52 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS.- 



ta the owner of aiiyirierchant vessel, or to the com* 

 mander, &c. of any King's ship, which shall first ap- 

 proach within one degreeof the Northern Pole, ((ill). 

 It then provides for the reward of certain partially 

 successfid attempts, permitting commissioners, by- 

 memorial, to " propose to his ISIajesty in Council 

 to direct proportionate rewards to be paid to such 

 persons who shall first have accomplished certain 

 proportions of the said passage or approach," and 

 then directs, that if his Majesty shall sanction the 

 said proposal, " the same shall be published in the 

 London Gazette ; and any person accomplishing 

 such passages, or the specified proportions of them, 

 shall be entitled, on the award of the commission- 

 ers, to receive such total or proportionate sums as 

 may have been offered *," (^ 12.) 



Since the passing of this act, the commissioners 

 appointed by Parliament have arranged two scales 

 of premiums for discoveries towards the North 

 Pole, and north-west, which have received the sanc- 

 tion of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and 



* By the next section commissioners are authorised to take 

 such measures as shall satisfy themselves of the correct- 

 ness of such claims for rewards, on the subject of disco- 

 very, as shall be made upon them ; and being fully satisfied 

 with the examination and proof offered, they are authorised to 

 pay the said rewards, or such proportion of them as the claim- 

 ant may under this act, or such order in Council, be entitled- 

 to receive— Act 58th Geo. III. c. 20. § 13. 



