The New York herald., 1876-12-02

70 point that fixed by an observation with
pocket scxiant in latitude 81 deg. 81 min. II may
have been few miles north south OF this that my
journey on land terminated. went short distance
beyond on the ice and have estimated my last point
reached in Lady Franklin Bay at not very far from
latitude 81 deg The reports of the British expedition
wiz show, as one OF tho ships, the Discovery win
tered at this identical spot made a long sledgt
journey OF orty-hye days the ce before reaching
IT. The actual distance IRON winter quarters to thai
point was as the crow flies $50 miles, but by tht
ortuous route compelled to pursue II was not lcs
than three times that distance, and estimated my
whole journey going and coming from 200 l.30o
miles The British ships found the sea which had
thus traversed mainly opcn, and steamed through
without much difficulty.
After the United States the United States gov.
ernment Expedition OF Captain Hall Having steam.
the head winds and heavy OF tho Sound proved no
great obstacle the Polaris and steamed through
Smith Sound and Kane Basin and into Kennedy Chan
mel. This channel was discovered and named by Kanc
and is simply narrowing Of Kane Basin. Its extension
to the north Hall called Robcson Channel and into
this he penetrated until he encountered ice latitude
81 deg. 10 min, when he driven back, and took
up his winter quarters Thank God Harbor) the
east side Of the channel nearly opposite my furtbcst
point the Grinnell Land side There condict.
character of the there encountered, some OF them
contendng that 1t was but narrow belt, and that
there opcn navigable beyond. Hall made
al:crward sedge journey 10 latitude SO deg. mn.,
but did not cross the channel. The British expe-
diton went further by water, their ships, the
Alert reaching latitude So deg. 81 min, where she win
tered, the pecuarity of her harbor being that the
heavy ice, grounding some distance OF shore.
gave an artificial projection. This harbor
at Capc Union which the last point
OF land sighted by me- and to which
gave that name Its position estimated at ati-
tudc 50 deg 45 min., and then believed It to be the
northwest point OF America / came pretty near IL,
and can well forego the fancy have some years
INDUCED myself in when find that Captain Mares
has gracefully named the real northwest point OF
America, about 100 miles to the northwest of Cape
Union, Cape Columbia My estimate Il only sighted
i as to the position OF Cape Union proves bc some-
what in error, about nineteen mios according to tho
British chart, they bringing it south that much.
While aluding to matters in this quarter must not
neglect to mention very handsome and touching act
done by Captain Mares and his associates. l quote
from Nature Robson Channel was crossed by Cap
tain Stephenson and party, and Captain Halls grave
visited. When at Polaris Bay the American ensign
hoisted and salute fred as tablet, which
he Captain Stephenson and Captain Mares had pre-
pared in England, fixed Halps grave Tho plate
bore the following nscription:-Sacred to the memory
Of Captain c. t. Hail. of the United States ship Poaris
who sacrificed his life in the advancement of science
on November S, 1871. This tablet has been erected
by the British Polar Expedition Of 1885, who follow
ing his footsteps, have p:ofted by his experience
or one thing may be now certain, Smith Sound
does expand finally into the Polar Basin, as Captain
Ingedeld reported in 1852 This was however, right
from its mouth Banin's Bay, Kane afterward
nlso thoupht II eypandcd n like manner from Ken.
nedy Channel, and as thought it did from Lady
Franklin Bay to the east and northeast OF which no
land was visible did think any existed. But the
clear in that quarter at tho time OF obser-
walton. and heavy clouds hung IN the distance
aAsIN.
Now, however, after the eforts Of the British ex.
plorers cannot doubt that the shores Of the
Polar Ocean have been waihed through Smiths
Sound hitherto known the american route) as GER
tanly as they have by the Mackenzie and Coppermno
rivers In America, and by thu Lena and Kolyma
rivers in Asia All praise % the British Ex-
pedition for giving us this much 1t remains
only to explore the comparatively short distances
to the south and west Of Grant Land to connect with
the previous English discoveries; the equally Short
line remaining tho northeast qlarter Of Greenland
and the north shores OF the Anstro- Hungarian dis
covery-the extensive Francs-J oseph Land-and then
We shall have completed the Dundary line OF this
mighty OF the north, where the ancients placed
'sThe golden gardens OF the blea.' where there
neither sorrow, suffering death; where geographers
the Middle Ages located fartleslands inhabited by
a OF pigmes, but which our British cousins have
found their possess qualities and associations
OF a very different complexion.
And now to what generation Will It be left to shou
the further wondrous performances OF Rnture:-
In that strange, mysterious CLINE, where springs
r