378 DISCOVERIES OF ROSS, 1818. 



same. This, however, is the point to be ascer- 

 tained by the expedition under Captain Ross. 

 While this officer, with two vessels under his 

 orders, is employed in examining the unexplored 

 part of the east coast of America, to the north- 

 ward of the arctic circle, and in endeavouring to 

 pass along the northern shore of that continent to 

 Behring's Strait, to Captain Buchan is assigned 

 the task of inquiring into the state of the Polar 

 Sea to the northward of Spitzbergen. Should 

 both fail of success in the main objects of the ex- 

 pedition, from both may at least be confidently 

 expected much valuable information, and im- 

 provement in the hydrography and the geography 

 of the arctic regions ; as well as many important 

 and interesting observations on the atmospherical, 

 magnetical, and electrical phenomena, which can- 

 not fail to advance the science of meteorology ; 

 and lastly, many valuable collections of objects in 

 natural history, which inhabit a part of the globe 

 where few researches have yet been made in this 

 branch of science. In short, from the zeal and 

 abilities of the persons employed in the arduous 

 enterprize, every thing may be expected to be 

 done within the scope of possibility. Of the 

 enterprize itself it may be truly characterized as 

 one of the most liberal and disinterested that 

 was ever undertaken, and every way worthy of a 

 great, a prosperous and an enlightened nation ; 



