The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-23


its belligerent functions . small stipend to sti-
mulate scientific research and add chapter to
our knowledge Of the geography Of the globe.
On the contrary. the navy has always felt the
want Of the frontier service, the Spartan high
school Of the American army; and we do not
see that there is any better aquatic substitute
open to it than the divers exploring services. in
which we have certainly sea room ample left
us TO emulate foreign nations. We therefore
lent cordial support to the efforts of the late
Secretary Kennedy to give play in the navy
10 the activity which in the army has illus
trated the names of the Fremonts, Emorys and
Stansburys, and made them at once an honor
70 the body to which they belong and the best
possible indication to the country Gifts efficiency
and spirit. Things at least look hopefully now.
Lieutenant Hearndon, (of the navy) has just
returned from an exploration OF the sources of
the Amazon; Commander Ringgold, q. S. n,
is nearly ready for Behring's Straits; Leuten-
ant Page, U. S. N. is on his way to the rich
valley of the La Plata; and DR.. Kane is on the
eve of his departure for the frozen north.
How successful the present administration with
Mr.. Dobbin may be, in carrying out the liberal
policy of Mr.. Dobbin's predecessor, remains to
be seen. We hope it will devote this arm of
the national strength to something better than
buttons and bomb shells, dry docks and salt
beef
We visited yesterday that one of these expe-
ditions which has special claim upon our
sympathies, as being a measure of humanity,
with objects of more utilitarian character
the Arctic expedition in search of Sir John
Franklin--and made minute examination of
the Advance, being received with marked atten-
ton by her officers on board. and a couple of
large shaggy Newfoundland dogs, who have
already taken up their quarters there The
Advance, it is known, has already sustainedthe
rough encounters of an Arctic cruise We were
told that no vessel has ever visited the Polar
sease more ably strengthened againstl their
peculiar trials Her bows are mass of solid
timber some six feet from her cutwater,
breasthooks form perfect labarynth in her
forecastle, and cross-beams, some four feet
asunder, traverse her entire length. All
these are for the purpose Of resisting the pres
sure Of the ice; but externally two layers Of
heavy oak sheathing, with long strips Of boiler
iron, protect the hull from the cutting action Of
the drifting fields.
1t seems the general opinion that the open
Polar Sea, one of the great geographical prob
lens of the day. will if it exists at all, disclose
traces of the missing vessels and their crews.
The primary object, therefore, Of the Arctic ex-
dition that which has enlisted the liberality Of
Mr.. Grinnell and the sympathies Of its COM
mander, is the search after Sir John Franklin.
But this is not incompatible with other aims,
and special attention is evidently to be given
to scientific observation. The organization for
this purpose, for an expedition limited as to
means, is singularly complete. It has particu-
larly engrossed the attention Of DR.. Kane, and
has invoked the suggestions and pecuniary aid
MAN Institution has behaved with praiseworthy
liberality. and it should be published as fact
creditable to New York. that our American
Geographical Society, young but already
most effective institution. has been the most
prominent Of all in affording prompt and ju-
ulClOub CO-OpCIdtiOus 4AC liuC VI tdNCi 10 GA
pected to stretch to the north of any latitude
that has been yet attained upon the Western
continent, and on this account will favor (singu-
larly) valuable researches in temperature and
terrestrial magnetism. The meteorological and
magnetic departments. therefore, are fitted out
with instruments, at the expense we fear, ofmany
Sundays ration of small stores; and DR.. Kane
has, to assist him in his daily observations young
Mr.. Sonntag, late Of Altoona, who fills the place of
astronomer to the expedition. A naturalist,
with full equipment for collecting and pre-
serving, is another important limb of the expe-
dition and the liberality of the late Secretary
Of the Navy has supplied it with fine daguer-
reotype apparatus. which, we suppose, will
bring back complete gallery of Esquimaux in
costume, and enable us all to study the features
of the Polar landscape, around our firesides at
home.
We were struck with the hardy, weather.
beaten appearance Of the watch officers-a list
of whom with the other members, we expect to
obtain in day or two. They were all volun-
teers-more than one Of them tried companions
Of DR.. Kane's former travels-and all anxious
and ready TO- their departure, which. we are
informed, will take place on or about the last
of next week.
The feature Of the expedition which distin-
guishes it from those heretofore undertaken by
Great Britain, is its plan Of endeavoring to pc
netrate to the extreme north on foot, and over
land. After the Advance is arrested by the ice
in the northern avenues of Baffn's Bay, depots
Of provisions are to be pushed forward on
sledges, drawn by Esquimaux dogs, and an at
tempt made by Dr. Kane, in person, to reach
the open water. His little party will drag after
them their own provisions and clothing, trust
ing to the snow-house for shelter, and bearing
a couple Of India rubber cloth boats, spread
upon basket-work, a device due to the ingenuity
of Mr.. Bennett, late keeper of the Minot Light
house. With these boats, which we examined with
an ;ntarast almost po;uf,I fhau homo 70 nu+ o,,t