HISTORY OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 213, 13 February 1875, Page 3

HISTORY OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

{Pall Mall Budget.) The despatch of a naval Arctic expedition of discoveiy is now an accomplished fact. Rut it is worth while to look back for a moment at the labors and difficulties of those whose exertions have at length secured this result. It is all but ten years ago since Captain (now Admiral) Bherard Osborn read his paper at the meeting of the Geographical Society, on January 23rd, 1865, proposing the renewal of Arctic exploration by way of Smith Sound, using the west coast of Greenlaud as a base, and conducting the expedition by the light of experience gradually acquired in former years. Captain Osborn was obliged to leave England for Bombay in March of the same year, and he left the work of advocating the cause of Arctic discovery in the hands of his old messmate and fellow Arctic laborer, Mr Clements Markham. It was then that Mr Petermanu wrote two letters to Sir Roderick Murchison repeating his old exploded theory, and urging that the expedition should sail direct to the Pole by the Spitzbergen sea. This action of the German geographer caused disunion, gave rise to barren discussions, and destroyed the prospects of English Arctic discovery for years. Mr Markham struggled against the tide almost single-handed, for Sir Leopold M'Clintock, Sherard Osborn, Vesey'Hamilton, and others who concurred with him, were absent from England. Sir George Back and Admiral Collinson aloue stood by him in the subsequent discussions, during which Mr Peter ma nn's fallacies were fully exposed. Bat the want of unanimity was fatal; and when the representation prepared by Mr Markham was presented to the Duke of Somerset (then First Lord of the Admiralty) in May, 1865, the reply was that the Government could take no action until Arctic authorities were agreed. Yet some good was effected. Mr Markham discussed the whole subject in an article in the Quarterly Review of July, 1865, and obtained the publication of other useful papers on the subject, and the idea of the renewal of Arctic discovery as a thing desirable for the credit of the country and in the interests of the navy and of science, became familiar to the people of this country It had become merely a question of time, and the subject was not allowed to drop. The essential point was to obtain practical unanimity as to the route among Arctic authorities. This was gradually secured by the total fnilure of all expeditions despatched under Mr Peternaann's auspices, and by the routes he recommended, and by the extraordinary success of the voyage of the Polaris up Smith Sound. In January, 1872. Admiral Osboru's second paper was read, proposing the renewal oE Arctic explorations. Still there were three years of work before, the advocates of the cause. An Arctic committee was formed, which unanimously adopted a memorandum stating the scientific results and other advantages to be derived from Arctic discovery, the joint production of Admiral Osborn and Mr Markham. The committee, headed by Sir Henry Rawlinson, as president of the Geographical Society, then had an interview with Mr Lowe 'aud Mr Gosoheu ou jpeccmber itilu.

1872, in which the desirability of despatching an Arctic expedition was strongly urged. The deputation received an ambiguous answer. But general opinion was foiming into shape. A final effort was made in 1873. Admiral Osborn resolved to despatch a naval officer, carefully selected for his special qualifications, to Baffin's Bay in a whaler, in order to acquire experience in ice navigation, and to report upon the revolution which has been caused by steam power. Mr Markham's cousin, Commander A. H. Markham, was selected for this duty, which he performed admirably during the summer of 1873. On his return he published " A Whaling Expedition in Baffin's Bay," which increased the familiarity with Arctic subjects among the general public. Meanwhile, Mr Markham published his " Threshold of the Unknown Region," with the object of giving the public a correct knowledge of the whole line of frontier separating the known from the unknown region round the North Pole, and of setting forth the arguments in favor of a renewal of Arctic exploration by England. An exhaustive memorandum was also prepared by Mr Markham, to which Admiral Osborn, Dr Hooker, Mr Allman, MrPrestwich, General Strachey, and Mr Norman Lockyer contributed, setting forth thescientificresults to be obtained by Arctic research; which was adopted by the committees of the Royal and Royal Geographical Societies. One great advantage which had never been enjoyed before, namely, the cordial adherence of the Royal Society under the influence of its new president, Dr Hooker, was secured in 1873. Thus strengthened, Kir Bartle Frere addressed Mr Gladstone in December, 1873, in an admirable letter, and it is not improbable that the fall of the late Ministry prevented the despatch of an expedition in the spring of 1874. Sir Henry Rawlinson, on succeeding to the presidency of the Geogranhical Society in 1874, renewed the efforts of his predecessor, and after forwarding the Arctic memorandum for the consideration of Mr Disraeli, an interview took place between the Prime Minister and Sir Henry Rawlinson, Dr Hooker, and Admiral Osborn, on August Ist, 1874. The result is now well known. The Government decided upon equipping a naval Arctic Expedition of discovery, and despatching it by the route of Smith Sound in the spring of 1875.