The republic., 1851-04-12
Ths Amerle.n Ezplersrs An th. Arctie e


John. MIR. Snow was volunteer In the expsdi-
tion, being great traveller. and wishing to have
an opportunity to inspect personally the Arctic r.
gions. The Albert returned home without winter
ing in that frozen climcthe condition Of the crew
being such as 10 render II inexpedient and impro
per to prosecute the voyage further.
But Mr.. Snow had the opportunity he sought.
Without obtaining an actual night Of the North
Pole he saw great deal Of the neighboring counx
try and the circumjacent waters-or rather mostly
ice. His descriptions are drawn with ready hada,
! in graphic sketches, though rough. "His styls,'
says the Spectator, sis vigorous; and the scenery
| and circumstances are fresh, 20 wonderful, and
exciting TO justify reflection. The singularity
Of the sun at midnight, the alternate desolation
and magniicencc Of Arctic scenery, the wonder
ful operations of nature by means Of avalanche,
icebergs, and almost perpetual frost and snow, are
not 30 hackneyed as TO pail"
While in the heart of the Arctic region the Albert
fell in with two American vesscls now engaged q
then in prosecuting the search for Sir John Frank
lin. Mr.. Snow seems to have been much struck
with the bold demeanor OF the Americans, their
spirit Of daring and self reliance. The fplloWinw.
piquant narrative is well told, and il eEetil
both to the narrator and TO those of WHOM ks
speaks:
"The Americans intended to push on whsrsvsr
they could, this way or that way. a. might b
found best, in the direction of Melville Island and
parts adjacent, especially Banks Land; and they
be- in the pack or out Of the pack As long a. they
could be moving or making any progress in any
direction that might assist In the object for which
ns ss sas hs s os = e sS on
cared for no obstacles or impediments that might
arise in their way. Neither fears nor the neces.
sary caution which might easily be alleged = an
thing like fancied danger appeared, was to deter
them. Happy fellows thought !; no fair wind
nor open prospects will be lost with you; no dis-
officers exist to stay your progress. Bent upon
one errand, alone, your minds set upon at boiore
you embarked, no trifes nor common danger will
out Of your mission. 60 on. then. brave M scns ~ &
America, and may at least soma share Of pr0e-
perity and success attend your noble exertions!
"The Advance was most extraordinarily fortified
to resist any pressure Of the ice, and TO enable her
to force her way against such impediments those
she encountered this evening. Her bow was one
solid mass of TIMBER believe am right in say
ing from the forcmAst. Her timbers increased
in size and number, that she might well be said
to have been doubled inside we'll a. out. Her
deck was also doubled. then feted. and again lined
ing Of cork. The after part ofthe vessel was re-
markably strong; and movable bulkhead. which
ran across the fore part Of the cabin, could At any
time be unshipped to afford y free communication
fore and aft when needed. The crew, IL remem-
Der rightly, lived in strongly built round house.
on deck, amidships one end Of which was convert
ed into cookhouse, called galley and another
working seamen; there were no sico-mastcrs' nor
regular ice men, but most of the sailors wero
long accustomed to the ice. A steward and . cook
completed the full complement of the ship.
"The Advance was manned by sixteen persons,
officers included. Her commander, Lieutenant De
Haven, young man about rs years Of age, had
served in the United States exploring expedition.
under Commodore Wilkes, In the Antarctic seas.
He seemed az fnc specimen of . seaman and
rough and ready officer as have ever sesn. Nor
was he at all deficient in the true characteristics Of
q true gentleman, although the cognomen d 20 Of
ten misapplied and ill-undentood. With sharp,
quick eye. countenAnce bronzcd, and apparently
Injured to all weathers, his voice gave unmistakA
BE- 1le sign. Of energy Promptitude and decision.
doubtedly we'll to lead such an expedition.
and felt charmed to see it.
"His second in command (for they werc very
differently $ organised from us) was sll younger:
and sailor like appearance. Next to him was ju-
nior officer, of whom but little, and that little
was enough to tell me that the executives under
Captain De Haven would be efficient anxiaries to
him. Last Of all, though not least among thsm,
was one OF whom must be excused for saying moro
than casual word or two. It was Dr. Kane, tho
ton. Of an exceedingly slim and apparently fra
gile form and make, and with features far more
suited to a genial cline. and TO the comforts Of
pleasant home, than TO the roughness and hard.
ships Of an Arctic voyage, he was yet very old
traveller, both by sea and land. His rank sur
geon in the American navy, and bis appointments
at three days notice 70 this service. were sucient
proof of his abilities, and of his being con6idered
capable of enduring all that would have % b gone
through. 4
"If ever vessel and her officers wore capAble
OF going through an undertaking in which more
than ordinary difficulties had to Be encountered.
had no doubt il would be the American, and this
was evinced TO me evon while we were on board. By
the apparently reckless way in which thoy dashed
Leopold Island. happened to go on deck whom
they were thus engaged, and was delighted 70 Wit
hess how galantly they put aside every imp0 psnt
In they way. An oficcr was standing on H. heal
Of the bowsprit, coming tho ship and iBsuinf his
orders to the man at the wheel, in that short, dee
cisivc, yet clear manner which tho helmanaan At
once well understood and promptly obeyed. fsre
hesitation. The way was before them the stream
Of ice had to be either gone through boldly or \
long detour made; and desptc the heaviness Of tho
per @ course @ Two or three shocks, a. she came M in
contact with some large pieces, wcrc unhecdod;
and the moment the last block was past the bow
the officer sang OUT $50; steady .. she goes on her
course," and came aft AZ if nothing more than
ordinary sailing had been going on. observed
our own little barque noby following in the Anas-
ricans wake; and, az afterwards learned, she got
through It pretty well, though not without much
doubt Of the propriety OF keeping on In such pro-
cedure after the mad Yankee as she was called
by the mato.
III had ever before doubted the daring and en-
terprise Of the Americans, what4 raw and heard on
board OF the Advance would have removed such
doubt; but these peculiar features in the children of
the Stars and Stripes were always apparent to me.
and admiringly acknowledged. ! was given brief
history Of their voyage to the present time, a. also
an outline of their future plans"
"THE LARoEsr LiBHRry." some Of the papers
OF ST. Louis, Missouri, (Whig and Dcmocratic,)
appear to be much incensed against pcstcntialset
OF Germans who at present infesting that city.
The ST. Louis Republican says:
"The great body Of the Germans are peaceAble.
law abiding citizens. They love our laws, Consti-
tuition, and institutions they are, and desire
change. But there a fcw others whom we will
not be 20 unjust TO the former a. 70 class with
thcm--lcd on by nm advcntursr who, unfortunately,
controls the types and press of the Anxeigr and