hadhopesofpassingonmuchfarthertothenorth，andmightpossibly，atsomeperiod，findmyselfplaceddirectlyabovethePoleitself。Inowlamentedthatmygreatelevationwould，inthiscase，preventmytakingasaccurateasurveyasIcouldwish。Much，however，mightbeascertained。Nothingelseofanextraordinarynatureoccurredduringtheday。Myapparatusallcontinuedingoodorder，andtheballoonstillascendedwithoutanyperceptiblevacillation。Thecoldwasintense，andobligedmetowrapupcloselyinanovercoat。Whendarknesscameovertheearth，Ibetookmyselftobed，althoughitwasformanyhoursafterwardbroaddaylightallaroundmyimmediatesituation。Thewater-clockwaspunctualinitsduty，andIsleptuntilnextmorningsoundly，withtheexceptionoftheperiodicalinterruption。
“April4th。Aroseingoodhealthandspirits，andwasastonishedatthesingularchangewhichhadtakenplaceintheappearanceofthesea。Ithadlost，inagreatmeasure，thedeeptintofblueithadhithertoworn，beingnowofagrayish-white，andofalustredazzlingtotheeye。Theislandswerenolongervisible；whethertheyhadpasseddownthehorizontothesoutheast，orwhethermyincreasingelevationhadleftthemoutofsight，itisimpossibletosay。Iwasinclined，however，tothelatteropinion。Therimoficetothenorthwardwasgrowingmoreandmoreapparent。Coldbynomeanssointense。Nothingofimportanceoccurred，andIpassedthedayinreading，havingtakencaretosupplymyselfwithbooks。
“April5th。Beheldthesingularphenomenonofthesunrisingwhilenearlythewholevisiblesurfaceoftheearthcontinuedtobeinvolvedindarkness。Intime，however，thelightspreaditselfoverall，andIagainsawthelineoficetothenorthward。Itwasnowverydistinct，andappearedofamuchdarkerhuethanthewatersoftheocean。Iwasevidentlyapproachingit，andwithgreatrapidity。
FanciedIcouldagaindistinguishastripoflandtotheeastward，andonealsotothewestward，butcouldnotbecertain。Weathermoderate。Nothingofanyconsequencehappenedduringtheday。Wentearlytobed。
“April6th。Wassurprisedatfindingtherimoficeataverymoderatedistance，andanimmensefieldofthesamematerialstretchingawayofftothehorizoninthenorth。Itwasevidentthatiftheballoonhelditspresentcourse，itwouldsoonarriveabovetheFrozenOcean，andIhadnowlittledoubtofultimatelyseeingthePole。DuringthewholeofthedayIcontinuedtoneartheice。Towardnightthelimitsofmyhorizonverysuddenlyandmateriallyincreased，owingundoubtedlytotheearth’sformbeingthatofanoblatespheroid，andmyarrivingabovetheflattenedregionsinthevicinityoftheArcticcircle。Whendarknessatlengthovertookme，I