of reaching the North Pole. 39 



hitherto taken, and at the same tune afford an independent proof 

 that the failure of the recent experiment was not so much owing 

 to difficulties inseparable from the enterprize, as to the defects 

 or errors in the plan of the expedition. And this proof I de- 

 rive from what has been done by other adventurers in travelling 

 over ice of a similar nature to the ices of the Greenland Seas, 

 under circumstances of equipment and support not at all equal 

 to the advantages enjoyed by the expedition under Captain Par- 

 ry. I refer to the expeditions of Alexei Markoff, of Lachoff^ of 

 Hedenstrom, of Sanniskoff, and of Baron Wrangel. 



Markoff, according to Miiller, with eight other persons, start- 

 ing from the mouth of the river Jana, in the spring of the year 

 1715, performed a direct distance across the ice to the north- 

 ward of 300 or 400 miles, (300 miles according to Captain Kru- 

 senstern), in light sledges drawn by dogs. LachoflF, a merchant 

 of Jakutsk, with a single companion, went, in the beginning of 

 April 1770, from the Swaetoi Noss, above 100 miles to the 

 northward upon the ice, by the same mode of conveyance ; and 

 early in May of the year 1775, the same adventurous person 

 proceeded to Kettle Island and along shore, a distance, as mea- 

 sured upon the best cliarts, of at least 240 geographical miles. 

 The manner of SanniskofTs travelling, when he proceeded, on 

 two or more occasions, 70 or 80 leagues to the northward of the 

 coast of Siberia, I have not been able to ascertain ; but I pre- 

 sume it was in sledges across the ice. Hedenstrom, however, 

 who was sent out for research into the Icy Sea, by the entec- 

 prizing and liberal Roman zoff, made different extensive journeys 

 from the entrance of the Jana to the coasts of New Siberia. In 

 his first expedition, which was commenced in the month of May 

 1809, I do not find in what way he made his progress ; but, in 

 a subsequent expedition, in which he appears to have advanced 

 about three degrees directly north, besides researches upon the 

 coast of New Siberia, there can be no doubt but that his mode of 

 proceeding was in sledges, as the adventure was accomplished 

 in the winter season. And Baron Wrangel, who still more re- 

 cently penetrated the Polar Sea from Skalatskoi Noss, travelled 

 across the ice about 80 miles directly towards the north. 



Now, it is worthy of remark, that all these journeys across the 

 ice, and some others, the particulars of which I cannot ascer- 



