no 



NATURE 



[Dec. 7, 1 87 1 



should also, during the first and second year, work at 

 mechanical drawing as provided for in the Art Directory, 

 Stage as^?. Third Year. — The work of this year must 

 depend so much on the student's aptitude, and the pro- 

 gress he has made in the preceding course, that it is im- 

 possible to lay down the subjects for the third year's 

 course with any definiteness. It is essential that before 

 continuing his course, or commencing new subjects, he 

 should have a sound knowledge of the first stage of Ma- 

 thematics, Elementary Mechanics, Physics, and Chemis- 

 try ; that he should have such a knowledge of practical 

 Geometry and Mechanical Drawing as to be able to draw 

 and read simple plans, elevations, and sections with 

 readiness, and that he should have sufficient facility in 

 Freehand Drawing to make clear and neat explanatory 

 diagrams. 



When these subjects have been mastered, the student 

 should, while continuing his studies in mathematics, take 

 up the first stage of Animal Physiology, if he has not 

 already done so. He will then be in a position to specialise 

 his studies with advantage in one of the following groups, 

 according to his requirements, taking up, for instance — 

 I. Physics and Chemistry and IVIetallurgy ; 2. Theoretical 

 and Applied Mechanics, Steam, and RIachine Construc- 

 tion and Drawing; 3, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 

 and Building Construction and Drawing ; 4. Biology ; 5. 

 Geology, Physical Geography, Mineralogy, and Mining. 

 The student may also with advantage continue his free- 

 hand drawing and practical geometry. 



The foregoing course is framed to lay the foundation of 

 a thorough and systematic scientific training. It must, 

 however, be understood that this course, though strongly 

 recommended for all those who can devote suiScient time 

 to go through it, in no way supersedes or does away with 

 the power of holding special classes in different subjects 

 for those who have not these opportunities, or diminishes 

 the aid at present ofl'ered to such classes. 



The fact of the course being intended as a systematic 

 training will also explain the omission of certain subjects 

 which arc not to be considered unimportant because they 

 find no place in the course. Thus systematic Botany will 

 be found of very great use as a preliminary to the study 

 of natural science. As such it may be taught in elemen- 

 tary schools before this course is commenced. But, fur- 

 ther than that, it cannot be considered a step in a sys- 

 tematic course till the student takes it up as a portion of 

 Biology in his third year. In the same way Physical 

 Geography is a subject which may with great advantage 

 be studied in all schools, and is especially adapted for 

 students who cannot go through a systematic course. 

 The first elements of Physical Geography, treating broadly 

 the outlines of physical science and describing its objects, 

 should, as stated above, be taught as an introduction to 

 its systematic study. But Physical Geography in its 

 general sense covers so wide a field, embracing to a greater 

 or less degree so many branches of .Science, that it does 

 not fall into a systematic course of training in science, 

 though as a means of imparting highly valuable general 

 information, as distinct from a systematic training, it may 

 be strongly recommended. 



ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS 



AN excellent paper on the above subject appears in 

 Nature of Nov. 30, and it is to be hoped that it 

 may have the desired effect of reanimating in our Govern- 

 ment and among scientific men a fresh interest in the 

 prosecution of a further survey of the unknown seas round 

 the Pole. 



Agreeing as I do with the writer as to the great impor- 

 tance of such an exploration as he recommends, I cannot 

 so readily acknowledge the correctness of his opinion as 

 to the advantages of the route by Smith Sound over that 

 along the west shore and to the north of Spitzbergen, 



from which point Parry (the greatest and noblest of 

 arctic explorers) attempted to reach the Pole with boat 

 sledges in 1827. 



Parry had, l think, on this occasion chosen the right 

 route, but the wrong season of the year ; for he attempted 

 the journey in the month of July, instead of in March, 

 April, May, and June. 



At Spitzbergen a vessel can always get as far as 80° 

 north, probably higher ; for Mr. Lamont has, during the 

 last two summers, on his pleasure cruises, readily reached 

 the latitude named. 



I had it from the great navigator Parry himself, that the 

 ice he saw to the north of Spitzbergen would not have 

 been difficult to travel over at the proper season of the 

 year. 



The farthest north point reached with much difficulty 

 by ships in .Smith Sound has been 78°4o', and we have 

 not the least warrant or certainty that any future expedi- 

 tion may be able to winter its ship or ships nearer the 

 Pole by this route. 



From lat. 78°4o' the distance to the Pole is 680 geo- 

 graphical miles, making the journey there and back 1,360 ' 

 miles in a straight line. 



But surely no experienced Arctic traveller would be 

 sanguine enough to believe that he could take a " bee line " 

 in a sledge journey to the Pole ; in fact, he would require 

 to make an allowance of about one-filth for obstructions 

 by rough ice, probable contour of coast line, &c., so that 

 the actual distance to be made would be 1,360 + 270 = 

 1,630 geographical miles, a journey 200 or 300 miles 

 longer than any that has yet been accomplished, even by 

 that admirable Arctic traveller, the late Lieut. Mecham. 

 Yet jNlechani, in his two longest journeys of 1,200 or 1,300 

 miles each (I forget whether these are geographical or 

 statute miles, but 1 think they are the latter), had advan- 

 tages not likely to be found in a journey to the Pole. On 

 the one occasion deer, musk-cattle, and other game were 

 so abundant and so tame that he could and did easily kill 

 as many as the party required, and could have killed 

 many more. On the other occasion he was travelling 

 along a known route, at several points of which depots of 

 provisions had been placed by ships wintering there, or by 

 other means, from which he was enabled to obtain supplies 

 both on the outward and homeward march. 



Mr. Markham says that a ship can always get so far 

 north in Smith Sound that the Pole can be reached by a 

 journey from it with sledges of 968 miles there and back. 



By what powers of reasoning or rule of arithmetic this 

 conclusion has been arrived at I am at a loss to know, 

 unless there is always a certainty of ships getting into 

 winter quarters in Smith Sound as far up as 82° latitude, 

 yet Kane was stopped 200 miles south of this, and Hayes 

 even at a greater distance. 



The Spitzbergen route has never had a fair trial with 

 sledges over ice either with or without the aid of dogs, and 

 I believe that if the Pole is ever to be reached, it will be 

 by it, and not by Smith Sound. The distance to be 

 travelled will not probably be less than 1,400 geographical 

 miles, possibly more, a journey practicable enough under 

 favourable circumstances, but by no means easy of accom- 

 plishment. John Rae 



NOTES 



At the Anniversary Meeting of the Fellows of the Royal Society 

 on Thursday last, Lieut. -General Sir Edward Sabine, R.A., 

 K.C.B., resigned the office of president, which he has filled since 

 1S61, and the Astronomer Royal was elected to fill the presiden- 

 tial chair. The following gentlemen were appointed officers and 

 council for the ensuing year : — President : George Biddell Airy, 

 M.A., D. C.L., LL. D., Astronomer Royal. Treasurer: William 

 Spottiswoode, M.A. Secretaries: William Sharpey, M.D., 



