500 



which can be designated as a renewal of Arctic voyages, and partly 

 to the want of a due appreciation of the value of the researches 

 proposed to be undertaken. On the objections arising out of this 

 antipathy to Polar expeditions, I have said so much on a former 

 occasion, that I will not again advert to them, further than to 

 observe that there was no ground for believing that the dangers to 

 which Arctic voyagers are sometimes, though rarely, exposed, would 

 have been encountered in this expedition ; and doubtless there 

 were many gallant hearts eager to face any amount of peril in 

 so worthy a cause. As to the second point, viz. the want of a due 

 appreciation of the researches themselves, I think it impossible 

 to believe that any one of average capacity and discernment would 

 undervalue the importance of prosecuting inquiries of this cha- 

 racter, were he familiarly acquainted with the history of scientific 

 discovery. If our leading statesmen and legislators had perused 

 with the same attention the records of the progress of science as many 

 of them have devoted to the historical memorials of the two great 

 nations of antiquity, can it be doubted that they would view these 

 questions in a far different spirit ? 



When two powerful nations connected together by the tie of a 

 common origin and a common language were informed that messages 

 of mutual congratulation between their respective rulers had been 

 transmitted by the electrical current, beneath more than 2000 miles 

 of the deep waters of the vast Western Ocean, and that the two great 

 continents of the globe had been brought, as it were, within speaking 

 distance, a general sensation of delight pervaded their inhabitants, 

 and there was no want of appreciation of such results of scientific 

 research ; but it were well for Science and for the cause of future 

 discovery, if any great proportion of those who shared in this joy 

 had been able to trace the slow and gradual processes by which such 

 triumphs of human genius had been finally won. I have no hesi- 

 tation in speaking of this wondrous achievement as a success, for 

 it has been clearly shown that the work can be performed whenever 

 public spirit and zeal shall supply the necessary funds. 



There is a lesson then which many men have yet to learn, and it 

 is most desirable that those especially, to whom the destinies of 

 nations are given in charge, should learn it a lesson which I may 

 express in the words of a Report of the Parliamentary Committee 



