New-York tribune., 1871-06-26
THE POLAR EXPEDITION.

CAPT. HALLS INSTRUCTIONS FROM skCREiAkh
ROBEsON-MEMoRANDA BY THE SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTE
The Secretary of the Navy, in giving his
final detailed instructions TO Capt Hail. with reference
to the expedition OF the steamer Polars toward the
North Pole has infinitely prescribed the necessary ar
rangemcnts furnishing the expedition with addl-
tonal supplies ut specified points, named the island OF
Disco as the first rendezvous Tor TINS pur-
pose provided for many possible contingen-
cies Of disaster disagreement between mem
bers Of the expedition and required that every qualified
person accompanying the expedition shall keep daily
journal its progress and OF all his observations ana
that after passing Cape Dudley Dgges Shore, sha oo
sealed and containing memoranda, which may be car
red back by the ocean currents and be uumatoH uH g
TO the welfare OF the explorers The ~
this expedition having been granted by Congress eh@.1 @
or account OF the representations oi tdP'.., iaA
and his friends to the possibility Of exploring de ere IS
Rions beyoud the sOth degree Of north anu Se
OF reaching the Pole, he was OF course hpPuiunosu 0
commander of the expedition ana lhtrustou "i' % m
ganizaton and the selection 4i ms stiHc char
acter, main object being simply eeographcd scoN
nedfion has through the National Academy Of
Sciences most complete outfit OF apparatus and such
main object should defeated entirely, there will still
be made very large additions TO the present store OF
The Instructions for the scientific observations
drawn up by Committee OF the members OF the AeaI-
emy, follows: Prof. Henry, ON neteorOlOgy ifOi'
Newcomb, on astronomy; Prof. Higlard on magnetism
and tides; Prof Baird natural histOry Prof Meek,
on geology; Prof Agassiz on glaciers. When practi-
cable four astronomical observations are to be made
each day-mOrnng and evening, the altitude or zenith
distance the SUM- time; aud at and midnight
for latitude As the long Winter will : afford
ample leisure, the transits of the crcumpolar
stars will be frequently observed; the variations
OF the magnetic needle, VIII be studied and pendulum
experiments will be made to determine the force OF
gravity in comparison with that at Washington The
following list Of topics, however, indicates sufficiently
the range OF the inquiries generally Ocean Physics
Depths bottom, temperature, tides, currents density
MctCOrOfOQy-Tem moisture, direction OF
Winds pressure Of air, precipitation clouds, aurora
.bOreais electricity optical phenomena meteor ozone,
'conducuon Of sound, evaporation, melting point
OF mercury; Natural HistOTy-ZOOlOgy botany (peci-
to be collected wherever practicable, but the me
bers OF the expedition to be permitted their RETURN
10 retain whatever for private purposes Geology
All exposures Of rocks especially OF limestone TO be
fully examined for fossils all evidences OF elevation
sinking Of coasts to be noted etc Glacers-Especia at
tentOn TO be given to glacial phenomena Of every
kind, such as the formation, size. movements,
etc, OF those existing their abrading and
other effects upon the su3acent rocks formation OF
morains formation and movement of icebergs. Dr. Il.
Bessels Of Heidelberg Germany, who was Scientific D
rector of the German expedition to Nova Zemba III 1862
is appointed the position in the Polaris expedi
ton The vessel is provisiOned and equipped for y
years but the Secretary nstructs Capt Hall that the
explorations may be continued longer if requisite, and
IL gupplies he obtained.