298 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
these are the people who suppose that all merit consists in 
pounds, shillings and pence, to them the naval glory of the 
country is a mere bauble—the physical and moral knowledge 
of the globe a kind of will-with-the-wisp, which when obtained 
is not worth the trouble bestowed in the acquisition of it—the 
interests of science and humanity, mere paltry considerations 
and synonymous with folly and hypocrisy: but although we 
confess that those expeditions are vulnerable in some points, yet 
we trust that those who direct the energies of this mighty empire, 
will not be turned aside from the prosecution of scientific dis¬ 
coveries by the cavils and objections of empirical soi-disant phi¬ 
losophers, who attach no value to any pursuit but that in which 
themselves are immediately engaged. It is true that all human 
power has its limits, dominion frequently changes hands, and 
riches make to themselves wings and fly, but knowledge endur- 
eth for ever, and the names of Cook, Parry, Franklin and a 
host of others, who have contributed so amply to enlarge the 
sphere of knowledge, will shed a lustre on our naval history, 
and stimulate the youth of ages yet to come, to imitate their 
bright example. 
It was the excursion, which Commander Ross took on the 9th 
March, which gave rise to those doubts in his mind respecting 
the probability of success in their great undertaking, which 
subsequent observations tended to confirm, and which threw the 
sickly hue of disappointment over his future operations. It was 
the opinion of Capt. Parry, that the great difficulty lay on the 
eastern side of the strait of the Hecla and Fury, and that could he 
succeed in forcing his way through it, a clear passage then 
existed for him to the westward. The observations of Com¬ 
mander Ross however tended to disprove this opinion of Capt. 
Parry, for the winter harbour of the Victory in 1830 was only four 
degrees to the westward of the strait of the Hecla and Fury, 
and yet the supposed sea of Capt Parry was not found to be in 
existence, in fact, there is good reason to believe that the strait 
so called, was nothing more than an inlet or bay between Mel¬ 
ville Peninsula, and the land which was called Cockburn Island, 
although it was never proved to be such by any mariner having 
