CAPTAIN SABINE'S LETTER. 351 



base selected, with reference both to the survey 

 generally, and to the nature of the ground. The 

 report should also contain so thoroughly digested 

 a scheme of further proceedings, as should enable 

 the Council to judge of the merits of every part of 

 the proposed plan, previously to its being under- 

 taken. Such a Report would probably prove more 

 than half the labour of the whole operation. 



Should the Council think that T could be 

 advantageously employed in conducting such an 

 investigation, my services, as you well know, are 

 at their command. Accompanied by a second 

 officer of the Ordnance, and a steady sergeant of 

 Artillery, I should feel little doubt either of put- 

 ting the question, as regards Spitzbergen, at rest 

 for ever, by proving the impracticability of the 

 operation, or of furnishing such a report as I have 

 described, whereby its completion, if it were ex- 

 pedient to be pursued, could be looked forward to 

 with certainty. 



I remain, my clear, Sir, 



Yours very faithfully, 



Edward Sabine. 



the END. 



