North Polar Exploration. 347 



outlay, in hard cash; and to speak to them of advantages 

 other than an actual money profit on goods delivered, would be 

 a mere waste of breath. Yet even they might be reminded 

 of the actual commercial profit that has been derived from 

 Arctic Expeditions. The voyages of Willoughby and Chan- 

 cellor opened the rich trade with Archangel. The discoveries 

 of Hudson led to the lucrative Spitzbergen whale fishery, those 

 of Davis and Ross to the equally remunerative fisheries in 

 Davis Strait and Baffin's Bay. The discoveries of the Danes 

 in Greenland have yielded supplies in ivory, cryolite, and 

 graphite. The Russian and Arctic expeditious have opened a 

 rich trade in fossil ivory. Lastly, the voyages up Barrow's 

 Straits have resulted in an extensive series of magnetic 

 observations of practical utility to navigation. 



But the public have a right to inquire closely whether any 

 future expedition would incur even the remote possibility of 

 such a fate as befel the " Erebus" and " Terror," and to this 

 objection a satisfactory reply may properly be demanded. There 

 is no analogy whatever between the ill-fated expedition led by 

 Franklin, and that which, it is hoped, will be despatched to 

 Smith Sound for North Polar exploration. No one feels this 

 more strongly than the noble-minded widow of that great ex- 

 plorer. In the latter case, a vessel will be stationed at a point 

 whence annual communication with England is easy and 

 certain, and whence a retreat to the Danish settlements in 

 Greenland is perfectly devoid of all risk; while Franklin 

 was sent into an unknown region, without a thought 

 of providing for his safe retreat in the event of disaster. 

 Had one of Franklin's ships remained off Cape War- 

 render, at the entrance of Lancaster Sound, and the other 

 not gone beyond Cape Riley, they would have been quite as 

 safe as if they had never left Greenhithe. The Smith Sound 

 exploring vessels, stationed at Cape Isabella and Cape Parry, 

 will be in exactly similar positions, for Smith Sound, like 

 Lancaster Sound, opens on the " North Water" of Baffin's 

 Bay. It is not, however, to be supposed that there will be no 

 individual danger to those who gallantly come forward to serve 

 in a Polar expedition of discovery. On the contrary, it will 

 be a service reqiiiring great powers of endurance, courage, and 

 self-reliance of a high order, and indomitable resolution. But 

 it is the desire to overcome difficulties and dangers, and to 

 emulate the deeds of former naval worthies, which induces 

 men to volunteer for such service. Suffice it to say that the 

 climate is the healthiest in the world, and that a retreat from 

 Smith Sound to the Danish settlement of Upernavik in 

 summer, if it should become necessary, is easy, and free from 

 danger. 



