LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
591 
urecision; but it was then feared, that the real position of the 
pole could only be approached by a land journey, which was 
beyond the limited means of the expedition. These fears were, 
however, dispelled, by the discovery of the western sea, men¬ 
tioned in our narrative of the events, which took place in the 
year 1831. The party, who were first sent on the investigation 
of this interesting subject, had with them but a very small supply 
of instruments, and therefore brought back with them only some 
imperfect indications of the object, of which they were in 
search; but when it appeared, that another winter must neces¬ 
sarily be passed in those regions, preparations were made for a 
more accurate survey: and in May 1831, a series of observations 
determined, as far as the evidence of instruments is conclusive, 
the place of the magnetic meridian, and the exact position of 
the magnetic pole. 
Capt Ross, on being asked the exact longitude of the position 
of the pole, replied,—“ That we have not yet exactly determined 
the point of longitude—about 96°. 47V’ 
Was this answer founded on truth, or was it given to mislead 
the committee, for the purpose of reserving to himself the full 
explanation of it, at some future period ; or, it might happen, 
that Commander Ross had not then imparted to his uncle, the 
exact longitude ; for it must have appeared open to the meanest 
capacity, that if the longitude had not been determined on 
the spot, it was not probable that it could be determined in 
England: by the same parity of reasoning, he might have said, 
that he had not determined the latitude or longitude of Koka- 
looktook , but that he would determine both in his residence at 
London, 
Capt. Ross was next asked, “ Before you reached the position 
of the magnetic pole, what was the greatest variation of the 
compass V ’—“ We were then at a variation of 90 degrees 
westerly; previously to that, we had been 180 degrees; we 
passed round it; whichever way we passed it, as we passed 
round it, the compass turned towards it horizontally ; and when 
we were to the north or south of it, we turned a variation of 
