598 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
which were necessary for the prosecution of particular scientific 
pursuits, yet he was by no means incapable of assisting a more 
able and vigorous individual with his advice and experience, 
on some points, the investigation of which might be attended 
with the greatest benefit to the general design of the expedition. 
But so far from either of them soliciting the assistance of the 
other, or entering into any active co-operation, by which a par¬ 
ticular end might be accomplished, the result of their respective 
scientific inquiries was as little known to each other, as if they 
had been declared rivals and competitors for a prize, the success 
of which depended on the closest secresy. The conduct of 
Commander Ross was perhaps regulated by his intention to 
give to the public, on his return, an accurate description of his 
scientific discoveries, and therefore any communication of them 
to another party, might have operated as an injury to his pub¬ 
lication; it is therefore most probable that, on the return of the 
two officers, a coalition took place between them ; and that it 
was thought most advisable for both parties, to form one work, 
embracing the discoveries and general information of both, than 
to commit a mutual injury, by a separate and independent pub¬ 
lication. 
In regard to the secresy, that was observed touching the dis¬ 
covery of the magnetic pole, it must be allowed, that there is 
an essential difference in the information, which Commander 
Ross gave to the committee of the House, and that, which has 
been transmitted to us by our informants : the former distinctly 
tells the committee, that having discovered the position of the 
magnetic pole, he conducted a party to the spot ; the latter 
informs us, that they never heard of the discovery until the spot 
was actually pointed out to them by Commander Ross himself, in 
the panorama, which was exhibited in Leicester square. In 
the midst of this conflicting testimony, it is most difficult to 
say, to whom credence is to be given ; we cannot attach any 
corrupt motive to Commander Ross for the evidence, which 
he gave, nor, on the other hand, can we trace any motive, by 
which our informants could be actuated in declaring their ex¬ 
treme ignorance of an event, which forms the most important 
