XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 



however ably his place was filled, could not have 

 been otherwise than great, but Captain Nares had 

 gained credit as a very young officer in the last of the 

 Government searching voyages, and the selection of a 

 leader with experience was very properly regarded as 

 the paramount object. 



The general plan of operations had been virtually 

 long decided by consent of all competent authorities. 

 The first object was, if possible, to reach the Pole. 

 Many other subordinate and collateral objects there 

 doubtless were, both of a geographical and a purely 

 scientific kind, but the main object was the attainment 

 of the highest possible northern latitude. The subject 

 had been exhaustively discussed by the Eoyal Geo- 

 graphical Society for years. Differences of opinion 

 among the best informed undoubtedly existed. The 

 physical conformation of the land around the regions of 

 the polar circle almost forbade the hope of any nearer 

 approach to the Pole by ships than had already been 

 attained, unless indeed by the opening between Green- 

 land and Nova Zembla, which to some offered a promise 

 of success. 



The latter-day theory of an open Polar Sea rested, 

 however, on no foundation, practical or philosophical. 

 Even if it could have been shown that a somewhat 

 higher mean temperature was theoretically due in that 

 area where the sun is for nearly six consecutive 

 months above the horizon, and for a similar period 

 below it, it would avail nothing ; for the dissolu- 

 tion of the winter's ice is not dependent on the 

 influence of the summer's heat alone, otherwise the 

 difficulties of Arctic navigation would disappear, at 

 any rate for some short period during every season. 

 A variety of other elements are equally important. 



