The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-27
French Expedition to the North Pole.

In the French Bulletin of the Geographical So
ciety for August, We find some particulars of the
plan of an expedition to the North Pole, under NJ.
Gustavc Lambert, a former pupil of the Poly
technic School, and navigator and photographer.
He proposes to attain his object by entering the
Arctic Sea, through the Straits OF Bchring, Gin
order to reach Polynin, an acknowledged open sea,
and thence 10 the North Pole itself" His project
is based on practical observations made by himself
at sea, and on certain matters assumed as granted,
and has been presented by him in such a shape as
to enlist in its favor many influential supporters,
among whom are the Archbishop OF Paris, the Ex-
Minister Drouyn de LH'uys, and the French En-
peror, who gives his cordial approval, and a con-
tribution OF ten thousand dollars.
After many perilous attempts and much suffer-
ing and loss OF life, the problem of Il northwest
passage by sea was solved by Captain Mcclure IN
1853, so far as to show L continuous water commu-
nicatlon between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
A geographical problem was solved, but with 1t the
dream of q channel being found open for CONNER
cial intercourse between Europe and Asia in that
direction, was disputed. Captain Mcclure, who
entered tho Arctic Sea by the Straits OF BehrlnS,
could not carry his vessel through, but WAS
obliged to travel over the tishtly-frozen passage
until he met his. counLrymcn i'll their explorations
llOul lLlO GAG vi ottAiAiA ~ "a +AS AhbkN ~ 1890
a northwest passage from ocean to ocean for any
useful or practical purpose has, however, only
served to give another direction to the lovers OF
Arctic adventure, which would seem to be attrac-
tive in proportion to its danger, and, one might be
tempted to add, in proportion to the barrennes5 OF
It's results. II remains to be shown how far science,
in its departments OF climatology, natural history
and magnetism, has gained i'll the different Arctic
expeditions. To reach the North Pole IS now u
~fayorlte geographical problem, the solution OF
which II IaampI tba moro plSy SINCE tlc belief IN
an open Polar Sea has gained so many advocates.
Opinions are divided as TO tho best direction to
be taken for reaching the Pole. Nj. Lambert, the
French navigator, proposes, az we have seen, TO
go by the Straits OF BehrinS on the northwest.
On the other side, or from the cast, we tiud Cap
tain Sherard Osborn, OF the British navy, Doctor
HAYES, and others, recommend the route by way
of Smiths Sound through Baffins Bay in vessels,
and from tho former to the Pole by means OF
sledces and boats. This was the plan previously
projected and virtually carried out by Dr.. Kane,
one of whose companions, William Morton, head
ing 4 slcdge party. Obtained, ut an elevation OF 800
feet, a view of what lie believed TO DC an open sea,
with all icelesS horizon and a heavy swell rolling
in with white caps" From cape larry, inc north
ern point of Smiths Sound, to tho Polo, tho dis
lance is but 1S4 geographical miles, and :: jour
ncv back would make 9S miles, Il distance
which has been repeatedly exceeded by Arc
tic sledge and boat parties. Lieutenant
Hamilton did 115O miles with a dog sledGe
anu one nan, anu Ut. Iitco tiaNelicu toOu hii'cS
from the time he lerc lis vessel in Smiths Sound
until his return. But Il majority of Arctic officers
are in favor Of making the attempt by way OF tho
Spitzbergen Seas, between the island OF this name
and that of Nova Zcmbla, Oil the faith i'll the thco-
nv of DIR. P%cterman the eminent Germ III gcogra-
phcr, that Il warm current flows from the coast OF
Norway in tlat direction into the Polar Sea, ami
extending self to the vicinity of the Pole. The
chic Gbsi .tle to surmount in this route is thought
to lie III the outer Larrier vi foes and packet ice,
forming Il movable bank Of live degrees OF latitude
10000 geographical miics) i'll extent. This once
passed, Dir. Pctcrman believes The ships would
enter u sea easy of navigation, extending to the
highest latitude, and even to the Pole itself. y
Prussian expedition III THIS direction has boon
talked Of for the last two years.