Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-31
[Reported for the Evening Start
Smithsonian Lecture.
DIR. KANE's LECTURE on THE ARCTIC Re-
GIoNs, AND HIS NEW EXPEDITION.

stliute On Friday evening was unusually
crowded; every inch of sitting and standing
room being occupied by brilliant and
highly intelligent audience, assembled to
hear the intrepid and scientific traveller,
DR.. E. K. Kane, on ''The Physical Aspects
of the Arctic Regions, in connection with
the Search after Sir J John Franklin, and the
Discovery Of an open Polar Sea-" Among
the distinguished individuals present We
noticed Washington Irving, John P. Kenne-
dy, Secretary of the Navy, and Richard
Rush, formerly our Minister to the Court
of st. James. The lecture was heard
throughout with great attention; and the
only regret expressed by individuals when
the lecture closed. was that he had not ex-
tended it to greater length.
The character of his audience, and the
close attention and interest manifested
throughout the delivery Of his argumenta-
tive discourse, rejecting high credit upon
him as geographer and man Of letters.
must have been peculiarly gratifying to
this scientific traveller, who lays no claim
to the title of lecturer and only appears as
a matter Of necessity, to express publicly
his sympathy for the last navigators, and
to explain the grounds for his belief in their
possible existence, and Of the existence of &
Polar Sea.
DR.. *. commenced his lecture with de-
scription of the polar regions stating the
progress which had been made in the geo
graphical knowledge Of those countries; and
with giving the reasons which had induced
many scientific men to believe in the exist
ence Of an open polar sea, and of milder
climate than was to be found in lower lati-
tuCes. Among the reasons given for the
existence of a milder climate, was mentioned
the migration of animal life to the North,
the flight Northwest of the ducks and
petrels, and the movement in the same
direction of the animals Of the sea, the
tusked walrus, the polar bear, and the
reindeer, travelling in herds, "a forest Of
moving antlers," had all been observed at
the utmost limits of northern travel attained
by man.
The Doctor stated that it was the inten-
ton of the party to leave the United States
in time to reach the upper waters of Baf-
fms Bay by the early season of na7igation
that the brig furnished by Mr.. Grinnel for
this expedition was of admirable strength,
and fully equipped to meet the peculiar
trials Of the surface. On the setting in of
winter, the operations of the exploring
party were to be continued, for it was ne
cessary as a safeguard against the scurvy
tIlcy SuOulu lllSt uCtlNc eACIClSe, WHICH
might be obtained in extending their search.
The lecturer stated he was convinced that
although the darkness of winter would not
be in their favor, that with the exception of
perhaps, the solsticial period of greatest
obscurity, they could push forward their
provision deposits by sledge and land, and
thus prepare for the final efforts in the
Spring.
The manner Of travel with sledges was
graphically described The sledges, which
were to constitute an important feature in
the Expedition, and upon which not only
their success, but their safety was to de-
pend, were to be constructed with extreme
care, to be made of hickory, no iron to be
used, and to be fastened together with lash
ings; and upon them to be placed an elastic
network to receive the cargo. Each sledge