Calaveras chronicle., 1851-12-13

RECENT DISCOVERIES IN THE ARCTIC
REeToNs.-It appears that recent dis.
cOveries in the Arctic Regions, which
are claimed by British naVigators, and
to which British names are given, have
been first made by citizens Ofihe United
States, and that the honor of these dis
coyeries properly belongs to our own
countrymen. The matter is thus sci
forth in the \. Y. Journal of Commerce
!" The many .AEctic discoveries made
through the enterprise Of the British
Ilatieas haTelextsslLasl sha aennas %.
science, added to the sum of human
knowledge, and conferred honor on the
British name. Northern geography re-
ceiveS an annual contribution from the
noble men who are sent on expeditions
to the Polar seas, and the British navy
Is strengthened hy the discipline and el-
evated by the studies and acquirements
which appertain To that navigation
The late expedition sent from England
under the command Of Captain Penny,
proceeded in northerly direction frbn
Barrow's Strait, beyond the limits
reached by any other British navigator,
and although Capt. Penny's return to
England was as late as September of
this year, the maps showing the extent
Of their supposed discoveries have al
ready been given to the public. Those
maps embrace extensive regions, and
names have been applied to caUes,
islands, bays and inlets embraced in the
discovery. With the nohieness which
ever marks those who engage in such
enterprises, they have sprinkled over
the new ground the names Of those Who
lately returned 10 our own expedition.
Penny and Austin undoubtedly supo-
sed that they were the first discoverers 5
of the lands and waters to which they
gave name and location on British
maps. The Grinnel expedition prece-
ded them, however, one season in these
discoveries; and to America is due the
honor which Great Britain has attempt
ed SO gracefully to wear. On the re-
turn Of the Advance to this port, tidings
were for the first time had of the esult
of Penny's voyage; but before the Ad-
vance had reached her berth, and be-
fore those maps were received, the
maps showing the discoveries made Nv
American vessels beyond Wellington
Channel had been exhibited to the orr
glnator of the enterprise. We did not
speak Of the discoveries, because they
had not been reported to the head of
the Department at Washington, in pur-
suance of the practice prevailing among
Navy officers, and they bad been com
mnnicated in that confidence. The
British Government need only to know
these facts in order to induce them to
erase from their maps the names which
they have SO applied to these frozen
regions, and substitute those given by
the American Navigators. The British
name given to an extensive range Of
land lying to the north Of Wellington
Channel is the Albert Land in honor
of Prince Albert The name given by
the American discoverers of the same
range, was in honor Of Henry GrinneIi,
the author Of the American expedition.
The honnrs and the national rights that
flow from discovery of new regions
of country are such that nations never
part from, except upon the most mcon-
testibIe proof Of the authenticity Of a
precedent claim. The Grinnel exredi-
ton VIII have no difficulty in proving
the extent and the time Of their dIScov-
cries, and their precedence over those
Of Great Britain, and will thus be able
70 settle the question fully. They have
won those hohors for their country.