, 1854-09-30
The Arctic Explorations.

The Arctic Explorations.
The subject Of Arctic explorations will
never lose its interest. From the time
when the Swede, Gardar SuafTarsan, in the
year s64, undertook the first voyage oi
discovery in the direction Of the North
Pole, to the time when our own gallant
townsman, Dr. Kane, in the spring Of 1858
started on his second expedition, nearly a
thousand years have elapsed; and through
ont the whole of that long interval, the
public miud has been more or less excited
in regard to the subject, and at particular
periods intensely so.
One Of these cycles of Arctic enthusiasm
is now upon us. The preceding one closed
about two hundred years ago after having
been made immortal by the heroism ol
Baiin, and by the martyrdom Of Hudson
and Willoughby. That cycle disclosed to
US the general outline of the two great
bays on the north of the American conti-
nent. It's successor, which may be said to
have begun with the expedition Of Ross,
in 1918, has not yet completed its revolu-
tiOn, has already solved the possibility of a
northwest passage, proved the existence OF
a great polar basin, and determined the
position of the magnetic pole.
But one achievement remains, and that,
we trust, DR. Kane will perform. He has
now been absent ten months, and if he has
met with no accident, ought, before this,
to have nearly effected his purpose. His
plan, as some of our readers will reeollect,
uog 70 aeoo,,l D,nsn'. Roy 10 &c biuboct
possible limit, Tor what is called Smiths
Sound, in latitude 80 degrces), instead of
turning aside, as has been customary, at
IA degrees to enter Lancaster Sound on
the west BY this proceeding he gains
nearly six degrees Of latitude, and is much
the nearer to his point Of destination
Aided by teams of dogs, such as are used
by the Esquimaux, he designed to push
forward boldly, with the boat sledges he
had provided, making his way by land or
water as circumstances might permit. Ten
degrees, or more, would carry him to the
pole, and he hoped to be able TO traverse
this distance in comparative short period,
or demonstrate beyond oil future contro-
versy, the impossibility Of the attempt.
We cannot expect to hear from him for
months He may even be delayed into 9
second winter. But his expedition we
feel convinced, will be the culminating one
in the present cycle of Arctic discovery
1t will have no equal, even if it has success
sors. 1t is bold, original and eminently
progressive, e, for it strikes out a new path /;
and even if it is compelled to turn back, it
will come laden with observations from To-
calities never before visited. We may
well be satisfied, moreover, that there will
be no turning back so long as it is possible
to go ahead. If DR.. Kane cannot reach
the North Pole, nobody else need attempt
the feat. When we Yankees give 1t up
it may be set down as hopelessly inattaina-
BILE. ~
There have been heroes, who, by dying
in the battle field, have won deathlesS
names. But how much nobler the hero
ism which, animated by no mere temporary
excitement, by no sound of drum or shout
of battallions, dares death, month after
month, in darkness and mist and cold, and
comes forth at last triumphant Pkiia-
deLPhia Ledger. nI fl'.a.