The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-29
Reperied .Jor tke Bel1;tIIS1E|e So,

ana his nssv
Repwted for ~ b - sun
tntc - densely crowded ON Tuesday evening bv
an intelligent audience of ladies and gentlea,en
attracted ~ the announcement at lecture 81 the
intrepid End scientific adventure, Dr. e. x Kane,
corne1ioa sDstk tie Ssavek efie ~ s, =,
and ths Discovery Of an Open Polar Hsu'' The
attendance, at the lowest estimate, was fully three
thousand persons, and notwithstanding the learned
speaker lays no claim to the title of lecturer but
merely yields to the calls upon him as matter of
necessity, in order to express publicly his sympa-
thy for the lost navigators, and to explain the
grounds for his belief in their possible existence
and OF the existence of an open sea at the north
pole, the closest attention and interest wac mani;
.:s.eo throughout the delivery of his argumenta<
~ DISCOURSE, which reflects high credit upon him
geog rapher and man of letters.
Doc'os Aane opened his lecture with a brief
sketch OF the progress of geopranhicaI sc;ence
ne remarked that there were at this d.v arsat
areas awaiting the exploration Of ciyilixed man
ms instancea the region of the Arctic search
AFTER Gaining the attention of the audience tn tho
discovered seatures of this region and tn ths H.
ductlons from the grand generaIizations of nm.
slcal geography as to its area and confirurat;nn
ne oweit more at length upon the arguments in
favor OF the existence of Polynva or iceless sea
shut in by an annulus of cfcum- polar ice He
presented lucid analysis of the laws of currenf
action, as obtained from the results of the Coast
survey and the German photographers. These
arguments were illustrated by diagrams susnend
ed above the platform, and led to most interesting
ana satisfactory differences as to the mildpess Of
the weather and the fuidity of the region about
the pole. In this connection the lecturer referred
to the migration of animal life to the north.
migration observed at the utmost limits of north
ern travel attained by man. The flight of birds.
OF the ducks, auks, and petrels-the movement
noltnward OF the mammels of the sea, the tusky
wa!rus the polar bear, and the reindeer TRAVELLING
IN herds, ga forest of moving antlere He alluded
70 Lieutenant Maury, as an early and ELOQUENT
advocate OF the existence of the Polynva, gen
ueman who possessed that rare union Oh mower
OF generalization with the technical labors of Off
cial routine. - M
Doctor Kane said that. more than year ago. he
came before the Institute as sutton on behalf of
sne crews OF Sir Jonn franklin. That since then
practical sympathy and Gberaliiy had not been
IDLE, and that be now appeared before them on The
eve OF a second departure for the Arctic sea- That
engrossed as be was with the cares of organizing
tnls second expedition, nothing could have induced
MN to accept the invitation OF the MARYLAND In
stltute but his anxiety to state before his fellow
members OF that body how much was due to their
association, and more especially TO two of its mem
bers. - $500
The nice relations he said, which should eubsist
between an officer of the navy and his chief. for
Daoe nlm to allude to one of these gentlemen in
other terms than those Of simple personal graft
tude-of the other he could speak with more free.
dom. Mr.. George Peabody had Contributed ten
thousand dollars in aid of the expedition-a oen.
tieman whose unostentatious liberality was too
well known to require notice at his hands. DIR.
Kane mere read portion of letter from Mr.. Pea
body, in which he, with characteristics modestv
expressed himself as .sproud to follow in the foot
steps OF Henry Grinnell." This was received bv
the large audience with deafening applause
Inc point OF departure of the new expedition in
search of Sir John Franklin would be Smitb,s
sound, point recommended by many ad vantares
winch the lecturer enumerated, and was two hun
ored and twenty miles further north than the
starting point of Sir Edward Belcher
The party would consist of some thirtv men
couple Of launches sledges, dogs and gutta percha
poats. Ihe provisions would be composed mainly
OF pemmlcan, concentrated animal food, the
preparation OF which the lecturer described packed
In cases impregnable to the assaults of the polar
bear r
Leaving the United States in the brig furnished
BY Mr. Grinneil the Advance at the earliest period
OF navigation, they would enter the ice of Melville
bay, force their way to the extreme uayigable
point, and there secure the vessel for the winter
Iney would then press forward with sledge and
launch The sledge Qarge drawings of which
were shown to the audience) would constitute q
most important feature of the lecturers pIan of
search. Each oil these, constructed principally of
nickory, and with great care, would carry the
blan kets, furs and measured allowance of food
ior SIX men. light tent of India rubber cloth
would be added for use whenever the main denen-
dence of the nightly halt--the snow-house Of the
Esqulmaux might not be desirable
The lecturer pictured an Arctic sledging party
on the march. The gnarled and bristng expanse
of ice, streaked with the water leads. The bIack
streams, from which arises that strange mist sthe
frost smoke" Six men harnessed to each sled
moving with steady gait-in front, some twenty
PAGES, compass in hand, their leader. ridge Of
ice stops their way, rising some twenty feet in air.
the sedge unIaden and piece by piece its freight
is carried over stream of water crosses their
path, the gutta-percha boats are brought into re-
QUESTION. and the water passed. The party halt
for the night-their days journey, long in hours
IN heir
ten miles In straight line-a good days perform
ance for an Arctic sledging party. The snow house
Is built, or the tent is pitched-upon the snow is
spread covering, water proof, on that VOLTS
skin-pemmican soup makes the chief dish for the
supper. Pipes are lit, and each man, covered TO
the hips BY blanket bag. draws second wolf
SHIN over MN, and seeks in sleep the rest which
is to support him on the morrow.
The greatest sledge journey on record was that
OF his friend, Mr. Kennedy, late commander of
the "Prince Albert who accomplished nearly
l.4Oo mlles-most OF 1t in mid-winter-his only
food pemmican, his only shelter the snow house
Mr. Kennedy was now volunteer to serve upon
the expedition.
The line of travel which the lecturer hoped to
pursue was one due north beyond the limits Of re-
corded travel-a line of travel rendered most va
luabe by the light to be thrown upon many UNI
determined points of the distribution of heat upon
the surface OF our planet, upon the great questions
OF the amount and direction of the earth's mag
netic forces, upon the great mystery of northern
migratory life. He noticed the interest shown by
Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution:
by Professor Bache, of the Coast Survey; and by
the Secretary of the Navy, himself votary Of
science, IN the organization of scientific CORPS in
connexion with the expedition.
Ihe question, DR.. Kane concluded whether the
party OF Sir John franklin to be dead or alive
was not to be considered in connection with the
opngauons OF second search The duty of At
tempting to solve the mystery of their fate rests
The gallant speaker often interrupted hv
loud applause as be proceeded, and the cobcjnsion
OF ms lecture was followed by IonS-continued
marks OF appreciation.
. HE NEW OHIO CApIroL. first annronria.
ton Tor THIS building was made in 1885, of Sl0OO0
FROM 70 loaO TO ls4s no appropriations made,
ana the work was suspended. From IS4s to the
present time regular appropriations have been
made, and the work has been, as now diligently
prosecuted appropriations have been made for
eight different years, during which the work has
progressed The total of the several appronria
tons amounts to $406,575. 1t is the intention to
nave the building under permanent roof by Octo-
per next. The estimate for the copper and iron
Tor the roof the marble thing for the floors, lum
per- glass, &C., yet to be purchased, is SI3OOO0.
appropriation required for the next year. $3.50 900
comparison of fourteen State Capitols is given
showing that the Ohio State House will bv lar
surpass any in the country. In round numbers.
The ground covered by the Capitol at Washington