An III- Assorted Company. 187 



northern latitude than any other ship on record. 

 It is to be hoped that this will not continue long to 

 be the case, and that she will only point the way 

 to the vast unknown area. Meanwhile every detail 

 respecting the voyage of the "Polaris" is important, 

 both as regards the discoveries and the inadequate 

 means with which they were effected. 



The commander of the expedition, Charles F. 

 Hall, was a native of Cincinnati, where he was en- 

 gaged as editor of a newspaper called the " Daily 

 Penny Press ; " and he had formerly been appren- 

 ticed to a blacksmith. He is described as a man 

 with a compact, vigorous frame, and with a firm 

 expression of countenance ; but he had no advan- 

 tages from education, and was unacquainted with 

 nautical astronomy. He was thus in no sense a 

 seaman, but rather an enthusiastic leader, depending 

 on others to navigate his vessel and to render his 



O 



discoveries useful. He possessed, however, one 

 great advantage. His two previous expeditions 

 had thoroughly acclimatized him, and given him a 

 complete knowledge of Esquimaux life. The men 

 who accompanied him were also badly chosen. 

 Buddington was an old whaling captain, without any 

 interest in the undertaking ; and Tyson was a man 

 of the same stamp. Chester, the mate, was a good 

 seaman and excellent harpooneer, possessing more 

 energy and zeal than his immediate superiors. 

 Dr. Bessels, a former student of Heidelberg*, who 



