Capt. Sabine’s:Remarks on Capt. Ross’s Work. 377 
lieutenant and:two midshipmen, that the land, according to its 
bearing, could not connect the north and:south shores of the in- 
let by more than 30 degrees of the compass. 
Captain Ross, in p. 185, expresses regret that the dip of the 
needle was not determined at Possession Bay;. and in pi177 
assigns as the cause, that “ Captain Sabine thought the weather 
too foggy for the dipping needle.” —‘‘ This statement,” says Capt. 
Sabine, “is incorrect. So far from having said or thought. so, 
I asked Captain Ross’s permission to take the dipping needle on 
shore ; and was refused, on the ground that the boats were. only 
to remain for a few minutes on shore to take possession of the 
country, and that he did not wish them to be detained by obser- 
vations.” We shall make but one quotation more. 
“ In page 98, Captain Ross regrets that ‘ Captain Sabine and 
the party who had on the morning of the-9th Janded on that which 
Mr. Bushnan had determined to be an island, had not proceeded 
further, and that they did: not examine the. mountains where it 
now appeared that this iron was found.’ Captain Ross has omitted 
to state that Captain Sabine and the party who were with him 
on this island on the evening of the 8th (it was not the morning 
of the 9th, as we were on board and under way before midnight) 
returned 77 consequence of a signal of recall, and were told: on 
their return that by being away so long they had detained the 
ships.” 
We are happy, that a new expedition has been resolved on, to 
procure’ more certain information: for we haye learnt. nothing 
certain respecting Lancaster’s Sound from Captain Ross’s work. 
Journal of a Voyage of Discovery to the Arctic Regions, per- 
formed between the 4th of April and the 18th of November 
1818, in His Majesty’s ship Alexander. By an Officer of the 
Alexander. 112 pages octavo, 
his is a plain unvarnished narrative of what the author wit- 
nessed during: the voyage, and should he seen by all who have 
read Capt. Ross’s splendid volume, The following extracts may 
serve also as a specimen of the author’s style, and are interesting 
as relating to the point at issue between Capt. Ross and. Capt. 
Sabine concerning Lancaster’s Sound—Was it, or was it not 
sufficiently explored to decide whether there isno opening through 
to the westward ? 
** At 8 o'clock, P.M. (Saturday, 29th July) extremes of the 
land from N. E. by E. to N. byE. 4 E., the land trending here 
S.E. by E. and N.W. by W. Another part of the land, high 
and rugged, W.N.W, by compass: the nearest part of the land 
distant six or seven leagues, About two hours before these bear- 
ings 
