360 
LETTER OF PROFESSOR BACHE. 
[June 14, 1858. 
purpose Charles A. Schott, Esq., Assistant in the Coast Survey, 
who was chosen by Dr. Kane to reduce many of the results of his 
observations, and who is very exact as a computer, and has remark- 
ably good judgment in regard to data. 
Dr. Kane states in his ‘ Narrative of the Second Grinnell Expe- 
dition,’ Appendix V., vol. ii. , that the positions given to Cape 
Jefferson by dead reckoning and by astronomical observations differ 
by 43' -6 of latitude, and that he had adopted a mean of the re- 
sults by the two methods, instead of that given by either method 
singly. 
Mr. Schott reports that, “ After verifying the astronomical data 
of Capes Jackson, Madison, and Jefferson, they were plotted, and 
the shore line run in accordingly, supported by some available 
bearings. From Cape Jefferson the bearing to the northernmost 
cape reached (Cape Independence) is by compass n. 148° e. or 
N. 40° e. true, distance 17 nautical miles. Consequently, if we 
base the shore line on the sun’s meridional observation, and not 
upon the mean between the dead reckoning and the astronomical 
observations (as Dr. Kane has done, and so stated in his £ Table of 
Positions,’ Appendix VI.), we trace the shore line as shown in red 
ink on the accompanying sketch, and Morton’s greatest northing 
(at Cape Independence) becomes 80° 53' (81° 12' by chart in vol. i. 
of the ‘ Narrative ’). 
“ That Dr. Pink has deducted too much by placing Cape Consti- 
tution in 80° 44', and hence Cape Independence in 80° 41', is plain 
from the fact that Morton observed the sun in 80° 41' at noon at 
Cape Jefferson, a point nearly 12 miles to the south of Cape Inde- 
pendence. 
“ Believing the astronomical observations to be entitled to greater 
confidence, 80° 56' for the latitude of Cape Constitution should be 
adopted in preference to 81° 15', as given on the chart in vol. i. 
In no case, however, could a latitude lower than 80° 53' be assigned 
to it.” 
The conclusions in regard to the open Polar Sea do not depend 
in any way upon this difference. 
With great respect and regard, 
Very truly yours, 
Hon. George M. Dallas , A. D. Bache. 
Minister of the United States to Great Britain. 
Captain Collinson, f.k.g.s. — I am particularly glad that this subject has 
been amicably adjusted. As geographers we must pay attention to observations, 
and not to reckoning. A Flemish yard or a Dutchman’s foot is of no value in 
