The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-25 00:00:00

2HE SPITZBERGEN EXPEDITION.

The following particulars of the intended expe-
dition to the North, via Spitzbergen, appear in the
Field :—" Two vessels are freighted—a large one,
a rather poor schooner ; and a sloop, a little smaller
than the schooner, clumsy and heavy, like a Dutch-
man. According to the plan arranged both the
vessels aro to accompany each other to Klevenkiff,
at the north-western corner of Spitzbergen, or
some other place, convenient for the enterprise
of the expedition, as far north as can be at
first reached without being impeded by ice.
The intention is to get as near the Pole as possible
on the frozen Arctic Ocean. Much honour is
to be gained, and science may have indescribable
benefit from this undertaking, if all turns out as
wished. Three iceboats (English) will accom-
pany them, which, being furnished with sledges,
will be ab'e to do good service both in sledging on
the ice and sailing in open water. No less than 40
dogs have been procured with much trouble, five of
the Esquimauxbreed, the only ones remaining from
a great number which were brought home by Mr.
Torrell, the leader of the expedition, from his travels
in Greenland ; the others have been bought in
Namdal and in East Finmark. ' The town is
swarming,' says the letter from Tromso, ' with the
shabby:looking animals.' The crews of both the
vessels are to join in the first sledging tour for
carrying the provisions and other stores, only a
small part of which can be taken in the two dog-
sledges which are to partake in the really bold' trip
to the Pole,' so that it is highly necessary to have
stores laid up in some safe place that may be de-
pended upon for the journey home. When ono
sledge is returned to the vessels the sloop will pro-
ceed southwards to examine the fjords on the
western side of the island, go round the southern
point into the large fjord, and if possible push on
eastward through Thym Fjord towards Gillis Land
(this has been sought for in vain in the charts, and
has not been found again since the beginning of the
18th century, when it was discovered by a Dutch-
man, who called the place after him). The schooner
will wait for the travellers on the ice upon the
north side, and afterwards go as far as they can on
the eastern track, on through Henloopen-street,
which separates the mainland of Spitzbergen from
East Spitzbergen, in the same manner as the first
named island is separated from South-east Spitz-
bergen by Thym Fjord. Everything, however,
will depend upon the ice. The partakers in the
expedition will be distributed in both the vessels in
the following manner :—ln the schooner, under the
direction of Mr. Torell and Lieutenant Lilliehoof,
the latter of whom takes the maritime command,
Professor Nordenskjold (mineralogist), Magister
Chydenius (Nat. Philos.), Magister Malmgren
North
(botanist), and Petersen, the experienced
Pole navigator, who will also be the conduewtoy."
the expedition with •the dogs on the ice, ivilial which
Mr. Terrell and Professor Nordenskjold
ist and mine-
partake. The scientific command in
be taken by Mr. Blomstrand (9119„82ap..
Capt. Kuylenst-
ralogist),!the:maritime command L;33,
Mr. Duner
jerna ; they will be accompanied the sloop will
) Mr. von. Yhlen,
Mr, Smitt (a student ine '
(astronomer), Mr. Goes
d zzoological travels in com-
known as having mear (Torfrigyr!.and botanist), and
Lillieborg to the countries
will be supplied
the sloop a
about the White Se , t
ether afterwards - 8
apparatus, and at
easels keeP ng he will
pang with Parcohfeossona
long as the v
schooner. Mr. does
will accompany
of the
go over to the
with photographicin Yhlen and least two
others (Mr. vMr. Blomstrand) are
practised draughtsmen. In this respect, therefore,
fnoeirvxeaarmspiir.tnoyia
we may expect very great results. Magister Duner,
who brings with him several valuable instruments'
westfrom Lund, will undertake the
etocifotends,mbeoatshureomnentht eefeast
degrees,and
preparatory
coast,
which in these high latitudes will be of the utmost
value. A letter from Tromso, dated Thursday,
April 18, further says, 'lt was the intention to
sailing
get clear for this week. However, the in-
terior arrangement of the vessels is so far behind-
hand that the departure cannot be thought of
before the middle of next week. As a matter of
course, those who have to travel with the dogs are
hastening on the departure, as the winter must be
the best time for them, and will soonest give a
prospect of reaching the uncertain object—viz., of
getting nearer the Pole than any other person be-
fore. For the rest of us it is immaterial whether
we remain a few days longer ashore, especially as
we may be tolerably certain that during the present
severe winter season the ice will lie at Spitzbergen,
so that an earlier sailing would only cause a so
much longer detention at sea. We have here at
Tromso the most complete winter, with excellent
sledging. The country is most beautiful, it being
covered with snow. The peak of Tromsdal is
nearly 5,000 feet high."

A large steam packet, with 20rOhdorplae:fts9eLf;e0crakonfor
board, is said to have gone clown in the Baltic. It was
,ccarollencl4ttwhet,Ablieoxi:doeurotll4:Temsianoeflz