already I have trespassed too much upon the Society, in the unexpected extent of this paper, I nevertheless cannot think of dismissing the subject, without completing my original plan, by noticing the comparative approximations towards the Poles, which have been effected on different meridians; and at the same time offering, with diffidence, a few remarks on the possibility of travelling to the North Pole, together with a sketch of the reasoning on which the probability of success depends. First, It has already been remarked, that the 80th degree of north latitude is almost annually accessible to the Greenland whalefishers, and that this latitude, on particular occasions, has been exceeded. On one of the first attempts which appears to have been made to explore the circumpolar regions, in the year 1607, Henry Hudson penetrated the ice on the north-western coast of Spitzbergen to the latitude of 80° 23′ N. In 1773, Captain Phipps, on a voyage towards the North Pole," advanced on a similar track to 80° 37 of north latitude. In the year 1806, the ship Resolution of Whitby, commanded by my Father, (whose extraordinary perseverance and nautical ability are well appreciated by those in the Greenland trade,and proved by his never-failing success), was forced, by astonishing efforts, through a vast body of ice, which commenced in the place of the usual barrier, but exceeded its general extent by at least a hundred miles. We then reached a navigable sea, and advanced without hinderance to the latitude of 814° north, a distance of only 170 leagues from the Pole; which is, I imagine, one of the most extraordinary approximations yet realised. In Hudson's Bay, between the longitudes of 50° and 80° west, ships can seldom advance beyond the 74th degree of north latitude; and only one instance is upon record, wherein the extremity of the bay in 78° N. has been explored. In Behring's Straits, the adventurous Cook, on the meridian of 1610 W. (very near the American coast), advanced to the latitude of 70° 44' N., on the 18th of August 1778; and on the 26th, in longitude 176° W. they were stopped by the ice in 69° 45 N After his lamentable death, Captain Clerke directed the proceedings in the following year, and reached the latitude of 70° 33′ on the 18th of July, being about four leagues short of their former advance. The southern hemisphere, towards the Pole, was likewise explored by Captain Cook on a former voyage, on various meridians, and with indefatigable perseverance. On his first attempt in 1772, they met with ice in about 51° south, and longitude 21 east. They saw great fields in 55° south on the 17th of January 1773, and on February the 24th, were stopped by field-ice in 62° south latitude, and 95° east longitude. Again, on the second attempt in December of the same year, they first met with ice in about 62° south latitude, and 172-173° west longitude; and on the 15th, saw field ice in latitude 66o. On the 30th of January 1774, they were stopped by immense ice fields in latitude 71° 10′ 30′′, and 107° west longitude, which was the most considerable approximation towards the South Pole that had ever been effected. Thus, it appears, that there subsists a remarkable difference between the two hemispheres, with regard to the approach of the ice towards the equator; the ice of the southern being much less pervious, and extending to much lower latitudes, than that of the northern hemisphere : That the 73d or 74th degree of north latitude can be attained at any season of the year; whereas the 71st degree of south latitude, has been but once passed :-And, That, whilst the antarctic ne plus ultra appears to be the 72d degree of latitude, that of the arctic extends full 600 miles further; the nearest approach to the South Pole being a distance of 1130 miles, but to the North, only 510 miles. Lastly, With regard to the probability of exploring the regions more immediately in the vicinity of the Pole than has yet been accomplished, or even of reaching the Pole itself,-I anticipate, that without reference to the reasoning on which the opinion is grounded, it might be deemed the frenzied speculation of a disordered fancy. I flatter myself, however, that I shall be able to satisfy the Society, that the performance of a journey, over a surface of ice, from the north of Spitzbergen to the Pole, is a project which might be undertaken with at least a probability of success. It must be allowed, that many known difficulties would require to be surmounted,-many dangers to be encountered,—and that some circumstances might possibly occur, which would at once annul the success of the undertaking. Of these classes of objections, the following strike me as being the most formidable, which, after briefly stating, I shall individually consider in their order: 1. The difficulty of performing a journey of 1200 miles, 600 going and 600 returning, over a surface of ice,-of procuring a sufficient conveyance, and of carrying a necessary supply of provisions and apparatus, as well as attendants. The difficulty may be increased by (a.) Soft snow; (b.) Want of the continuity of the ice; (c.) Rough ice; and 2. The difficulty of ascertaining the route, and especially of the return, arising from the perpendicularity of the magnetical needle. 3. Dangers to be apprehended, (a) From excessive cold; (b.) From wild beasts. 4. Impediments which would frustrate the scheme: (a.) Mountainous land; (c.) Constant cloudy atmosphere. 1. It is evident that a journey of 1200 miles, under the existing difficulties, would be too arduous a task to be undertaken and performed by human exertions alone, but would require the assistance of some fleet quadrupeds, accustomed to the harness. Rein-deer, or dogs, appear to be the most appropriate. If the former could sustain a sea voyage, they might be refreshed on the northern northern part of Spitzbergen, which affords their natural food. They could be yoked to sledges framed of the lightest materials, adapted for the accommodation of the adventurers, and the conveyance of the requisites. The provisions for the adventurers, for compactness, might consist of portable soups, potted meats, &c., and compressed lichen for the rein-deer. The instruments and apparatus might be in a great measure confined to indispensables, and those of the most portable kinds; such as tents, defensive weapons, sextants, chronometers, magnetic needles, thermometers, &c. As the rein-deer is, however, a delicate animal, difficult to guide, and might be troublesome if thin or broken ice were required to be passed,-dogs would seem in some respects to be preferable. In either case, the animals must be procured from the countries wherein they are trained, and drivers would probably be required with them. The journey might be ac celerated by expanding a sail to every favourable breeze, at the same time the animals would be relieved from the oppression of their draught. It would appear from the reputed speed of the rein-deer, that, under favourable circumstances, the journey might be accomplished even in a fortnight, allowing time for rest and accidental delays. It would require a month or six weeks with dogs, at a moderate speed; and, in the event of the failure of these animals on the journey, it does not seem impossible that the return should be effected on foot, with sledges for the provisions and apparatus. (a.) Soft snow would diminish the speed, and augment the fatigue of the animal; to avoid which, therefore, it would be necessary to set out by the close of the month of April or the beginning of May; or, at least, some time before the severity of the frost should be too greatly relaxed. (b.) Want of continuity of the ice, would certainly occasion a troublesome interruption; it might nevertheless be overcome, by having the sledges adapted to answer the purpose of boats; and it is to be expected, that although openings amidst the ice should occur, yet a winding course might in general be pursued, so as to prevent any very great stoppage. (c.) Many of the most prodigious fields are entirely free from abrupt hummocks, from one extremity to the other, and field ice, as it appears in general, would be easily passable. (d.) The degree of interruption from mountainous ice, would depend on the quality of its surface. If, as is most probable, it were smooth, and free from abrupt slopes, it would not prevent the success of the expedition. 2. The direct route would be pointed out, for some part of the way at least, by the magnetic needle; and when its pole should be directed towards the zenith, should that position ever obtain, the sun would be the only guide. Or, the position of the true north being once ascertained, three sledges on a line, at a convenient distance apart, might enable the leading leading one to keep a direct course. A chronometer would be an indispensable requisite, as the opportunity for lunar observations could not be expected to occur sufficiently often. Were the Pole gained, the bearing of the sun at the time of noon, by a chronometer adjusted to the meridian of North-west Spitzbergen, would afford a line of direction for the return; and, the position in regard to longitude (were the sun visible) could be corrected, at least twice a-day, as the latitude decreased. The degrees of longitude being so contracted, any required position would be pointed out by the watch, with the greatest precision. 3. (a.) Among the dangers to be apprehended, the coldness of the air stands prominent. As, however, the cold is not sensibly different between the latitudes of 70° and 80° with a strong north wind, it may be presumed that at the Pole itself, it would be very little more oppressive than at the borders of the main ice, in the 81st degree of north latitude, under a hard northerly gale: and since this cold is supportable, that of the Pole may be deemed so likewise. The injurious effects of the severity of the weather, might be avoided by a judicious choice of woollen clothing; the external air being met by an outward garment of varnished silk, and the face defended by a mask, with eyes of glass. The exterior garment would, at the same time, be water-proof, and thus capable of shielding the body from accidental moisture. (b.) The white bear is the only ferocious animal known to inhabit those regions, and he rarely makes an attack upon man. At any rate, he might be repulsed by any offensive weapon. And, as the prey of the bears is scarce in the most northern latitudes, they would not probably occur in any abundance. 4. Hitherto no insurmountable objection has been presented: a few serious obstacles, should they occur, remain to be considered. (a.) Mountainous land, like mountainous ice, would check the progress of the expedition, in proportion to the ruggedness of its surface, and the steepness of its cliffs. Its occurrence would, nevertheless, form an interesting discovery. (b.) From the pretended excursions of the Dutch, many have believed that the sea at the Pole is free from ice; were this really the case, the circumstance would certainly be an extraordinary one; but I consider it too improbable to render it necessary to hazard any opinion concerning it. (c.) From the facts stated in pages 319, 320 of this paper, I think we derive a sanction for calculating on clear weather at all times but with southerly storms; and as these occur but rarely, the progress of the journey would not probably be suspended by an obscure sky, except for short periods and at distant intervals. Notwithstanding I have now distinctly considered every obvious objection and difficulty to be surmounted, I am nevertheless sensible, that in the realising of any project for discovery, whether at sea or on land, there will occur many adventitious circumstances which may tend to mar the progress of the best regulated expedition. Therefore, it may not be improper to confirm and strengthen the whole, by directing the attention to what has been done, in journeying under difficulties which may bear a comparison with the undertaking here alluded to, and occasionally under circumstances the most unfavourable for success. 1st. When treating of icebergs, I alluded to the journey of Alexei Markoff, in which it appears, that he performed near eight hundred miles across a surface of packed ice, in the spring of 1715, in a sledge drawn by dogs; and consequently, that he might be supposed to have encountered the principal difficulties that could be expected in the proposed scheme, whilst we have the advantage of improving by his experience. 2d. Speaking of the southwestern tendency of the ice, I have also noticed the loss of several of the Dutch Greenland fleet in 1777, from which we learn, that part of the unfortunate suffering crews, under every privation of provision and clothing, and exposed to the severity of an arctic winter, accomplished a journey on foot, along the coasts of Old Greenland, from the east side near StatenHook to the Danish settlements on the west, a distance of near a hundred leagues. 3d. On contrasting the projected polar journey with the catalogue of marvellous occurrences, and wonderful preservations which are exhibited in the records of maritime disasters, the difficulties of the undertaking in a great measure vanish, and its dangers are eclipsed, by the wonderful reVOL, LIX. sults which necessity has in various instances accomplished. PERSIAN GULF. Discovery of Eight Islands. (From the Asiatic Journal.) We publish for general information, the following observations received from the Hon. James Ashley Maude, Captain of His Majesty's ship Favourite, in regard to the situation and appearance of eight islands discovered by him on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of July, 1816, in the Persian Gulph, during a cruize for general protection of the trade. "The situation and appearance of eight islands on the Arab ianside in the Gulph of Persia, not laid down in any of the charts; the names of which are Arabic, and the latitudes and longitudes of each taken from cross bearings, the latter by chronometer; seen by his Majesty's ship Favourite, the Hon. James Ashley Maude, captain, during a cruize for the general protection of trade in the Gulph, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of July, 1816. Dauss. In latitude 25° 10' N. longitude per chronometer 52° 45 E. bearing SE. distance 4 leagues, appears of a moderate height with a few small hummocks, and south western extremity a low sandy point six or seven miles in length, no trees, and soil a metallic appearance; in passing it, distance off shore four or five leagues, we had from 13 to 18 fathoms, coarse sand with a few overfalls. Jarnain Island.-South easterly direction found Dauss is in latitude 25° 8' N. longitude, per chronometer, 52° 55' E. bearing SE. 20 by |
