The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-20

The English are pressing with great earnest
ness the proposed expedition into the Arctic
regions. The Royal Geographical Society
have appointed a subcommittee to draw up a
manual of instructions for the use of this
expedition. Each member of the committee
Will take special department of physical
geography. Among its members are Admiral
Callinson, who commanded the expedition by
! one of the vessels of which the Northwest
Passage was discovered; Admiral Sherrard
Osborn, and DR.. Brown, the Scotch botanist,
who has several times visited the Arctic re-
gions. The same subject is exciting great
interest in Germany. An appeal has been
made in Bremen for q new expedition, under
the German flag, and a letter has been sent to
every member of the German Parliament, Civ
ing the proposed plans and asking for sup
port. The London AthenGusn announces that
the German enterprise will cost between two
and three hundred thousand dollars, and that
1t will consist of two steamers, manned by
sixty men, with provisions enough for three
years. suggestion has been made that in
the event Of the two countries, England and
Germany, sending out expeditions they should
divide their work, the Germans keeping north
west, along the east coast of Greenland while
the English navigate Smith Sound. 'The
distance across" says the Atheneum, sis only
four or five hundred miles, and if Greenland
terminates near the Pole the hope is ex-
pressed that the Germans from the east and
the English from the west may meet each
other at the Pole, or, at all events, double
the northern part of the Greenland Cont
nent."
The defeats of the past, so for as these
explorations are concerned, SO far from
discouraging all effort in this direction,
have become an incentive to further dar-
ing. The secret of the Northwest Passage
cannot be much longer hidden in mystery
The price paid for all great discoveries is life
and it would seem that enough of that kind
Of coin has been laid in the lap OF the Arctic
Zone to persuade it to allow US the pleasure
of solving the problem. The goal has been
80 nearly reached by our great explorers,
only q few score Of miles of sullen,
stubborn cold lying between them
and the discovery SO longed for, that
it were pity not to persevere. Ever
since Martin Frobisher opened the door of
Hudson's Strait there has been a generous
rivalry among the nations of the seacoast and
the courage of these hardy adventurers,
though unrepaid by many material dis
coveries has been sung by the poets of all
climes. The highest point yet gained is so
deg. 81 min, and the few miles that intervene
between that point and the contamination so
devoutly to be wished are SO uniriendly that
nothing but the most persistent determina-
ton and self-sacrifice can conquer them.
So far we have reached the Pole in fiction,
but not in fact John Hatteras born of the
hot and unaccountable imagination of Jules
Verne, pushed his way across the warm sea
and stood at last on the pinnacle which forms
one end of the AXIS on which the earth
nary hero to overcome imaginary dangers,
and ninety-nine degrees below zero-which
DR.. Kane experienced-would not even
tingle the cuticle of such an explorer This
subject seems to be exciting fresh aten-
ton. We may truly say that it is never
wholly absent from the American mind We
are easily kindled into enthusiasm, and always
ready to generously second any attempt at
solution Of the enigma which promises TO be
even persevering and daring. The matter is
constantly coming up before the British
Parliament in some shape or other. The
Austrian and other governments of Europe
are also heartily int crested, and are ready
and willing to do their part to clear up the
mystery.
Our recent special HERALD despatch from
London on this subject IS very suggestive. A
motion was made in Parliament to postpone
the expedition for the present, in order to
give other governments an opportunity to CO
operate. This is undoubtedly the true policy,
and in the end it will prove to be the success
full one. There is no occasion for haste, and
the work can be better accomplished next
year than this. The English appear to fear
that somebody will reach the Pole before
them. To certain extent this has been the
purpose of all the American expeditions, and
every thing which daring and courage could do
to accomplish it was done by our great ex-
plorers. While we have our due share Of
national pride in the matter we are not afraid
that England will deprive us of any laurels
that have been fairly earned. But our failures
ought to teach England that it is better to
wait than to fail. All the experience and CO.
operation which can be brought to bear upon
it should be used to make this the last and
browning effort. America, as well as
Great Britain and Germany, should con-
tribute to and take part in the ex-
petition. When the North Pole is visited it
should be by friendly delegation from all
nations that have heroes buried beneath its
fields of ice Besides, there are better
chances of success in combination of the
different temperaments and characteristics of