POLAR SEA. 
551 
From these alternating altitudes, continued throughout a meridian line of 
nearly eleven hundred geograpliical miles, I infer that this chain follows the 
nearly universal law of a gradual subsidence, and that Greenland is continued 
furtlier to the north tlian any otlier known land. In the old (iojitinents the land 
slopes toward the Arctic Sea ; but although in tlic New World the descent of 
the land generally is to the east, the law of the gradual decline of meridional 
chains is universal. 
Believing, then, in such an extension of Greenland, and feeling that the search 
for Sir John Franklin is best promoted by a course wliich will lead directly to 
the open sea — Iceling, too, that the approximation of the meridians would make 
access to the west as easy from Northern Greenland as from Wellington Chan- 
nel, and access to the east far more easy — feeling, too, that tlie highest protrud- 
ing headland will be most likely to aflord some trace of the lost party, I am 
led to propose and attempt this line of search. 
Admitting such an extension of the land masses of Greenland to the north, 
we have the following inducements for exjdoration and research; 
1. Terra lirma as the basts of our operations, obviating the capricious char- 
acter of ice travel. 
2. A duo northern line, wiiich, tlirowing aside the influences of terrestrial 
radiation, would lead soonest to the open sea, should such exist. 
3. The benefit of the fiin-like abutment of land, on the north face of Green- 
land, to check tlie ice in the course of its southern or equatorial drift, thus ob- 
viating the great dra\vha(‘k of Parry in his attempts to reach the pole by the 
Spitzhergen Sea. 
4. Animal life to sustain traveling parties. 
5. I’he co-operation of the Esiiuimaux, &c. ; settlements of these people 
having been found as high as Wliale Sound, and probably extending still further 
along the coast. 
The point f would endeavor to attain would be the highest attainable seats 
of BalFm's Bay, from the sound known as Smith’s Sound, and advocated by 
Baron Wrangell as the most eligible site for rcachiug the north pole. 
As a point of departure it is two hundred and twenty miles to the north of 
Beechy Island, the starting-point of Sir Edward Belcher, and seventy miles 
north of the utmost limits seen or recorded in Wellington Chanuel. 
The party should consist of some fliirty men, with a couple of launches, 
sledges, dogs, and gutta percha boats. The provisions to be pemmican, a prep- 
aration of dried meal, packed in cases impregnable to the assaults of the Polar 
bear. 
We shall leave the United States in lime to reach the bay at the earliest 
season of navigation. Tlie brig furnished by Mr. Grinncll for this purpose is 
admirably strengthened and fully equipped to meet the peculiar trials of the 
service. After reaching the settlement of Uppernavik, we take in a supply of 
Esquimaux dogs, and a few picked men to take charge of the sledges. 
We then enter the ice of Melville Bay, and, if successful in penetrating it, 
hasten to Smith’s Sound, forcing our vessel to the utmost navigable point, and 
there securing her for the winter. Tlie operations of search, however, are not 
to be suspended. Active exercise is the best safeguard against the scurvy ; 
and although the darkness of winter will not he in our flavor, I am convinced 
that, with the exception, perhaps, of the solstitial period of maximum obscurity, 
