The New York herald., 1875-07-17
Arctic Exnaditions.

tempts to discover the mysterious land
around the Pole. This is a problem
that has attracted men OF science and adven-
interest in it has faded. Other and more
necessary purposes have attracted the great
nations of the world. America has had her
own solemn responsibilities. The European
countries have been too busy with the business
of adjusting the balance of power on the Con-
tinent, while England, generally first and al
ways persistent in seeking new lands, has
| been keeping watch and ward over her neigh
bors, not knowing what hour might bring her
imperative duties. Since the peace the eyes of
the restless have turned again toward the Pole.
Austria has made surprising discoveries and
given the name of her Emperor to one of the
Arctic territories. Germany has planned ex-
peditions which are to carry the glory of the
new Empire into the Arctic circle. Mr.. Dis
raei's government, not content with adding
Fiji the Gold Coast and the South African
provinces to the prodigious Empire of Eng
land, has sent an expedition on the track of
Sir John Franklin, while another vessel,
sailing under the JOINT flags of England and
America goes on the same errand. So the in
terest of the civilized world turns once again
to the far NORTH and we are not without hope
that the unknown and forbidding lands about
the Pole will come within the light of civiza-
ton.
A portion of the globe fifteen hundred thou
sand square miles in extentA more than thirty
times as large as England and nearly one-half
as large as the United States exclusive of
Alaska-embracing both sea and land, is
unknown to mankind All attempts to pene-
trate it have failed. There are no romances
more thrilling than those which tell of these
efforts from the time of John Cabot, who
sailed under Henry VII, to the time of Sir
John franklin, who lost his life in the reign
of the good Victoria. 1t was the dream Of
Cabot to find short road to India through the
Arctic seas-a dream cherished by the mari
ners of that time with unvarying faith. This
was more than three centuries ago, when
the world was wondering over the dis
covery Of America and English daring
would not patiently rest under the honors
achieved by the Spanish, the Portuguese and
the Dutch. These three centuries have been
marked by persistent efforts to redeem the
failures of Cabot. We have our own Henry
Hudson, to whom we owe the discovery of our
island city and the beloved river which inn
mortalizes his name-urging his small vessel
toward the Pole-in 1907. In one of these
adventures he was to die O dismal death,
abandoned by his seamen in an open boat.
We have the Frenchmen endeavoring to work
their way north from Canada, in the time of
Charles IL, but without recorded success.
The Russians also, under their great Czar
Peter, were to renew the effort in more recent
times, under Behring, the Dane who was
to discover the strait which divides Asia
from America. The burden of the efforts to
penetrate the Arctic regions have rested upon
the English. One hundred years ago we had
Lord Mulgrave seeking the way to India,
stimulated by large reward. Among those
who sailed with him was young Nelson, after
ward to become the mighty admiral. About
this time Captain Cook, who was to meet his
fate in the Sandwich Islands and to become
one of the most interesting and romantic
names in our literature, strenuously sought to
open the passage to India. 1t was Cook who
discovered the proximity of the Asiatic and
American continents.
So many failures have only stimulated re-
newed effort The nineteenth century has
seen many expeditions. Rewards were offered
by the English to whalers to press into high
latitudes. 1t is more than fifty years since
l. L. g.
Franklin went over the land for five thousand
five hundred miles to mark its geography.
Thirty years have gone by since franklin went
out with the Erebus and Terror. His instruc-
tions we're to endeavor to find passage from
Bafin's Bay to Behring Strait, and on July 26,
1S45, he was last seen entering Bafin's Bay.
He was to die two years later victim to his
intrepid devotion to duty. 1t is twenty years
since Dr. Kane commanded his expedition
and solved some important problems. We
have the record of the Polaris, SO
we'll known to our readers; the valuable
expeditions of DR.. Hayes, and the great
achievements Of the Austrians under Lieuten-
ant Payer. The problem of the North Pole
was never so interesting as now; Austrians
Germans, English and Americans are alike
striving to solve it. There have been many
misfortunes and disasters, many sacrifices
that we mourn. But every expedition adds
something to our knowledge of this hidden
continent. Every explorer goes out guided by
new experience. The difficulties that attend the
attempt are extraordinary and disheartening.
But in the end courage and patience will win.
The nineteenth century, which has seen so
many wonders, bids fair to realize the dream
of every mariner since the time of Cabot--the
dream of Arctic discovery, and of making the
North Pole as familiar as the Equator.
RECEPTION TO THE AMERICAN TEAM. The
half dozen gentlemen who are known to
tlao i,it ittao LLa NaLi...,al