POLAR SEA. 
549 
imperfect nautical observation rendered entirely unreliable their assertions of 
latitudes, we have the names of but two who may be said to have attained 
the parallel of 82° ; Heindrich Hudson in 1607, and Edward Parry in our own 
times. 
This latter navigator felt that the sea, ice-clogged with its floating masses, 
was not the element for successful travel, and with a daring unequaled, I think, 
in the history of personal enterprise, determined to cross the ice upon sledges. 
The spot he selected was north of Spitzbergen, a group of rocks called the 
Seven Islands, the most northern known land upon our globe. With indomita- 
ble resolution he gained within four hundred and thirty-five miles of his mys- 
terious goal, and then, unable to stem the rapid drift to the southward, was 
forced to return. 
But the question of access to the xirctic pole — the penetration to this open 
sea— is now brought again before us, not as in the days of Hudson, and Scores- 
by, and Parry, a curious problem for scientific inquiry, but as an object claiming 
philanthropic effort, and appealing thus to the sympathies of the whole civilized 
world — the rescue of Sir John Frankhn and his followers. 
The recent discoveries by the united squadrons of De Haven and Penny, of 
Franklin's first winter quarters at the mouth of Wellington Channel, aided by 
the complete proofs since obtained that he did not proceed to the east or west, 
render it beyond conjecture certain that he passed up Welhngton Channel to 
the north. 
Here we have lost him ; and, save the lonely records upon the tomb-stones 
of his dead, for seven years he has been lost to the world. To assign his exact 
position is impossible : we only know that he has traveled up this land-locked 
channel, seeking the objects of his enterprise to the north and west. That 
some of his party are jet in existence, this is not the-place to argue. Let the 
question rest upon the opinions of those who, having visited this region, are at 
least better qualified to judge of its resources than those who have formed their 
opinions by the fireside. 
The journeys of Penny, Goodsir, Manson, and Sutherland have shown this 
tract to be a tortuous estuary, a highway for the polar ice-drift, and interspersed 
with islands as high as latitude 77° j beyond which they could not see. It is 
up this channel that the searching squadron of Sir Edward Belcher has now 
disappeared, followed by the anxious wishes of those v/ho look to it as the final 
hope of rescue. I regret to say, that after considering carefully the prospects 
of this squadron, I have to confess that I am far from sanguine as to its suc- 
cess. It must be remembered that Wellington Channel is all that has just been 
stated, tortuous, studded with islands, and a thoroughfare for the northern ice ; 
and the open water sighted by Captain Penny is not to be relied on, either as 
extending very far, or as more than temporarily unobstructed. If we look up 
from the highlands of Beechy Head, fifty miles of apparently open navigation 
is all that we can assert certainly to have been attained by the searching ves- 
sels, and to reach the present known limits of the sound would require a prog- 
ress in a direct line on their part of at least one hundred and thirty miles. 
They left, moreover, on the fifth of August ; and early as this is there con- 
sidered, and open as was the season, they have but forty days before winter 
cements the sea, or renders navigation impossible by clogging the running gear. 
By a fortunate concurrence of circumstances, the squadron of Sir Edward 
