THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Evening Star, Issue 3876, 27 July 1875, Page 2

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

To the Editor,

S T B, —If it is not trespassing too much on your valuable time would you inform me, through your columns, if the Arctic Expedition that sailed from England lately, is composed of ordinary ships of war, or it they are vessels built expressly to encounter heavy ice, &c. ? Any additional particulars relating to officers and crews, &c,, would also be accepted.—l am, Ac.,

„ „ Interested. • Gt. King street, [July 26. [The two ships commissioned for Arctic exploration are the Alert, a steam sloop of 751 tons aud 100 horsepower, commanded by CapS. Nares, R.N., formerly commander of H.M.S. Challenger, and the Discovery, a Dundee whaling barque, (commanded by Captain _ H. F. Stephenson, purchased by the British Government) of 578 tons, and 96 horsepower. Both vessels were strengthened for the work, and fitted with every appliance that ingenuity could desire to ensure safety to the ships, and comfort to the officers and crew. It would require more space than we can spare to describe the preparations for traversing the icy regions of the North with ease to the men and provision for their support. The vessels are supplied with eighteen light boats, of most approved construction; they take thirty-five sledges for travelling, and every appliance needed by the scientific men who take part in the expedition, to enable them to examine accurately the phenomena which may present themselves. It is scarcely anticipated that the voyagers will reach the North Pole, and this is really a secondary result compared with the additions to geographical, zoological, and magnetic science. The expedition sailed on Saturday, 29th May, and is to proceed to Disco, in Greenland, there to take in fresh coal and stores. From Disco they proceed to Smith’s Sound, and thence, paradoxical as it may appear, S.JS. by the compass towards the North Pole. The reason of this apparent contradiction is that the magnetic Pole is in 70deg north latitude, from which point to the Pole of the earth’s rotation the needle points in a south-easterly direction. It is contended that the Discovery shall not proceed further north than 82deg, in which latitude the Polaris wintered in 18/1*72. This arrangement is intended to guard against both vessels being lost, and thus to serve for the crew of the Alert to fall back upon in case of mischance. The two ships were to be accompanied to Disco by the Valorous, with coals and provisions to be deposited there. The Valorous is an old paddle-wbeei frigate of 1,257 tons and 1,145 horse-power. She was selected because of her great capacity for stowage of stores. SJ.e takes out 480 tons of provisions and 250 tons of coal. For further particulars with reference to the Expedition we refer our correspondent to an interesting account, in another column, of its departure from Portsmouth. — Ed. E. S.]