248 OBJECTS OF ARCTIC RESEARCHES. 



Opinions as to this, of course, may differ, but for our- 

 selves we have no hesitation in asserting, that every 

 endeavour to spread the light of knowledge over the 

 dark corners of the earth, in the end is worth the 

 cost and in these pages, we trust, we shall be able 

 to show that a great deal of very interesting and also 

 very valuable information, has been obtained respect- 

 ing the arctic regions by recent explorations. These 

 modern expeditions have been mainly or altogether 

 undertaken for scientific purposes, whereas the objects 

 of the early explorers were essentially different; for 

 they were generally prompted by a thirst for gold, or 

 the discovery of mythical lands, supposed to contain 

 enormous wealth, which rumour asserted to exist beyond 

 the western seas. 



Others again set forth in search of more substantial 

 gains, in the way of whale oil, or seal and walrus 

 skins, and so forth; but it has been reserved for our 

 modern navigators to brave the dangers of the icy 

 seas in the pure spirit of scientific observation and 

 study. That results worthy of these efforts may rea- 

 sonably be expected to accrue from future expeditions, 

 is the view still held by the majority of scientific men. 



Many questions of high scientific importance yet 

 remain to be solved by means of Polar research ; of this 

 there, can be but little doubt. The late learned geogra- 

 pher and meteorologist, Lieutenant Maury , of the United 

 States Navy (whose writings upon Navigation, and upon 

 the Physical Geography of the Sea, are still regarded 

 as standard works), for instance, was always strongly 

 impressed with this opinion, and in eloquent terms set 

 forth, for our instruction, the vast importance which in 

 his opinion these desolate regions exercise upon the 



