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the mysteries of magnetism, the cause and nature of the Aurora, 

 the influence the Polar ice exercises upon terrestrial climate may 

 for the first time be explained ; in fine, the sciences of meteoro- 

 logy, geodesy, geology, and botany must be materially 

 advanced. The fossil flora of North Greenland shows that 

 it once had a warmer climate than at present, by at least 

 30. Evergreen oaks, magnolias, and other semi-tropical or 

 temperate plants grew there during the Miocene age, the 

 nearest living representatives of which are not to be found 

 nearer than 10 or even 20 farther south. The cause of a 

 change of climate so marked has been endeavoured to be 

 accounted for in various ways ; it is a problem which will have 

 to be solved by the astronomer a change in the eccentri- 

 city of the earth's orbit and our hemisphere being either in 

 aphelion during the winter solstice, when the summers 

 would be too short to melt the winter ice, or in perihelion 

 when a comparatively mild and brief winter would be succeeded 

 by a long summer. The deflexion of ocean currents by 

 a change in the relative position of sea and land are among 

 the many reasons assigned for so obvious a change of 

 climate between the past and the present. To return to the 

 Expedition, of whose safe passage through the Middle Pack to 

 the Gary Islands we have received authentic accounts. Captain 

 Allen Young, the devoted, enthusiastic, and patriotic Arctic 

 amateur explorer, who commenced his career in the discovery 

 voyage of the Fox, to ascertain the fate of Sir John Frank- 

 lin and his companions, turned aside from the object of 

 his voyage to do the great public service of communi- 

 cating with the Expedition, and brought home the last 

 letters, dated July 26th, 1875. Ten months have elapsed 

 since any news of the Expedition have been received, and 

 it must be many more before the anxious friends of 

 the brave men can have further tidings. Ere this they have 

 commenced their spring travels ; but, during the dreary winter 

 months the scientific men of the Expedition will not have been idle 

 in working out the result of their meteorological, magnetic, and 

 pendulum observations. Captain Allen Young left England last 

 week, in his steam-yacht Pandora, with letters to be deposited at 

 the depots, on the chance of Captain Nares being able to com- 

 municate with the entrance of Smith's Sound by means of a 

 small sledge party in the autumn of the present year. The 

 voyage will be by no means devoid of danger. He will have to 

 examine Littleton Island, Cape Isabella, and Point Gale, at one 

 of which stations he expects to find notices and letters down to 

 May. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he might 

 meet the Alert and the Discovery coming out of Smith's Sound 

 with their work completed. 



