Russians have been as arduous in their attempts to dis cover a northeast passage to the north of Cape Shei atskoi, as the English have been to sail to the north west of the American continent, through Baffin's Bay and Lancaster Sound. On the side of the Pacific, many efforts, have, within the last century, been made to further this object. In 1741, the celebrated Captain Behring discovered the straits which bear his name, as we are informed by Muller, the chronicler of Russian discoveries, and several subsequent commanders of that nation seconded his endeavors to penetrate from the American continent to the northeast. From the period when Deshnew sailed on his expedition, to the year 1764, when Admiral Tchitschagof, an indefatigable and active officer, endeavored to force a passage round Spitzbergen, (which, although he attempted with a resolution and skill which would fall to the lot of few, he was unable to effect,) and thence to the present times, including the arduous efforts of Captain Billings and Vancouver, and the more recent one of M. Von Wrangell, the Russians have been untiring in their attempts to discover a passage eastward, to the north of Cape Taimur and Cape Shelatskoi. And certainly, if skill, perseverance, and courage, could have opened this passage, it would have been accomplished.

Soon after the general peace of Europe, when war's alarms had given way to the high pursuits of science, the government recommenced the long-suspended work of prosecuting discoveries within the Arctic circle.

An expedition was dispatched under the command of Sir John Ross, in order to explore the scene of the former labors of Frobisher and Baffin. Still haunted with the golden dreams of a northwest passage, which Barrington and Beaufoy had in the last age so enthu siastically advocated, our nautical adventurers by no means relinquished the long-cherished chimera.

It must be admitted, however, that the testimony of Parry and Franklin pass for much on the other side of the question. Both these officers, whose researches in the cause of scientific discovery entitle the 'o very

high respect, have declared it as their opinion that such a passage does not exist to the north of the 75th degree of latitude.

Captain Parry, in the concluding remarks of his first voyage, (vol. ii. p. 241,) says-" Of the existence of a northwest passage to the Pacific, it is now scarcely possible to doubt, and from the success which attended our efforts in 1819, after passing through Sir James Lancaster's Sound, we were not unreasonable in anti cipating its complete accomplishment," &c. And Franklin, in the eleventh chapter of his work, is of the same opinion, as to the practicability of such a passage

But in no subsequent attempt, either by themselves or others, has this long sought desideratum been accomplished; impediments and barriers seem as thickly thrown in its way as ever.*

An expedition was at length undertaken for the sole purpose of reaching the North Pole, with a view to the ascertainment of philosophical questions. It was planned and placed under the command of Sir Edward Parry, and here first the elucidation of phenomena connected with this imaginary axis of our planet formed the primary object of investigation.

My space and purpose in this work will not permit me to go into detail by examining what Barrow justly terms those brilliant periods of early English enter prise, so conspicuously displayed in every quarter of the globe, but in none, probably, to greater advantage than in those bold and persevering efforts to pierce through frozen seas, in their little slender barks, of the most miserable description, ill provided with the means either of comfort or safety, without charts or instruments, or any previous knowledge of the cold and inhospitable region through which they had to force and to feel their way; their vessels oft beset amidst endless fields of ice, and threatened to be overwhelmed with instant destruction from the rapid whirling and bursting of those huge floating masses, known by the

name of icebergs. Yet so powerfully infused into the minds of Britons was the spirit of enterprise, that some of the ablest, the most learned, and most respectable men of the times, not only lent their countenance and support to expeditions fitted out for the discovery of new lands, but strove eagerly, in their own persons, to share in the glory and the danger of every daring adventure."

To the late Sir John Barrow, F. R. S., for so long a period secretary of the Admiralty, and who, in early life, himself visited the Spitzbergen seas, as high as the 80th parallel, we are mainly indebted for the advocacy and promotion of the several expeditions, and the investigations and inquiries set on foot in the present century, and to the voyages which have been hitherto so successfully carried out as regards the interests of science and our knowledge of the Polar regions.

Although it is absurd to impute the direct responsibility for these expeditions to any other quarter than the several administrations during which they were undertaken, there can be no question but that these enterprises originated in Sir John Barrow's able and zealous exhibition, to our naval authorities, of the several facts and arguments upon which they might best be justified and prosecuted as national objects. The general anxiety now prevailing respecting the fate of Sir John Franklin and his gallant companions, throws at this moment somewhat of a gloom on the subject, but it ought to be remembered that, up to the present period, our successive Polar voyages have, without exception, given occupation to the energies and gallantry of energetic seamen, and have extended the realms of magnetic and general science, at an expense of lives and money quite insignificant, compared with the ordinary dangers and casualties of such expeditions, and that it must be a very narrow spirit and view of the subject which can raise the cry of "Cur bono," and counsel us to relinquish the honor and peril of such enterprises.

It can scarcely be deemed out of place to give here a short notice of the literary labors of this excellent and talented man, as I am not aware that such an outline has appeared before.

Sir John Barrow was one of the chief writers for the Quarterly Review, and his articles in that journal amount to nearly 200 in number, forming, when bound up, twelve separate volumes. All those relating to the Arctic Expeditions, &c., which created the greatest interest at the period they were published, were from his pen, and consist chiefly of the following papers, commencing from the 18th volume;-On Polar Ice; On Behring's Straits and the Polar Basin; On Ross's Voyage to Baffin's Bay; On Parry's First Voyage; Kotzebue's Voyage; Franklin's First Expedition; Parry's Second and Third Voyages, and Attempt to Reach the Pole; Franklin's Second Expedition; Lyon's Voyage to Repulse Bay; Back's Arctic Land Expedition, and his Voyage of the Terror. Besides these he published "A Chronological History of Voyages to the Arctic Seas," and afterward a second volume, "On the Voyages of Discovery and Research within the Arctic Regions.'

He also wrote lives of Lord Macartney, 2 vols. 4to; of Lord Anson and Howe, each 1 vol. 8vo; of Peter the Great; and an Account of the Mutiny of the Bounty, (in the "Family Library; ") "Travels in Southern Africa," 2 vols, 4to; and "Travels in China and Cochin China," each 1 vol. 4to.

In the "Encyclopedia Britannica" are ten or twelve of his articles, and he wrote one in the Edinburgh Review by special request.

In addition to these Sir John Barrow prepared for the press innumerable MSS. of travelers in all parts of the globe, the study of geography being his great delight, as is evidenced by his having founded the Royal Geographical Society of London, which now holds so high and influential a position in the learned and scientific world, and has advanced so materially he progress of discovery and research in all parts of

the globe Lastly, Sir John Barrow, not long before his death, published his own autobiography, in which he records the labors, the toil, and adventure, of a long and honorable public life.

Sir John Barrow has described, with voluminous ca and minute research, the arduous services of all the chief Arctic voyagers by sea and land, and to his voi ume I must refer those who wish to obtain more exten sive details and particulars of the voyages of preceding centuries. He has also graphically set forth, to use his own words, "their several characters and conduct, so uniformly displayed in their unflinching perseverance in difficulties of no ordinary description, their patient endurance of extreme suffering, borne without mur muring, and with an equanimity and fortitude of mind under the most appalling distress, rarely, if ever, equaled, and such as could only be supported by a superior degree of moral courage and resignation to the Divine will-displaying virtues like those of no ordinary caste, and such as will not fail to excite the sympathy, and challenge the admiration of every rightfeeling reader."

Hakluyt, in his "Chronicle of Voyages," justly observes, that we should use much care in preserving the memories of the worthy acts of our nation.

The different sea voyages and land journeys of the present century toward the North Pole have redounded to the honor of our country, as well as reflected credit on the characters and reputation of the officers engaged in them; and it is to these I confine my observations. The progress of discovery in the Arctic regions has been slow but progressive, and much still within the limits of practical navigation remains yet unexplored. The English nation very naturally wish that discov eries which were first attempted by the adventurous spirit and maritime skill of their countrymen, should be finally achieved by the same means.

"Wi' it not," says the worthy 'preacher,' Hakluyt, in all posteritie be as great a renown vnto our English natione, to have beene the first discouerers of a