Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-03-07

ARcTIo xPLoRArIoSs-CAPIAIN Q. +.
HALL'a LEoTURE.-Captaln Q. r. Hall lee
turcd on Saturday night at Lincoln Han on
Arctic Explorations. The audience was not
only large, but one Of the most distinguished
ever assembled In this city, among whom
were President Grant, Vice President Col
far, who presided, Chief Justice Chase, SEQ
rotary Cox, Senator Sumner, and many other
gentlemen distinguished 10 politics, utera-
ture, science, sc.
In introducing tho speaker, Vice President
Colfax made few eloquent Introductory re-
marks 10 relation 10 Arctic expeditions and
the heroic devotion Of the men who had pro-
lected and engaged In the explorations.
Captain Hall entertained his audience for
two hours, the lecture commencing at eight
O'Clock. He began by saying that he did
not aspire 10 be considered a lecturer, but
that he would DO perfectly at homo In a
sledge expedition TO the Arctic regions. II
did not require this announcement, how
ever, to prove the fact, but the lecture was
nevertheless exceedingly Interesting. His
style 10 conversational, and he talks as his
recolleotlons present themselves to his mind.
His accounts Of his own explorations are
therefore not given In connected form, but
the facts which he relates, and especially his
descriptions Of the mode Of living among
the Esqulmaux, possess ample Interest TO
hold the attention OF an audience.
Captain Hall FIRST reclted the history Of
Arctic explorations from the earliest period
down TO that Of Sir John Franklin. Then
he dwelt at length upon the latter, detailing
soma most Interesting facts and eircum-
stances. He gave an entertaining account Of
his travels, explorations, and experience 10
the regions Of eternal snow aud Ice, aud
illustrated all his movements by repeated
reference TO large charts, which wer0 eK-
posed upon tho stage In full view Of the
audience. He also brought upon tho stage
three native EsquimauX, man, woman, and
child, who had accompanied him In all bis
travels. The lecturer fully explained tho
mode OF life In the Polar regions, and de-
monstrated that he who would live comfort
ably and enjoy good health within tho Polar
circle must live as do the EsqulmauT, eating
raw whalcskin aud blubber, or eating raw
meat aud slipping train oil for coffee. Tho
lecturer said he had never eaten anything In
temperate regions with the same relish that
he partook OF those Polar dAintlcs --daintlea
Of which people there attest their apprecia-
ton by consuming at tho rate OF nleen
pounds q day.
Captain Hall said that bis frat two visits
had been for the purpose Of discovering
traces Of Sir John Franklin'I expedition.
He would start again shortly for the pur'
pose OF prosecuting discoveries toward the
North Pole. With tho experience Of other
men to guide him, aud the knowledge be had
obtained from eight years. residence In that
region, he was convinced that ho could pene.
tratc to the North Pole, and that he would
there iud land and fiue whaling grounds In
the undiscovered seas. He applies 10 the
Government for assistance to the amount Of
800, 900, aud undertakes to say that within
three years, or at the most FIVE, no will plant
the American nag at the North Pole. He
thinla there Ia land thers and people living
there. The ExQuimAuK think so, and he
believes they know. No one has yet found
any northern limit 10 Greenland, and tprob-
ably extends beyond the pole, In which case
tho latter can be reached by means OF dog
sleds.