Captain Parri/s intended Expedition to the North Pole. 87 



the progress of science, and the bright career of discovery has 

 made us acquainted with almost the whole of the terraqueous 

 globe. The only regions which, from their physical peculiari- 

 ties, have hitherto resisted our attempts, are those immediately 

 surrounding the Poles ; for the Antarctic Regions, notwithstand- 

 ing the exertions of Cook, Bilhnghausen and Weddell, are but 

 little known ; and the Arctic Regions, although the investigation 

 of their nature has engaged the enterprise of Europe for a long 

 series of years, have not been explored beyond the 80'' of 

 latitude. Already upwards of forty expeditions have failed in 

 exploring a North- West Passage into the Pacific ; and the last 

 navigator, after repeated failures, has, for the present, relin- 

 quished the enterprise, although convinced of the existence of 

 the disputed passage. Comparatively few attempts have been 

 made to sail directly towards the Pole, or through the North 

 Eastern Seas to India ; and the expeditions in these directions 

 have been so inefficient, that an almost untrodden field of disco- 

 very remains for the mariner. 



The chief obstacle to the progress of discovery in the Frigid 

 Zone, is the vast accumulation of ice which floats on the sur- 

 face of the ocean, rendering all the efforts of navigation abor- 

 tive. To overcome this opposition, a novel method has been 

 suggested, the merits of which are to be tried during the ap- 

 proaching summer, by a party under the command of Captain 

 Parry, in an attempt to reach the North Pole. They are to be 

 conveyed to the north western extremity of Spitzbergen, in the 

 Hecla, and from thence are to set out in boats made of light 

 materials, so constructed that they may be converted into 

 sledges, thus suited to the nature of the tract, whether it be 

 water or ice. With these slender means, our brave navigators 

 will endeavour to unfold the secrets of the Pole. The skill and 

 daring they have already shewn, prove that they are worthy of 

 the confidence reposed in them. Whilst they were employed on 

 their former hazardous voyages, we felt solicitous about their 

 welfare, and were not sanguine of success ; we cannot but har- 

 bour unpropitious auguries, when we glance at the scene of their 

 future toils, which, though holding out a fairer prospect of suc- 

 cess, is nevertheless pregnant with peril. The enterprise is so 

 striking in its nature, that we, who have personally visited the 



