lity of reaching this northern extremity of the earth's axis: it was resolved, therefore, to fit out two distinct expeditions; the one to proceed up the middle of Davis's Strait to a high northern latitude and then to stretch across to the westward, in the hope of being able to pass the northern extremity of America, and reach Behring's Strait by that route; the other to proceed directly north, between Greenland and Spitzbergen, and in the event of meeting with an open polar sea, free from land, in which case it was hoped it would also be free from ice, to proceed direct for Behring's Strait, by which route the distance would be shorter than the other by nearly one-third.

The ships fitted out for exploring the north-west passage were the Isabella, of 382 tons, commanded by Captain JOHN Ross, and the Alexander, of 252 tons, under the orders of Lieutenant WILLIAM EDWARD PARRY. Those destined for the polar passage were the Dorothea, of 370 tons, commanded by Captain DAVID BUCHAN, and the Trent, of 250 tons, under the command of Lieutenant JOHN FRANKLIN; to each ship there was also appointed an additional Lieutenant and two master's mates or midshipmen. Two of these Lieutenants are the sons of two eminent artists, one of the late Mr. Hoppner and the other of Sir William Beechey, and both of them excellent draughtsmen.

The four ships were all fitted out as strong as wood and iron could make them, and every regard paid in the internal arrangement to the comfort

and accommodation of the officers and crews. They were stored with provisions and fuel for two years; supplied with additional quantities of fresh preserved meats, tea, sugar, sago, and other articles of a similar kind. Each of the larger ships had a surgeon and a surgeon's assistant, and the two smaller vessels an assistant surgeon each. A master and a mate accustomed to the Greenland fishery were engaged for each ship, to act as pilots when they should meet with ice. The whole complement of men, including officers, seamen, and marines in each of the larger ships was fiftysix, and in the smaller forty. Captain Sabine, of the Royal Artillery, an officer well versed in mathematics and astronomy and in the practical use of instruments, was recommended by the President and Council of the Royal Society, and in consequence thereof engaged, to proceed with the northwest expedition; and Mr. Fisher, of the University of Cambridge, a gentleman well versed in mathematics and various branches of natural knowledge, to accompany the polar one. A number of new and valuable instruments were prepared for making observations in all the departments of science, and for conducting philosophical experiments and investigations; in order that, in the event of the main object of the voyage being defeated either through accident or from utter impracticability, every possible attention might be paid to the advancement of science, and correct

information obtained on every interesting subject in high northern latitudes which are rarely visited by scientific men.

Among other important objects, which the occasion will present, is that of determining the length of the pendulum vibrating seconds in a high degree of latitude. For this purpose each expedition is supplied with a clock having a pendulum cast in one solid mass, vibrating on a blunt knife-edge resting in longitudinal sections of hollow cylinders of agate; and to each clock is added a transit instrument. Each ship is also supplied with the following instruments—a dipping needle on a new construction which, at the same time, is calculated to measure the magnetic force-an azimuth compass improved by Captain Katera repeating circle for taking terrestrial angles-an instrument for ascertaining the altitude of celestial bodies when the horizon is obscured by fogs, which is almost always the case in high latitudes-a dipmicrometer and dip-sector, invented by Doctor Wollaston, to correct the variation of the real dip from that given in the tables, arising principally from the difference between the temperature of the sea and the atmosphere-a macrometer, also invented by Doctor Wollaston, for measuring directly the distance of inaccessible objects, by means of two reflectors, mounted as in a common sextant, but at a greater distance from each other -three chronometers to each ship-a hydrometer,

intended to determine the specific gravity of seawater in different latitudes-thermometers of various kinds-a barometer of Sir Henry Englefield's construction for ascertaining the height of objects. Besides these, each expedition is furnished with an apparatus for trying the state of atmospherical electricity, and determining whether there be any thing peculiar in the electricity of the atmosphere in the polar regions; and whether there be any analogy between the aurora borealis and the electrical light-an apparatus for taking up sea-water from given depths; and an apparatus for the analysis of air, which is the more desirable from there being little or no change from vegetable or animal life or decomposition in the polar atmosphere; and consequently a different proportion of oxygen, azote or carbonic acid, may be expected from that which prevails under ordinary circumstances.

Each expedition is besides provided with a complete apparatus for collecting, in the sea and on the land, the various objects of natural history which may occur, and for preserving them in a proper state; and of such as cannot be preserved, accurate drawings will be made by Lieutenants Hoppner and Beechy. On the whole, neither care nor expense appears to have been spared in sending out the two expeditions as complete and as well equipped as possible, and nothing that the commanders of them deemed to be useful was refused.

Every suggestion that appeared to merit consideration was attended to, both in the equipment of the ships and in the instructions to the officers, every one of whom, from the highest to the lowest, left this country in perfect satisfaction, and in full confidence of attaining the great object of the expeditions or at least with the determination of establishing the fact of its utter impracticability.

The failure of so many expeditions, of which an abstract has been given in the preceding pages, is certainly rather of a discouraging nature; and after so many unsuccessful trials for the discovery of a passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans by the north-east, the north, and the northwest, it would not seem unreasonable to infer that no such passage exists, and that therefore the two last expeditions might have been spared-but the same inference might with equal fairness have been drawn after the first three or four attempts. The progressive geography of the northern regions was very slow; but it has been progressive: yet much within the limits of practical navigation still remains unexplored.

Of the three directions in which a passage has been sought for, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, that by the north-east holds out the least encouraging hope; indeed the various unsuccessful