508 
‘¢ 3. It may be said that the scientific results of the former 
expeditions have been of little value; but of this it is impos- 
sible to judge until the Tidal, Magnetical, and Meteorological | 
observations made during these expeditions have been pub- 
lished by the Admiralty. The scientific world have had, as 
yet, no opportunity of studying those observations, and, con- 
sequently, their value has been very unfairly assumed to be 
but small. 
«¢4. Of the commercial importance of previous Arctic ex- 
peditions there can, however, be no second opinion. The 
cod fishery of Newfoundland was discovered by Sir H. Gil- 
bert; the great whale fishery of West Greenland by Davis; 
and that of the north and north-west of Baffin’s Bay by Sir 
John .Ross; that of Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait, and 
Prince Regent Inlet, by Parry; and that of Behring’s Straits 
by Beechey; while to Hudson is due the discovery of the fur 
trade, since carried on with such profit by the Great Fur 
Company. 
“<5. The set of the tides has proved that there is a water 
communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in 
the region proposed to be searched by Lady Franklin’s expe- 
dition. -Collinson’s voyage has established the fact that the 
N. and N. W. coast of the American continent can be safely 
navigated for about 1400 miles east and west. If, therefore, 
there be a north-west passage, it must, in all probability, exist 
in the region where the Erebus and Terror may be expected 
to be found, and Lady Franklin’s expedition, we may reason- 
ably hope, if it be properly supported, will lead to the final 
settlement of the question. 
«‘§, Further attempts at Arctic researches are often de- 
precated on the ground of their danger to the lives of the 
officers and men engaged in them. But we would represent 
to your Lordship that this is a mistake. The rate of mor- 
tality in all the Arctic expeditions (exclusive of the missing 
one under Sir John Franklin) is under 1$ per cent. per 
