New-York tribune., 1841-09-24
From the London Nautical Magazine for September
ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.


being to ASCERTAIN the true position of the South
Magnetic Pole, and the exploration OF the Antaic'ic
Regions, of which very imperfect knowledge mas
hitherto been obtained but series OF masne''c
observations were also directed TO be made al
different stations on their route, and the INST o,
which being at Madeira they put In there an"
stopped several DAYS Thence they proceeded 70
St. Helena and the Cape of Good Hope, at WHICH -l
places they fitted up laboratories, and ei' o'''o.
Of sufficient scientific requirements to 'oi'e''''
tend them
Kerguelen Island was the next spot may Vi7i'e''
where and at Sabrina, further observations % ~
magnet were made, and they arrived sa'e az nv
barton, Van Diernen Land, about the H'Hu'c VI
last August. There Capt Ross met MS oa menu
Sir .Isbn Franklin, the Governor, from whom ne
received eycry possible attention and assistance,
and there also having erected and fitted up an OBJ
scrya,orv they proceeded on their voyage about
the 2G,h Of October, that being the date of their
last letters, at which time they were on the eve OF
their departure.
Extract of letter from Capt Ross Of H. ~ s Erebn,,
dated at HbartOn pan DismeH Lcad, 7th 1pr't lo4l.
" Under all circumstances, it appeared 10 me
that, it would condUce to the advancement OF
that branch Of science, for which this expedition
has been specially sent forth, as well as 10
the extension of our geographical knowledge OF
the Antarctic Regions TO endeavor to penetrate to
the southwark, on abou, the 18th degree OF cast
longitude, by which the sodynaUic oval, and the
point exactly between the TWO foci OF greater mag
netic intensity might be passed OYER and deter
mined, and directly between the tracks OF the
Russian navigator, Bellingshausen and our own
Capt. James Cock and after entering the Antarctic
circle, to steer souill-westerly towards the Pole,
rather than attempt approach it directly from the
L Z. a r Ia
cessors.
Accordingly on leaving Auckland Islands on the
18th Of December, we proceeded to the southwark
touching for few days at Campbell Island, ior
magnetic purposes, and after passing amongst
many icebergs to the southwark of G3o latitude,
made the pack-edge, and entered the Antarc-
tic circle on the lst of January, 1871.
" This pack presented none Of those formidable
characters which had been led TO expect from
the accounts of the American and French; but the
circumstances were sufficiently uninvorable TO deter
from entering it at this time, and gale from
the northward interrupted operations for three
or four days
=" On the 9TH of january, we again made be
pack about 100 miles to eastward i'll latitude 68'
as s.; and longitude l710 lG f.. and although
the wind was bowin.; directly on it, with a high
running, we succeeded in entering it without
either eof the ships sustaining any injury; and
after penetrating few miles were enablrd 10
make our way to the southwark with comparative
and safety.
''On the following three four days our pro-
gross was rendered more difficult and tedious, by
thick fogs, light Winds a heavy SWELL and almost
constant snow showers; but strong uater sky 10
the southeast, which was every interval OF
clear weather. encouraged IA to persevcrc in that
direction, and the morning of the 9th, after
sailing more than 200 miles though this pack, we
gained perfectly clear sea, md bore away south
east towards the Magnetic Pole.
On the morning of the 18th of January. when
in latitude 70c Al S. and longitude 172o &c. land
was discovered a, the distance, u. it afterwards
proved Of nearly hundred miles directly in the
course we were steering, and therefore between
us and the pole
although this circumstance was viewed at the
time with considerable regret. being likely 10
defeat one of the more important objects of the
petition, yet it restored to England the honor of
the discovery of the southcrnmost known land
which had been nobly WOE. and for more than
twenty years possessed by Russia.
Continuing our course towards This land for
many hours we seemed scarcely to approach it, ii
rose in lofty mountainous peaks from to II, 0OS
feet in hight, perfectly covered with eternal snow
the glaciers that descended from the mountain
summit projected many miles into the ocean and
presented perpendicular face Of lofty cliffs. As
neared the land, some exposed patches of rock
appeared; and steering towards small bay for the
purpose of etlcctiug landing, we found the shore
so thickly lined for miles with bergs and
back ice, and heavy swell dashing against it, |
were obliged TO abandon purpose, and steer to-
wards more promising looking point TO the south.
1 i 4
the msrning of the 10Th landed accompanied by
Commander Crozlcr and number of the officers
of each ship and took possession of the country in
the name OF her most gracious majesty Queen Vic
toria.
"rhe island on which landed i. composed
wholly of ingucous rocks, numerous specimens of |
which with other imbeddcd minerals were pro-
cured it is in latitude 7lo 56 S. and longitude
l7lc7 L.
Observing that the east coast of the main land
tended To the southwark, whilst the north shore
took north-wcs,erly direction, was led 10 hope
that by penetrating the south far practical
BILE it might be possible TO pass beyond the Mag
netic Pole, which our combined operations placed
in 20 deg nearly; and thence, by steering west
ward complete lis crcumnavigaton. We accord-
ingy pursued our along this magnificent
land, and, on the 23d of January, we reached : 4
deg 10 NM o. the hiSheSt southern latitude That
had ever been attained By any preceding nayiga-
tors, and that by our own countryman Captain J.
Weddel
Although greatly in,peded by strong sou,herly
gales, thick togs, and constant snow storms, we
continued The examination of the coast to the
southwark, and on the 9th we again landed on an
island in latitude &c deg. s S, and longitude los
deg, Il E., composed as on the former occasion,
entirely ot lgneous rocks
"srli steering to the Southwark, early the mex;
morning mountain of u 400 feet above the level
OF the sea, was seen emitting flame and smoke in
splendid prsiuson.
This magnificent volcano received the name
of Mount Erehus. |, is in latitude u De-. B. S