DUMONT D'URVILLE 
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1st, 1840, the French flag retired from the South Polar 
Seas and the part played by France in the long history of 
the Antarctic came to an end for the nineteenth century. 
D'Urville was led to make his second dash to the south 
by the hope of anticipating the labours of Ross, and as 
Ross did not care to visit those parts after the French 
and American expeditions had cruised through them, 
the resolution of the French captain quite possibly led to 
the postponement rather than the advancement of dis- 
covery; since one expedition under an experienced ice- 
navigator with specially fortified ships and selected 
crews could certainly do more than two or any number of 
expeditions in ill-found vessels manned by inexperienced 
and enfeebled men. 
D'Urville’s discoveries of land were of but little ac- 
count. He twice traced out considerable stretches of a 
solid barrier of ice, and at one point saw and landed upon 
rocks in front of it; but he could only give the vaguest 
account of what lay behind the barrier. Perhaps the best 
part of the work of the Astrolabe and Zelee in the far 
South is the vivid and fascinating description of Ant- 
arctic scenery, and the splendid illustrations which ac- 
companied the volumes describing the expedition. 
The French expedition continued its researches in 
the Pacific where the commander was at home, an enthu- 
siast riding his hobby to his own infinite satisfaction and 
to the advancement of the science of geography. The 
ships were back in France early in November, 1840, and 
D’Urville at once set himself to the task of editing the 
record of the cruise. He was promoted Rear-Admiral 
and appointed President of the Council of the Paris 
Geographical Society in December, 1841, an honour 
which much gratified him. 
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