Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18
A NEW POLAR EXPEDITION.

in the Chapel of the University, to hc-- pape
which DIR. KANE, Of the United States EEs-., had
engaged to read on the "AccCss to the iyolsa Pola
Sea, viewed in connection with the searoa ...ter Sil
John Franklin"
Hon. George BANCROFT who had been requested t
preside the OCCASION forward and spoke fol
! lows; Ladies and gentlemen, am very happy to meet
this large audience this interesting occasion We ask
your sympathy and encouragement an occasion Of
more than ordinary interest From what searches have
been made for the discovery Of Sir j. Franklin and the
traces either of him his party that have been foand
the hope fingers that his escape may yet be accomplish
cd In this enterprise many Americansmany from cur
own SOIL endeared to affections, and others to
forward to take prominent part in
making the new search andno only this but also to push
forward discoveries in the Northern Seas ABoDY,
in London has noby contributed part, and the Vice
President of this Society has contributed his vessel the
Adoance for the expedition and the Secretary of the
Navy has shown disposition to aid it far the law
will permit him. He has not only permitted DIR. KANE
who well suited to the purpose and who has travelled
more in the Arctic regions than any this conti
nent to go on this expedition but he has also supplied
HIM with instructions that may materially aid him. To-
night not brought here hear discourse that
may amuse or instruct us, but to take, were fare
well OF one who about to set out in that expedition
After few more remarks compimenting DR.. Kane, he
introduced that gentleman to his audience.
DR.. KANE commenced his discourse with review Of
minute geographical description of these regions he de-
regions were not continuous of ice, but i'm
mense basin enclosed with icy barriers This opinion
not based upon actual explorations but the argu-
ments in its favor of immense consequence and
before grouped together he would take the liberty
of presenting them to the audience With regard to its
photographic extent he of opinion that it pro-
badly large both the Atlantic and Indian
of
the polar basin must have, he argued that it also must
have outlet to empty itself There three out
let's viz Behring's straits, the Greenland sea- and num-
Der of estuares, at point known Bans and Hud
sons bays DR. Kane argued at considerable length in
support of his theory, and illustrated his remarks by
series of maps and charts prepared for the occasion
Having expressed the opinion that Belchers expedition,
which had set out in the of the year. would
be attended with success, he proceeded lay before
the audience the plan upon which he had determined to
carry on his explorations. HENRY GRINNELL the first
president OF this society," and at present its president
had placed at his disposal the AdUanc and the Secretary
of the Navy had assigned him the special duty Of conduct
ing the expedition His plan of search is based upon the
probable extension of the land of Greenland to the
far northa view yet to be verified by travel, but
tanned by the analogs of physical geography Admitting
such extension they would he says have the following
inducements for exploration and research.
l. Terra frma the basis of operations, obvatng
the accidents characteristic of ice travel.
2. due northern line, which, throwing aside the in
uences of terrestrial radiation would lead soonest to the
open sea, should such exist.
g. The benefit of the fanke abutment of land on the
north face of Greenland check the ice in the
of its southern equatorial drift thus obviatng the
drawback of Parry in his attempt to reach the Pole by
the Spitzbergen
A. Animal life to sustain travelling parties.
5. The cooperation of the Esquimaux settlement of
Greenlanders having been found high Whale Sound
and probably extending still further along the coast The
point would endeavor to attain would be the highest
attainabe point of Bafins Bay FROM if possible pur
suing the sound known Smiths Sound advocated by
Baron Wrangel the most eligible site for reaching the
North Pole.
twenty miles the north of Beechy Island the starting
point Sir Edward Becher and seventy miles north Of
the utmost limits recorded in Wellington Channel
The party will consist of thirty men, with
pie Of launches, sleds dogs, and guta percha boats
The provisions will be pemmicana preparation Of dried
meat packed mpregnabe to the appetite of the
Polar bear. Dr. Kane after stating that his expedition
will the United States in time to reach the bay
4 the earliest season of navigation, says:
After reaching the settlement of Uppernavk, take
in supply of Esqumaux dogs and few picked men to
take charge Of the sled We then the ice of Mel
Vile Bay and if successful in its penetration, hasten
Smiths Sound forcing vessel to the utmost naygabe
point and there securing the winter The
tons of search however, not to be suspended Ac-
tive exercise is the best safeguard against the scuryy
and although the darkness of winter will NOT be in our
favor, convinced that, with the exception perhaps
Of the solstitial period of maximum obscurity,
push forward provision depotes by sled and launch
and thus prepare for the final efforts Of search
In this strengthened by the valuable opinion Of
my friend Mr. Murdaugh, late the sailing master of the
Advance. He has advocated this very Sound as basis
Of land operations And the recent journey of William
Kennedy, commanding Lady Franklins last expedition,
shows that the fall and winter should longer be
4 garded as lost months
The sleds, which constitute important feature Of
Expedition and upon which not only but
safety will depend, to be constructed with
IRENE Each sled will carry the blanket, bags and
furs Of six men, together with measured allowance Of
pemmcan light tent Of India rubber cloth, of a
pattern will be added but for nightly halt the main
dependence will be the snowhouse Of the Esquimaux
is almost incredible in the face of obstacles, TO what
tent well-organzed sled party advance The rea-
tive Importance Of every Of weight be calcu-
lated and the system of advanced depot Of provisions
! organized admirably.
Alcohol allow is the only fuel and the entire cook
ing apparatus, which is for thawing the for
tea than for heating food be carried in little
bag Lieut. McCintock, of Commander Austens expe-
don travelled thus 800 miles the collective journeys
Of the expedition equaed several thousand and Baron
Wrnge made by dogs, 1853 miles in "A days, and this
over fast frozen ocean.
But the greatest sled journey upon record is that Of
friend Mr. Kennedy, who accomplished nearly ,40C
miles, Of it In mid-winter without returning upon
his track to avail himself Of deposited provisions His
only food and may here learn the practical lesson
the traveller to avoid unnecessary baggage pemm
can, and his only shelter the SnoW House.
10 is my intention to each sled with gutta
percha boat continuance which the experience Of tn,
English has shown be perfectly portable Thus equip
ped, follow the tread Of tho coast seeking the oper
rater.
Once there IL such reward awaits us we launch
Ala hn.e al CaIa Nao1 nharl