyage of Discovery Hitherto all our attention and efforts had been occupied in providing against cold : now we were exposed to great loss from the opposite—fire. About 10 A. M. of Thursday the 24th past, flames were seen to break out from the building erected on the beach, on our arrival in Winter Harbour, to contain the astrono mical clocks, transit-instrument, &c. At this moment the men were taking their usual run round the ships’ decks, and had on warm clothing. When the fire was discovered, men and officers has tened on shore to the house, which was framed of double fir plank, with a stuffing of moss between them. Pulling off’ the roof with ropes, and knocking down part of the sides, snow was thrown in in such quantities as to extinguish the flames before they reached that end where the clocks, &e. were standing in their cases. These were removed, and the ruined part of the building was covered with snow ; and all the most valuable instruments being preserv ed, the search for other articles was put off, until more moderate weather should allow the men to dig among the ruins, without certain injury to their health. While all were employed in quenching the fire, our medical gentlemen were in constant rounds, with several assistants, rubbing with snow the white spots on the faces of those who were busy at the work, to coun teract the frost-bites continually making their appearance. Not withstanding every precaution, however, above twelve ases of frosting were added to the sick in both ships. The most severe sufferer of all was the artillery-soldier of the Hecla, who, with the serjeant, was in the house where the fire began. Anxious to save the dipping needle belonging to that ship, they ran out with it; but the soldier not having time to put on his mittens, in a short time had his fingers so benumbed, that the animation was completely suspended. When taken on board and his hands immersed in a vessel of water, for the purpose of gradually thaw ing them, so intense was the cold in his hands, that tbe surface of the water was immediately covered with a thin coat of ice. You may also judge of the degree of cold in the air, from what 1 have just said, that great as was the heat from the fire, it was not sufficient to prevent a number of those employed in saving the instruments and extinguishing the flames from frost-bites. The misfortune was occasioned as I understand, by some clothes dry ing near the stove, which took fire, and communicated it to the dry matting which lined the sides of the house. The return of the sun has lighted up in us all new prospects, new hopes, and imaginations : but on these topics more correct notions will be contained in my next. In the mean time 1 must bid you adieu. Your’s, &c. &c.