134 REPORT— 1877. 



Smith ; after several voyages the two latter gentlemen hold to the opinion that the 

 nearest approach to the Pole lies in that direction. 



On the east side of Greenland, the German Expedition of 1809-70, under Kolde- 

 wey, passed a winter in a small steamer of 140 tons, the ' Germania,' with a crew 

 of only 17 hands, on the same ground where our Captain Clavering, R.N., with 

 Captain Sabine, had conducted scientific pendulum observations in 1823, on Pendu- 

 lum Island, and laid down the coast from 72° to 76° N. Under Koldewey, Paver 

 won his first laurels as a traveller, in exploring deep fiords abounding in grand 

 scenery, with animal life, and an interesting flora. The 'Hansa,' tender to the 

 ' Germania,' got separated from her before the winter in the packed ice. She was 

 drifted along by the prevailing current from the Polar Sea, along the east coast of 

 Greenland towards the south ; after many perils this vessel was crushed ; the crew 

 escaped in open boats to the Danish settlement near Cape Farewell. Professor 

 Nordenskiold has made several successful expeditions to Spitzbergen on scientific 

 pursuits, which are of the highest value. 



Then we have to recognize the Austro-Hungarian Expedition under Weyprecht 

 and Payer, who set off to enter the Polar Sea to the north-east, acting on the views 

 of Petermann respecting the extension of the warm current from the Atlantic in 

 that direction ; but at first starting from the north coast of Novaia Zemblia their 

 small vessel was beset, and drifted in a helpless condition for more than a year in 

 the frozen sea, and they involuntarily became the discoverers of Franz-Josef Land 

 and adjacent islands, a group very similar to Spitzbergen. The feat accomplished by 

 Payer in exploring on foot to the north of these islands is unsurpassed. The 

 account of this celebrated voyage is familiar to you all, as well as their remarkable 

 escape from their abandoned ship. 



England could no longer look on idly and see other nations striving to eclipse 

 her Arctic fame, and repeated applications from the Royal Geographical and 

 other learned societies, also supported by this Association, resulted in Govern- 

 ment granting the Expedition which has so recently been conducted with so much 

 credit under Capt. Sir George Nares, seconded by Capt. Stephenson. It would be 

 tedious to you now, and indecorous of me, to repeat all what Captain Nares and 

 his noble followers have so gallantly accomplished, and which has been so fully and 

 prominently related to the world. You must bear in mind that although we male 

 such extensive discoveries in the search for Franklin, discovery was not then the 

 object, and since the celebrated effort of Parry to reach the Pole from Spitzbergen 

 in 1827, when he attained the high latitude of 82° 45' N., no further attempt to 

 explore the Polar seas had been sent forth. Smith's Sound was selected on the 

 opinion of a majority of Arctic officers, grounded chiefly on the statements received 

 from the United States Expedition respecting land trending north from Robeson 

 Channel, with facilities for navigation in the summer. 



The 'Alert ' and the ' Discovery ' set forth in May, 1875, with the unanimous 

 good wishes of the nation for success. The chief object in view was to reach the 

 Pole of our globe, to extend our geographical knowledge, and obtain scientific 

 observations. The expedition left most amply provided for the perilous service, and 

 in the passage through Baffin's Bay as far as Smith's Sound was highly 

 favoured with an open navigation, and on the 28th July they reached 

 Port Foulke at the entrance of Smith's Sound. Here commenced the 

 trials and impediments which the Arctic seaman has to contend with ; the rest of 

 the navigation season was one repeated struggle amidst heavy ice-fii tee icebero-s 

 sometimes for days beset in packed ice. The ships were advanced through Kennedy 

 Straits to the Robeson Channel of " Hall of the Polaris." The condition of the 

 navigation this season proved very different, as the ' Polaris' reached lat. 82° in 

 comparatively open water. On August 25th the ' Discovery ' was placed in a 

 harbour well suited for wintering and most favourably placed as the reserve station 

 should disaster happen to the ' Alert ' in a high latitude of the circumpolar sea. 

 The 'Alert' then advanced alone, contending against currents and massive floe-ice. 

 On September 1st, aided by a south-west gale, a passage was opened which enabled 

 Nares to clear the Robeson Channel, and attain the latitude of 82° 24' N., the most 

 northerly position ever gained by any ship. He found himself confronting the 

 circumpolar sea, filled with packed ice, varying from 80 to 100 feet in thickness, 



