INGLEFIELD'S EXPEDITION. 393 



mander Inglefield, to ascertain the truth of the story. 

 Jnglefield sailed from England on the 6th July, 1852 ; 

 coasted the northern shores of Baffin's Bay ; advanced 

 much further up Whale Sound than any previous navi- 

 gator, finding, as he proceeded, an immense expanse of 

 open water ; and pushed through Smith's Sound as far 

 as latitude 78 28' 21" north, without discovering any 

 opposing land. Instead of the narrow strait which 

 Smith's Sound has usually been thought, Captain Ingle- 

 field found it about thirty-six miles across, expanding 

 considerably as it extended northward. The sea was 

 open that is, free from islands, except one looming in 

 the extreme distance, to which the discoverer gave the 

 name of Louis Napoleon.* From appearances, the 

 leader of the expedition inferred that he had reached a 

 more genial climate than that of Baffin's Bay ; instead 

 of the eternal snow which he had left behind, the rocks 

 appeared of their natural color. There was ice, indeed, 

 and in pretty large quantities ; some of the mariners 

 conceived they saw an ice-blink to the north ; but the 

 captain thought he could steam through. A gale, how- 

 ever, arose, which, increasing in violence, fairly blew 

 them back perhaps providentially, for they were not 

 well fitted to winter in those high latitudes, with the 

 probability of being held fast for an indefinite time. 



" It was deemed, by every one on board, madness to 

 attempt a landing ; and thus," says Inglefield, " I was 

 forced to relinquish those desires ere we bore up, which, 



* " An island similar in position to that designated by Capt. Inglefield 

 as Louis Napoleon does not exist. The land sighted in that direction 

 may have been the top of a high mountain on the north side of Franklin 

 Pierce Bay, though this supposition requires us to assume an error in the 

 bearing ; for, as given in the chart, no land could be within the range 

 of sight. In deference to Capt. Inglefield, I have continued for this prom- 

 ontory the name which he had impressed upon it as an island." Kane's 

 Narrative of the Second Grinnell Expedition, vol. I., page 323 



