THE SECRET OF THE NOKTH POLE. M5 



the year 1870 has closed she will no longer be able to 

 claim that her flag has approached both Poles more 

 nearly than the flag of any other nation. There are 

 considerations which make the recent supineness of 

 our country in the matter of arctic travel much to be 

 regretted. In the winter of 1874 there will occur 

 one of those interesting phenomena by which Nature 

 occasionally teaches men useful lessons respecting her 

 economy. We refer to the transit of Venus on 

 December 8 in that year. One of the most 'effec- 

 tive modes of observing this transit will require 

 that a party of scientific men should penetrate far 

 within the recesses of the desolate Antarctic Circle. 

 Where are the trained arctic seamen to be found who 

 will venture upon this service? Most of our noted 

 arctic voyagers have earned their rest ; and, as Com- 

 mander Davis said at a recent meeting of the Geogra- 

 phical Society, those who go for the first time into the 

 arctic or antarctic solitudes are too much tried by the 

 effects of the new experience to be fit to undertake 

 important scientific labours. He spoke with special 

 reference to the transit of 1882, for the observation of 

 which there is (I have lately shown) small occasion to 

 employ arctic voyagers. It is just possible that for the 

 transit of 1874 trained explorers belonging to the old 

 school of arctic travel may still be found. But if not, 

 no time should be lost in supplying the deficiency. I 

 have shown within the last few months that journeys to 

 the antarctic regions will be required for this transit, 

 and not for the later transit (as had been supposed). 



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