48 COMMANDER JAMES CLARK ROSS ON THE POSITION 



In contemplating the equipment of the late expedition, a still nearer approach than 

 had yet been attained to that mysterious spot was anticipated from the route that we 

 purposed to pursue ; but the smallness of the vessel in which we embarked neces- 

 sarily limited the number and magnitude of our magnetic instruments. A small 

 dipping-needle by Jones, belonging to the Admiralty, was, together with a number 

 of other instruments, liberally offered for our use ; and having been made with much 

 care by that celebrated artist for the use of the party that travelled towards the north 

 pole under Captain Parry, and been found on that occasion to answer every purpose 

 for which it was intended, we did not hesitate to consider it sufficiently large and 

 accurate for this service. A description of the instrument accompanies the Table of 

 Observations made by Captain Parry and Lieutenant Forster in the Appendix to the 

 Narrative of that Voyage (p. 168), and renders any further remarks here unnecessary. 

 It is, however, to be regretted, that prior to our departure from England we had no 

 opportunity of making any observations with that instrument ; and a defect in the 

 vertical circle, which was not detected till the spring of the year 1831, has rendered 

 it necessary to reject all the observations on the intensity of the magnetic force made 

 previous to that period. 



The annexed Table contains most of the observations that were obtained on the dip 

 of the magnetic needle during our late voyage in the Victory, and seems to require 

 but little explanation. I have considered it proper to record the mean of the readings 

 of each end of the needle in each of its eight positions, because, in looking over the 

 Table, it will be seen that scarcely any two results show any very near accordance, 

 and, in some instances, their differences amount to several degrees. Whether this 

 arises from any imperfection in the instrument, from the method of magnetizing it, 

 or from a variation in the direction of the poles of the needle, I am unable to deter- 

 mine. As the several readings presented themselves, so they were registered ; and 

 the resultant dips, although in some instances they show a very considerable differ- 

 ence, yet, upon the whole, their accordance affords a remarkable instance of the ten- 

 dency of errors (if such they be) to correct each other. Be that as it may, it is proper 

 that these discordances should be known, in order that their cause may be investi- 

 gated, and that the observations should not obtain a greater degree of dependence 

 than, on examination, they may be found to deserve. Each of the recorded observa- 

 tions is the mean of six to ten readings of each end of the needle in its several posi- 

 tions, and the method employed in the reversion of its poles is that of Du Hamel. 



Only three opportunities occurred of observing the dip as we proceeded to the 

 southward of Fury Point to our first winter quarters. But these, together with the 

 variation, &c., were important assistants in calling our attention to the rapid approach 

 we were making towards the magnetic pole. A series of observations during the winter 

 led us to expect that that point would be found directly to the westward of us ; but we 

 were unconscious at that time of the existence of an ocean in that direction, and the 

 calculated distance far exceeded anything we could hope to travel over a country 



