New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14


eled. The severity Of the labor broke down the
dogs, AID we were obliged 70 feed them double 70
ton thus consuming rapidly the provisions, ard PRO-
pOrtionably shortening our northwaTd journey.
Reaching the West Coast az Cope HAYES, we usv-
eled al ~ the land through Kennedy Channel Unit
the lsth Of May when provisions being exhaust
ed, we were yelled 10 turn faces south ward
The latitude obtained upon tLat day was latitude II
IS forty miles further north than the highest POSI-
ton Of DR.. Name in 1881; the land was taken poe
session OF an the name of the JuILec States, and We
Ing which was used the occasion has covered the
most northern Known land upon tie globe. lhe
land bears the honored name Of Henry GrinneH.
The last days Of The jouroey was accompanied By
single comtani0n, my Secretary, Mr.. hroW, 10
whOse energy and eudmance during this critic 81 Ie-
nod owe many obhsluons.
You viii remember, fad DR.. Hayes, that II was IN
Kennedy Channel, upon the wet slde OF which l
made a. have already observed, my highest north
ing that DR.. Kane discovered, june %, leji, an
o. en- sea. The party making the discovery Travelled
upon the eastern shore, while you will observe
that my efforts were confined TO the western. My
observations therefore, cover the same general re-
gon and will now report TO You the physical con-
dlious which / there observed, and the conclusions
at which | have arrived. found Kennedy Channel
and the region TO the norhward OF II, mainly COW
cred with ice. The Ice was much deoaycd, and
bore evidence Of speedy dissolution. in many places
there were pools Of open water. | was obliged %
keep mostly upon the land ice, owing to the utter
and insecure condition OF the ice 10 sea ward.
The time Of my visit was the middle Of May, and
| entertain no doubt that as the Summer advanced,
the ice in Kennedy Channel and TO the northward
would rapidly dissove, and before the period Of the
season corresponding to hat at which DR.. Kane
made lis observations, the ice would have mainly
disappeared. l believe, therefore, that DR.. Kane &
theory respecting the existence OF an open sea to the
northward Of Smiths Strait, as illustrated by his
own observations, is confirmed by my own eXpe-
IL - = = - agfr
cumstantsl, but il is TO my mind none the less con-
elusive.
The six weeks subsequent TO my return TO Port
Foulke were occupied in preparing the vessel for
sea, in completing some unfinished surveys IN max
ing magnetic and other observations in collecting
specimens of natural history, in pboOgrsphing the
scenery and objects Of interest in the vicinity.
The schooner had been temporarily crippled by the
ice encounters Of the previous Summer.
Being without q carpenter, large share Of the
labor OF repairs fell upon MIR. Mccormick the sailing
master Of the expedition, of whose ready ingenuity
and practical skill cannot too warmly express my
acknowledgements. The ice broke up around the
vessel the 10th Of July, and put to sea on the
18th.
After much difficulty aud two trials, we reached
the west coast twelve miles south Of Cape Isabella,
and being unable 10 pass the cape with the schooner
made Journey to the north side Of the cape in a
whale boat, and from an elevation OF ak hundred
feet obtained a view TO the northward. In that d.
rectlon, fifteen miles above Cape Isabella, the ice
was solid and unbrOken far az the eve could reach
To the eastward the pack ice was heavy and i'm
penerabe. To penetrate the strait under these cir
cumstances, with the view OF reaching practicable
point for future sledge operations with my reduced
force for bad now only five dogs) was clearly i'm
practicable, and believing that not justified in
mourning the heavy expense OF another years alb
sence without prospect Of corresponding results,
reluctantly abandoned the field and turned south
ward.
Taking Whale Sound on the way, completed the
survey Of that remarkable inlet and obtained there
an excellent set Of magnetic determinations and
some photographs Of the natives, the glaciers and
other objects Of interest.
After boring through the ice Of Melville Bay for
$50 miles, We reached the Southern water, and en-
tered the haIbor OF Upernayk the l4th Of August.
There we remained ten days, engaged during thu,
time in various scientific explorations. On the lat
OF September we reached Godhoun, or Lievely, and
were there similarly occupied. We were ready for
ses again on the 9th, but succession Of southwest
gales detained until the 18th, when again put
TO sea, and having fair wind we were on the 22i
200 miles 10 the southwark of Cape Farewell. From
that time until the 9th of October we encountered
constant southerly weather, with frequent gales.
When of Halifax we sustained serious damage, and
were obliged TO put into that port for repairs. We
were there the recipients Of generous hospitality at
the hands of the citizens Of Halifax and Of the officers
of her Maiesty's Government stationed there. In
" Il
schooner back to Boston, where We arrived Oct %.
will conclude, Mr.. President, with an enumera-
ton of the results Of the expedition:
l. detailed survey Of the west coast Of North
Bafin Bay Smith Strait, and Kennedy Channel, aud
the extension of the survey to the north Of any pre-
yious explorations. This survey embraces about
i 300 miles Of coast line.
2. The discovery of a new channel opening west
ward from Smith Strait, parallel with Joues's and
Lancaster Sounds.
8. detailed survey Of the coasts Of Whale Sound,
and the coasts to the north and south of il. This
survey embraces about 600 miles Of coast line.
4. Surveys of glaciers by which their rate of
movement Is estimated.
5. A complete set Of pendulum experiments.
6. Sets of magnetic experiments at Port Foulke,
Cape Isabella, in Whale Sound, at Upernarik and
GOdham.
7. Topographic and photographic surveys.
g. Large collections of specimens Of natural his
tory, and Geological and Neurological collections
9. A continuous set of meteorological obserys-
tions.
10. An extensive collection Of Photographic views.
IL. The accomplishment Of a more northern laii-
tude than ever before attained upon land.
II. The confirmation Of theories respecting the
oTen Polar Sea.
1t is with pleasure that turn from the relation Of
these details to speak Of my companions. You have
followed them with an interest not less great than
that with which you have honored NE. They have
done WELL have performed their duties cheerfully,
and with harmony becoming TO the enterprise.
They deserve the gratitude of their commander.
The unfortunate accident which occasioned the I'M
timely death of Mr.. Sonnsg, caused serious loss
the expedition. The system of observations and
experiments which We had planned in concert had
already accomplished important additions to Arctic
science when death deprived ne OF bis invaluable
assistance; ard with the duties incident to Arctic
exploration in the field pressing constantly upon
me, 1 was not always able to execute the plans
which we had devised. NV officers, however, on
all occasions contributed their best assistance, and
was by them relieved OF nany onerous duties.
am especially indebted 10 Mr.. RadoliA, assistant
astronomer, for bis Jealous assistance in the work al
the observatory ard for assistance in taking photo
graphic views; and to Messrs. Dodge, knOrr, and