OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 421 



over the ice northward, with sledges ; and finally discovered open water 

 north of the ice-belt. This was traced to latitude 81°, and beyond 

 this point no ice was seen. Dr. Kane's position was an unfavorable 

 one, from causes which will be readily perceived, upon a reference to 

 the map. Smith Strait runs in a northeasterly direction, and diago- 

 nally to the general direction of the current which sets south through 

 Kennedy Channel. This current piles the ice upon the Greenland 

 coast, and breaks it into confused ridges ; in consequence of which ob- 

 struction, Dr. Kane's parties were greatly embarrassed in their efforts 

 to surmount these hummocks. 



I propose to avoid these difficulties by selecting the western shore, 

 where we shall find a protection against the drift-ice ; and, in conse- 

 quence of this protection, hope to attain to a higher latitude than was 

 attained by Dr. Kane on the opposite side. Along this shore I think 

 it not impossible that, under the protection of the land, it will be possi- 

 ble to penetrate into Kennedy Channel, and through this to find a water 

 communication to the Pole. In any case I feel well assured that the 

 parallel of Cape Frazer, lat. 79° 42', can be reached, and here a fine 

 harbor can be secured for wintering. Thence northward the coast 

 presents no salient capes to arrest the ice, and we shall doubtless meet 

 a favorable field for our sledge travel. We shall remain mainly inac- 

 tive during the winter ; but before the earhest return of sunlight in the 

 spring we will push forward our provision depots with dog-sledges, and 

 early in April a boat mounted upon runners will be started. With 

 this equipment we can continue to move northward until we have met 

 the object of our search, when, if such fortune awaits us, we will launch 

 our little vessel and push oflT directly for the Pole. 



That we shall meet the open water, I have no doubt. It may not 

 be found as far south as when discovered by Dr. Kane, (namely, lat. 

 80° 20',) for we shall be nearly two months earlier in the season ; but 

 we can readily convey our full equipment over the ice, in the manner 

 already described, as far as latitude 83°, when we shall probably be 

 obliged to await the disruption of the ice. 



While these operations are going on, I shall, if found practicable, 

 dispatch parties to the eastward and westward, with the view of com- 

 pleting the survey of the northern coasts of Greenland and Grinnell 

 Land. The region covered by these several parties will be a most 

 important one for scientific surveys. I need not in this presume to 



