Year: 1876

effort? Truc, Baron Wrangell found open north
OF Siberia within twenty miles of land. The Brush
did not find water at a corresponding distance But
could they have proceeded on their course entertain
no doubt that they would ultimately have reached
water less open. or they could not
have navigated it even had they reached 1t, hav-
ing no boats and over such leo as they encoun-
tered IL is needless to say boat could be trans
ported But that ice permanent? That is
tho question The report speaks of its drifting,
therefore it could not have been permanent
1t from somewhere. That 1t drfted there
proves that il did form there Coming there by
drift it must somewhere have left void In short
time we shall no doubt have the full report of Captain
Mares and the supplemental reports OF his subordinate
officers These will give data whereby to Judge OF the
extent and character Of their work and spirit, but
nothing can convince mo that any conclusions which
may be drawn from so short a stay are in any way
satisfactory. have seen as yet comments OF the
British press except in the copy OF Nature before me
but think calm consideration of tie matter will
convince every one that, uncertain sea as the
Arctic few weeks Is not sufficient definitely deter
anything conclusive, for virtually, this what
They entered winter harhor and frozen
fast at in September. They could not have had
above two months Of summer the next year. since
they loft at the most open August





expected, without pausing TO change conclusions
formed by tho severe laoors Of the spring
sledgng repca, what have often said-that tho
time too short The three weeks follow rg August
IL the favorable of all for Arctic navigation
The ice encountered by the ships does appear
have been more form dabc than that encountered by
thousands OF whale ships and expeditions before their
time and as for the sedgc travelling | unable TO
that II was more severe than that of many other
explorers There could, therefore, have been nothing
particularly dscouraging except the scurvy, the
existence of which II Is impossible to explain. have
never before heard OF Il breaking out In seige party
even under the most un favorable circumstances The
sledge parties from Port FoulSc travelled over long
and exposed journeys at the lowest temperatures
with dried meat and potatoes only for food with no
shelter but the hut, and never suffered but from
fatigue. The Polars wintcrcd IN nearly the same la-
tude as the Discovery and hty miles only south OF
the Alert and was exposed and while Captain
Hall and crew were not subject 10 naval discipline
they were yet generally healthy. 1t would seem in
this case to have been special dspensation OF
Providence before which must all bow with
humble submission.


scuRvY, NOT DESPAIR.


All who were interested in Arctic exploration felt
disposed to fault-hnding when 1t was known that
another had been given to obtaining inds.
pulablo proof But now turns out that the health
OF the ships crows gave way and that scurvy, sthat
dire pcst-scourgc of the frozen zonc," Il cause
OF their return Here all criticism, therefore rests,
in OF their sad calamity aEd whatever regrets We
may have, We mus. be content with the Gne results
they have actually achieved for science, and trust
enterprise for the complete ulnmonl OF our
desires. Their achievements have indeed been great.
They have penetrated, amid the fearful obstacles
Ia Polo 81 heir
even Sir Edward Parry, who, likc them travcrsed the
ice fields. Tho highest latitude attained by party un.
der command Of Captain Markham was 50 deg.