The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-18
THE ARCTIC EypEpi7lOEs.-Iiic iic?c ar,

THE ARCTIC EXpEDi7lOES.--i hc;C arc now
three or four expeditions - The Arctic
Regions endcayoring 10 rench the North
Pole. First, the German expedition, which
follows the plan for reaching; tie Polar sea
devised by rr. Hctcllnann, Wi.i;.i: is 10 &c mp
on the east side Of Sui,z3air:,:!. Second,
Captain Halls expedition, w!iiri. goes up
Bs lin'S hay to .JoncS,s sound. Third, the
expedition which started from San Francisco
list summer, intending to penetrate the
Arctic sea by way Of Behring's Strait.
Fourth, Swedish expeditions, which pro-
poses to winter in the north part Of SpitZ-
bergen. and try to reach tie pole next sum
mer. The Swedish explorers follow the
directions Of Professor NorIcnSioId, who
prescribcs the route along tte east side of
Spitzbergen.
We are not quite sure thai this Swedish
expedition has actually sailed. although il
was intending to leave this year; !'tt it will
60 next summer, If it has not lett already; or,
rather, if it did not leave previous to Scptenl-
Der, us it is impossible to sail 10 the north
part Of Spitzhergen later In JLc ,t.:son. Pro
lessor NordcnSold puts forth soile rather
curious views OF the Arctic sea. which SUM
marily disregard facts already established.
He begins by denying the possibility Of an
open Artic sen, and maintaining that who.
ever reaches the north pole inust travel on
the ice from about the 18th degree Of norti.
latitude. The non-eyisience OF al open polar
sea, he says, has been proved hy SCIENCE p
Like some other learned men, lie seems to
give more attention TO- speculation than to
facts, aild substitutes his theory for science.
The existence Of all open sen hear the pole is
shown by the discoveries OF the Russian cX-
plorer, Wrangell, who examined the coast
and ocean north Of the eastern part of Sibe-
ria, and by Dr. kaIe's expedition, some
members Of which actually went to the open
sea across the ice.
The truth is notwithstanding what the
Swedish professor says science suggested
| the existence Of an open sea around the
pole, and tho deduction Of science has Deen
verified Tile most Important point now to
be settled concerns the possibility OF sailing
into that sea by way of some passage
through the surrounding ice-belt. The Ger
man expedition appears to have reached The
open water reported by WIangell, which i
| believed to be part OF the open polar sea
visited by Kane's men, 4 full report OF this
exploring voyage, when it shall be compile
! ted, is likely TO add something to our knoWl.
edge Of the Arctic sea, The discoveries and
adventures Of the expedition which went
through Behring's Strait will probably have
no laek Of interest.
Captain Hall can hardly do more than was
done by Or. Kane, even il he should have
very good success; for his progress north
ward is sure to be stopped by the ice-belt
and 10 get view of the open sea he mus
make long journey Oh the ice, AS to tht
Swedish expedition, we hope It may have
great success, and contradict the dogmati(
| theory of Professor Norden<jold by its dis
coyelfes. II may do this, should the next
season be SO f;lyorabe rs to bring down ths
northern line Of the ice-belt below the eigh
| tieth parallel Worcester Spy.