290 Notice relative to Captain Ross’s Discoveries. 
snow, as to present the appearance of one unbroken mass, 
and defying every attempt to penetrate it. 
The great southern land we have discovered, whose con- 
tinuity we have traced from nearly the 70th to the 79th de- 
gree of latitude, I am desirous to distinguish by the name of 
her most gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. 
Following the edge of the pack to the NW. as weather 
permitted, we found it to occupy the whole space between 
the NW. shore of the great southern land and the chain of 
islands lying near the Antarctic Circle, first discovered by 
Balleny in 1839, and more extensively explored by the Ame- 
rican and French expeditions in the following year. 
Continuing our course to the westward, we approached the 
place were Professor Gauss supposed the Magnetic Pole to be, 
and having obtained all the observations that were necessary 
to prove the inaccuracy of that supposition, we devoted some 
days to the investigation of the line of no variation; and 
having completed a series of observations, by which the isody- 
namic lines and point of greater magnetic intensity may be 
determined, and which I had left incomplete last year, I bore 
away on the 4th of April for this port. 
A chart, shewing more plainly the discoveries and track of 
the expedition, is herewith transmitted ; and a more detailed 
plan, containing all magnetic determinations, shall be sent as 
soon as they are reduced. 
I have much satisfaction in being able to add, that the ser- 
vice has been accomplished without the occurrence of any 
casualty, calamity, or disease of any kind, and there is not 
a single individual in either of the ships on the sick-list. 
It affords me the highest gratification to acquaint you, that 
I have received the most cordial and efficient co-operation 
from my well-tried friend and colleague Commander Crozier 
of the Terror, and no terms of admiration that I can employ 
can do justice to his great merit ; nor have the zeal and per- 
severing devotion of the officers of both ships been less conspi- 
cuous, under circumstances of no ordinary trial and difficulty ; 
and whilst the conduct of our crews has been such as to re- 
flect the highest honour on their characters as British sailors, 
it has given to myself, Commander Crozier, and the officers of 
