PROPOSAL OF SIR JOHN ROSS TO REACH THE NORTH POLE.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 118, 17 July 1847, Page 3

PROPOSAL OF SIR JOHN ROSS TO REACH THE NORTH POLE.

The following is an extract of a letter from Captain Sir John lloss, 11. N., President of the llo)ul Astronomical Society :—: — « Sir, — 1 beg leave to submit the following plan and proposal lo the Picsideut and Council of the Rojal Astronomical Society, for their consideration : — The measurement of an arc of the meridian has long been agie.a disideiatum, and the failure of every attempt that has been made at Spitzbergen for this desirable object, as well as an attempt to reach the North Pole, has been because the summei has been selected for thai purpose ; whereas the spring should have been the season chosen, namely the months of April and May lor both services, but u hich could not be put in execution bj the means hitherto adopt cd. 1 have now to inform the president and council [oi the Royal Astronomical Society, that I have submitted a plan to the Admiralty for carrying into execution those double und desirable objects, by wintering at Spitzbergen, and employing my olficers and crew under the direction of the talenied sou of the celebrated Protestor Schumacher, whom 1 engaged for the purpose} while at the proper season, it is my intention lo attempt to reach the North Pole on sledge*, drawn by Swedish horses, being a modification of the plan proposed tiist by. Dr. Scoresby, and of which that highly talented and well-informed individual has given bis most unqualified approbation. And, Irom the gear's experience 1 have had in Sweden in that mode of travelling, 1 can safely assert, that there is no officer in the navy that possesses these advantages so necessary to complete success, of which neither Dr. Scoresby nor nnself have the smallest doubt. I have made this statement in the hope that, when duly considered by the President and Council of the Royil Astronomical Society, they will be pleased to signify to me their opinion on the importance of the objects in question, and such a reccom dation for its being put into execution as they may think it."

Ireland. — Extraordinary Outrage. — in the annals of Irish outrage the following is almost v» itliout parallel for bmzen audacity. A presentment sessions for the baroney ol Corcoinroe, County of Clare, was held on Monday week, and while the proceedings were pending, Capt. Macuamara handed to the Chairman a threatening letter, which had been given into Captain Wynne's hand by some person in the cotnt, as he wast passing among the crowd assembled in the body of the meeting, and a gieal many of whom were at the same lime handing to hint papers containing petitions and complaints, — Captain Macnamara while handing the letter to the Chairman, expressed his indignation in strong terms against the daring effrontery of the villain who should piesume to erve a gentleman with suih a document in open court. The letter bore the representation of a coffin, with a death's head and cross bones on the top, and was written with red ink, or probably blood. The following is an exact copy :•-•• Captain Wynne—Captain Starlight sends you noiice to lave thes parts or if yon dont i give you the end ofineslersiMirig bloodand co , they say your a undaunted man but i have 40 rifel men as kind as ever puled a thriker so go on with the works at man and quit the count.iy if you dont wish to go home to the ir.istres a corpse which by the mortal i'l send you if )ou come to thes parts agin, take this waniin or you 1 beaded man in no time, i'l wach you.— -Your obedient servaut, Captain Starlight." The chairman in most eueigelic language, and evidently with stiong feeling, expressed his abhorreqee of such danngvillainy. He Baid that it re-

fleeted great disgrace on the locality j and he must say it was the lit si occurrence of the kind that bad taken place in that neighbourhood. He hoped, for the honour of thedistiict, that if there were an honest man in that meeting who knew the guilty individual he would manfully come forward and pio»ecute him. H& (the cliaii trmii; was ready to offer jC2O reward for inlorinatioii that might lead lo his apprehension. Capt. Macnatnara : 1 w ill give £50, or I will meet the villain,, if he choose, at 12 o'clock Co night, armed and will pledge myself to go alone. The Chairman inquired of Gapt. W\nne, if he thought he could recognise Ihe individual who gave him the. letter. Capt. Wynne said that perhaps he might \. at all events he would trj, and requested that a policemen should be at once placed at the door, to prevent the people from going out. The Chairman ordeted the police to close the .door, and Captain Wynne then said : Gentlemen — You will excuse my making a few observations on the document that has been handed to me. If Capt. Starlight thinks that he will in this way intimidate me, or turn me aside from the path of my duty, he little knows the individual with whom he has to do. It has been my wish to relieve the pooi^ and oppose the employment of the rich, man, and in this course 1 shall perseverei I now hold a poor man's petition in my hand, which will receive immediate attention ; but if I did not hope that Capt. Starlight's communication would lead to the discovery of the writer, £ should tear it in pieces, and tear it in pieces and trample it under my feet ; and, as he is now present, I beg leave to inform him that I shall be on the road to night, and happy to meet him, when he will find me well prepared; but if through any of the causes which shake the assassin's hand he should fail to execute his purpose, or do it ineffectually, I pledge ni) self to him that that moment shall be his last. Capt. Wynne, acorn panied by the officers of police, proceeded afterwards down through the body of the meeting, but could find no clue to the discovery of the person who served him with the letter. After some further remarks, a resoluton was passed offering a reward for the discovery of the miscreant and a sum of £127 was subscribed for the purpose on the spot. The Clare Journal thus comments upon this daring outrage :— "There is indeed every reason to believe that this occurreuce is but one of the fruits of an organised system of combination against all law and order which at present exists to a fearful extent around this country. It is surely not a matter of much surprise that the wrath of the Almighty should be poured out copiously upon a land whose inhabitants can thus coolly determine upon deeds of blood. Alas! that not even the judgements of God, which are now abroad on the earth, can pioduce any sdluUiry ell'ect upon tlie depraved propensities of multitues of our fellow countrymen I"