Notes

Abstract

IT is rather disappointing that Capt. Young's Arctic Expedition in the Pandora, which arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday, should have returned home prematurely without accomplishing any part of the work for which it was organised—the discovery of additional Franklin relics and the complete navigation of the North-west Passage. Under the circumstances, however, Capt. Young has adopted the wisest possible course. Better that the expedition should spend a comfortable winter at home, and set out early next year to renew the attempt in which they have just been baffled. Disco was reached on August 7, Upernivik on the 13th, and Cape York on the 16th, after a splendid passage through the much-dreaded Melville Bay. Carey Islands were visited to deposit letters for the Alert and Discovery and to obtain a despatch from Capt. Nares, as previously agreed on. The despatch, however, was not discovered till the return voyage. From Carey Islands the Pandora proceeded up Lancaster Sound to Beechey Island, which was reached on the 26th. Here Capt. Young inspected “Northumberland House,” which was built as a storehouse by the North Star (Capt. Saunders) in 1850. It was found that the house had been broken into by bears, and many of the stores damaged, but those in casks and barrels had sustained scarcely any injury. The yacht Mary and two lifeboats left by Sir John Ross were in such good condition that, with a few repairs, they could still be made seaworthy. After putting the stores in order, Capt. Young proceeded up Peel Strait for the purpose of reaching King William Land. After considerable manœuvring with the ice, and some difficulties arising from the uselessness of the compasses so near the magnetic pole, La Roquette Island, near Bellot Strait, was reached on August 30. The ground thus far gone over was pretty well known from the explorations of previous expeditions, and Capt. Young was close to his former encampments when travelling from the Fox in 1859. But now an impenetrable pack of ice across the channel barred all further progress, and after vainly trying to find a passage, Capt. Young prudently determined to retreat, which he did on Sept. 3. Carey Islands were reached on Sept. 11, and Capt. Nares' record discovered. The Pandora arrived at Disco on the 20th, passed Cape Farewell on Oct. 2, and, as we have said, reached Portsmouth on Saturday. Both on the outward and return voyage very rough weather was encountered, although after leaving Disco until Bellot Strait was reached, the weather was on the whole very favourable. The following is Capt. Nares' record referred to:-“H.M.S. Alert, at Carey Islands, 3 A.M., 27th July, 1875.—Alert and Discovery arrived here at midnight, and will leave at 6 A.M. for Smith's Sound, after depositing a depot of provisions and a boat. We left Upemivik on the evening of the 22nd inst, and Brown Islands on the evening of the 23rd. Passing through the middle ice during a calm, we arrived at Cape York on the 25th inst. The season is a very open one, and we have every prospect of attaining a high latitude. All are well on board each ship.” Thus the latest news from our Arctic Expedition is entirely favourable.