hall's DSQunrAtx. 187 



is certainly curious liow the effect of great cold on tlie flesli resem- 

 bles that of heat, but surely our author must have been mistaken as to 

 the effect on his nails, which would not have suffered from the cold 

 more than the fur gloves which he had on this occasion forgotten to 

 use. 



When we read of such extreme cold as this, of the thermometer 

 75^, 80°, and even more, below the freezing point, of reindeer, seals, 

 Esquimaux, and other Arctic animals, it is astonishing to find that 

 Capt. Hall never went farther than 64° north, just the latitude of 

 Trondeim, where an electric telegraph, cathedral, churches, banks, 

 and all the appliances of modern comfort and civilisation are to be 

 found. In spite of isothermal lines, and Prof. Dove's maps, we are 

 apt to forget hovr exceptionally favourable is the present climate of 

 Western Europe. 



Capt. Hall is an American, and writes from an American point of 

 view. Thus, he always speaks of " London, England." This ex- 

 pression sounds peculiarly odd, in some cases where he is explaining 

 names given to particular localities. Thus he talks of " Sabine Bay, 

 " named after Edward Sabine, of London, England," lest we should 

 not recognize the President of the Eoyal Society. And again, Cape 

 Murchison, " named after Sir Eoderick I. Murchison, of London, 

 " England," for fear, we presume, that we might suppose it to be 

 called after any Eoderick I. Murchison of London, America. On 

 his return home, he met with a great rebuff. When the pilot came 

 on board, at St. John's, Newfoundland, he asked, naturally enough, 

 " Who is the President of the United States ?" " But so little did 

 "our affairs trouble this Newfoundlander, that he could give us no 

 " information. I put the leading names to him, but still without 

 " effect ; he did not know." " This," adds Capt. Hall, " was mortify- 

 *^ ing." But a still more painful surprise was in store for him. 

 " The North and the South," he was afterw^ards told, " are fighting 

 " against each other." " What ! " I exclaimed, in utter amazement, 

 " what, loar? ivar in the United States, and among ourselves ? " No 

 wonder he was astonished, but even he can hardly have realized the 

 full horror implied by those w^ords. 



One of the most interesting results of Capt. Hall's voyage, was 

 the discovery, if indeed it be the discovery, of relics of Erobisher's 

 expedition. Erobisher left England in June, 1576. On the 11th of 

 July, he was within sight of Greenland, and after various misfortunes, 

 returned to England in the following October. He brought with him 



o 2 



