[ XXV ] 



Jenesej to Bering. It is in this channel that the Vega made her 

 North-East passage. 



I am persuaded this will not be the last time this channel will 

 be navigated, as from immemorial time millions of birds emigrate 

 from the extreme South to the shores of Northern Asia to breed 

 and enjoy its short summer, so I think the time will come when 

 numbers of seamen will, during some few weeks of every year, seek 

 this coast for commercial purposes, importing merchandise to the 

 mouth of the great and deep rivers of Siberia, and exporting from 

 thence produce to Europe, Asia, and America, and I believe this 

 navigation in the future will be attended with no peculiar dangers 

 to the ships, or privations to the crews. For that aim, a more com- 

 plete knowledge of the Polar regions, of the extension of land and 

 sea, of the forming of the ice in the deep open ocean, of the cur- 

 rents in the Polar basin, the prevailing winds, &c, is of the utmost 

 importance. 



I am persuaded that these geographical desiderata will soon 

 be supplied. Eor, with the exception of the Polar basins, all the 

 oceans of the globe at present are pretty well known. Very few 

 momentous problems are left for future explorers, and there will 

 be, no doubt, a lively competition among all the seafaring nations 

 to gain the last laurels left. 



No people has done so much to lift the veil which has, for a 

 long time, surrounded the icy regions as the people of England, and 

 no nation can boast of such a large mercantile marine, such a num- 

 ber of hardy seamen and skill til navigators. The enthusiasm with 

 which this people, even in the remotest parts of its dominions, 

 embraces our undertaking has been a source of great pleasure to 

 me, as a certain pledge that our voyage will soon be followed by 

 others, and, finally, by practical results, of what importance we at 

 present hardly can form an exact idea. 



Once more I thank you all for the kind reception to-day. 



Captain Palakdee, exhibits several charts and maps, which are 

 anxiously scanned, giving details of the " silent sea" over which 

 the Vega voyaged. 



The Professor hands to Dr. Deknts, for the Museum, a speci- 

 men of quartz which he had brought from the extreme northern 

 point of Asia. 



