THE GLOBE. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 19, 1880. ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2103, 19 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 19, 1880. ARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Why Alexander wept because he had no more worlds to conquer has puzzled most people. He had gone as far as his soldiers would let him and that was all; but over the Hydaspes, and indeed in all directions, there was any amount of country that, to use a colonial expression, he might have " taken up," by what was to him the very simple process of turning the rightful owners out of their holdings. It is indeed difficult to sympathise with the Macedonian in his burst of grief. Another species of conqueror merits compassion to an infinitely greater degree. The modern explorer, longing for now regions to discover, is indeed non-plussed. Where is ho to go ? Livingstone, Cameron, and Stanley have made Africa their own; Palgrave has opened out the hidden parts of Arabia; Schliemann has dug up nearly everything that is to be dug up. What is to be done by the man that would achieve a great success and make himself a name ? One feat only has resolutely defied the efforts of mankind, namely that of reaching the North Pole. And yet no achievement has held out greater fascinations to adventurous spirits. Let alone the honor of being the first to plant a flag on the apex of the earth, and the first to solve enigmas that have always baffled the learned, the glories of that mysterious and desert region surpass belief. None who have read the thrilling narratives of Kane and others can deny that the marvellous sights they saw fuily compensated for the hardships they endured. But in the world of discovery the empire over that untrodden region round the Pole still remains to be conquered and the explorer cannot fairly complain that the world is " used up" until the achievement has been completed. By the mail just received come particulars of an expedition that is being planned to attempt once more to reach the Pole. This expedition is to be the joint effort of England and Canada, the Canadians naturally taking particular interest in the affair. The London Central Arctic Expedition have waited upon Sir John Macdonald, the Premier of the Canadian Dominion, who has promised that the matter should be submitted for favorable consideration on his return to his own country. And luckily the ensuing year will be particularly favorable for the attempt. When Sir G. Nares in 1876 made his voyage, his enterprise was an isolated one. Next year there will absolutely be fourteen separate expeditions in those waters for the pursuit of discovery and science, not to mention an Italian expedition to reach the South Pole, although this latter is not, of course, much to the point. The consequence of these fourteen expeditions will be, amongst other things, that the scientific observations taken by the EnglishCanadian expedition will be much enhanced, because of the simultaneous observations taken by others in those quarters. Should a much further point than has hitherto been reached be arrived at, even if the Pole is not gained, yet discoveries of the greatest value and interest may be expected. As the London " Times" says—" The Polar area is of an altogether special character, affording exclusive opportunities for observing the condition of the earth's surface and the physical phenomena there to be seen under extreme and singular circumstances, which are due to the relation of this area to the position of the axis of revolution of the earth, and which have to be considered in reference to the present time and the earth's past history. It may be, therefore, received as certain that discoveries will be made in many branches of science the exact nature of which cannot be anticipated. Geography, hydrography, geodesy, meteorology, magnetism and physics, geology, botany, mineralogy, zoology, and ethnology await a due development witliin the Polar area. According to the assurances of an Arctic officer, an extension of hydrography alone is worth going for, following up the work of the Challenger, and completing the circle of ocean currents, temperature and specific gravity of the water at various depths round the north coast of Greenland. This knowledge will tend to increased safety for life and property at sea. As for geology, an untold history of the globe is there outspread waiting investigation. When it is considered that there is only one day and one night in the year at the Pole much surely will be revealed, in such circumstances, as yet unknown." With regard to the cost of the undertaking, Commander Cheyne, who is to take the command, puts it down at only £30,000, and says the work could be done, though less satisfactorily, for £20,000. From the following table, taken from the " Times," a good idea of the cost of late expeditions is gained.

Period of Service. Cost. Expedition. Year. Years. £ Alert and Discovery ... 1875 ... 2i ... 112 250 Proposed Expedition ... 1881 ... 3 ... 30,000 The Vega (Swedish) ... 1878 ... 2 ... 20,000 The Polaris (American) 1871 ... 2J ... 10.413 TheFox(M'Clintock)... 1857 ... 2* ... 10,417

For the forthcoming expedition it is proposed to charter the Vega, lately returned from the successful accomplishment of the North-East Passage, under Professor Nordenskjold. The cost, as suggested above, will be shared by Canada and England, and Commander Choyne has already set about raising the funds. By latest advices he had adopted a course of lectures, illustrating Arctic work by means of the lime light, and had raised nearly £2OOO in London alone. An influential central committee had been formed, with sixty branches in various parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Various necessary items had been promised, such as sledges, lime, biscuits, and medical comforts, and Dr. Richardson had undertaken the proper provisioning of the vessel. The übiquitous Mr Cook had given the committee an office, rent free, and had under consideration a plan for sending a steamer as as far as Disco or Upernavik, taking a party of excursionists and conveying surplus stores across the Atlantic for the expedition, thus saving tho expense of hiring a vessel for transport service. Although neither the Government or the Geographical Society had, up to October, been asked to subscribe, yet if the support of the principal societies be secured, not much difficulty in that direction need be anticipated. It is believed that balloons will bo considerably used for the purpose of taking observations on calm days and possibly for travelling purposes, if a necessity occur. A splendid seam of coal exists in latitude S 4, only half a mile from the coast line, which will bo most usoful in heating tho ships and in raising gas for balooning. It is not anticipated that tho cold will increase the further tho

party penetrates, indeed observations taken during a number of expeditions appear to point in a contrary direction, and it is supposed that, when the margin of the Polar basin is penetrated, the ice will be found to become less heavy, with more frequent leads of open water. From every point of view, indeed, it is to be trusted that the money requisite will be raised. Although the country looked with a lenient eye on the comparative failare of Sir G. Nares' expedition, yet it was deeply disappointed at the result. The attack of the sledging parties by scurvy should have been prevented, and the return was certainly not commensurate with the large expenditure. England's honor is, more or loss, pledged to redeem its reputation as being the country that contains the boldest and most successful explorers The discovery of the polo should not be taken out of the hands of the greatest maritime power that the world has ever seen.