584 DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK. 



expedition a success. The officers and crew of the ship 

 are all I could desire, and the provision made for the sub- 

 sistence and protection of all on board is the best that 

 could be devised. Your generous response to every legiti- 

 mate request I have made in regard to the ship's outfit 

 demands the expression of my warmest gratitude. The 

 only return I can make now is the assurance of my deter- 

 mination, with God's blessing, that the expedition shall 

 prove a success, and redound to the honor of our country 

 and to the credit of your administration." 



We have quoted thus largely, deeming it simple justice 

 to put on record Captain Hall's just estimate of the Sec- 

 retary's " intelligent and generous " care in discharging 

 his duty in fitting out the " United States expedition 

 toward the North Pole." 



Confident of his ability to cope with the usual perils of 

 polar navigation and life, and fully appreciating the un- 

 expectedly liberal facilities now at his command, little did 

 he dream of the sad eclipse awaiting his earthly hopes on 

 the eve of their complete fruition. His own bright anti- 

 cipations did not cast into shade the universal expecta- 

 tions of the people of the entire country. There was but 

 one opinion in all minds, but one sentiment in all hearts ; 

 even the constitutionally timorous and the innately doubt- 

 ful were inspired by confidence and trust ; those who sel- 

 dom take interest in such matters were scarcely outdone 

 by the naturally enthusiastic lovers of adventure and dis- 

 covery. In fact, the entire heart of the nation beat in 

 unison in joyous certainty of the success of the Polaris ex 

 pedition, and in wishing the daring voyageurs a prosper- 

 ous voyage, a fruitful exploration and a happy return, 

 when, on the 29th of June, 1871, the staunch steamer 

 moved from her berth at New York to dare the ice- 

 bergs, fields and floes of the frigid latitudes. The din 

 of the cannon fired as a farewell was almost drowned in 

 the cheers of the multitude who witnessed her departure 



