590 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS* 
of the pole is a problem still remaining to be solved. We ven¬ 
ture to express this extraordinary opinion upon the circumstance, 
that if such an important event had actually taken place, as the 
discovery of the magnetic pole, it would have been a matter of 
such triumph and exultation, that the whole crew would have 
been made acquainted with it, as '‘the chief crown and glory” 
of the expedition. We have it, however, positively in our power 
to affirm, that some of the crew had never heard of the discovery 
of the magnetic pole, until the supposed position of it was 
pointed out to them, by Commander Ross, in the Panorama of 
the expedition exhibited in Leicester square. We have had 
this circumstance corroborated by two of the crew, one of them 
a petty officer; and therefore it naturally gave rise to some 
doubts in our mind, whether the discovery of the position of 
the magnetic pole was ever, in reality, accomplished in this ex¬ 
pedition. Considerable information, however, on this important 
point, was elicited from several individuals, who were examined 
before the committee of the House of Commons; but it will be 
seen that the individual, to whom the honor of the discovery 
belongs, and from whom, in consequence, it was to be supposed 
that the greater portion of valuable information was to be ob¬ 
tained, was merely asked two or three questions : whilst, on the 
other hand, such questions were put to Capt. Ross, as were 
likely to impress upon the minds of the committee, that he 
himself was the actual discoverer of it. 
We have already taken all becoming notice of the discovery 
of Capt. Ross, that the light of a candle and the buttons of his 
coat had an effect upon the magnet; and in the course of that 
inquiry, he is asked —“ The position of the magnetic pole had 
already been determined by previous observation?’’—“ Yes, by 
previous observation; by our own observation we had deter¬ 
mined we were within a very short distance, where the ship 
was, from the magnetic pole. By continuing these observations, 
we arrived at the spot.’’ 
In explanation of this answer, it must be observed, that it 
was by an excellent dipping needle, constructed by Jones, that 
Commander Ross was able to determine the spot, with tolerable 
