Add To This, That She Is Built Of Iron, - That Is To Say, An Iron Sheet Of About Two Centimbtres Thick Constitutes All Her Planking, - And That Her Deck - Divided Into Twelve Great Panels, Is So Weak That It Has Been Thought Incapable Of Carrying Guns Proportioned To Her Tonnage.

Those who have seen the massive vessels of the fishermen of Peterhead, their enormous outside planking, their bracings and

Fastenings in wood and in iron, and their internal knees and stancheons, may form an idea from such precautions - imposed by long experience of the nature of the dangers that the shock - or even the pressure of the ice - may cause to a ship in the latitudes that we were going to explore.

The 'Cocyte' had also been placed at the disposal of H.I.H. Prince Napoleon. This vessel which arrived at Reykjavik the same day that we did, the 30th of June - is a steam schooner, with paddles, standing the sea well, carying coals for twelve days, but with a deplorably slow rate of speed.

We found besides at Reykjavik the war transport 'La Perdrix' and two English merchant steamers, the 'Tasmania and the 'Saxon,' freighted by the Admiralty to take to Iceland coals necessary for our voyage to Greenland. These five vessels, with the frigate 'Artemise,' which performed he duties of guardship, formed the largest squadron which had ever assembled in the harbour of the capital of Iceland.

Unfortunately, these varied and numerous elements had nothing in common, and Commodore de la Ronciere soon saw that extraneous help would afford us no additional security; and, in short, that the 'Refine Bortense' - obliged to go fast - as her short supplies would not allow long voyages, had to reckon on herself alone.

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