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long and over a hundred feet high. Now, when I was young (I am fifty-eight), and a good deal upon that sea, it was always thought that there was no chance of falling in with ice earlier than quite the end of May, and this was exceptional, the months of July and August being the ice-berg months. (I have seen a large one off the Banks in September.) This early arrival of the northern ice seems to show that the mild winters have extended up even into the Arctic Circle, and points to some real increase in the power or heat of the sun.*

“I have many things I should like to talk over with you, but fear that will never be, unless you are able to come some time and have a few days’ rest and boating with me.”

* I don’t believe it a bit. I think the sun’s going out.-J. R.

[Version 0.04: March 2008]