NOTES

Abstract

IT is with the greatest pleasure and with something like a sense of relief that we are able at last to announce definitely that at a Cabinet Council held last Saturday it was decided that there should be an Arctic Expedition, at the expense of Government, to sail next spring. The welcome intelligence was thus announced by Mr. Disraeli to Sir Henry Rawlinson:—“Her Majesty's Government have bad under consideration the representations made by you on behalf of the Council of the Royal Geographical Society, the Council of the Royal Society, the British Association, and other eminent scientific bodies, in favour of a renewed expedition, under conduct of Government, to explore the region of the North Pole, and I have the honour to inform you that, having carefully weighed the reasons set forth in support of such an expedition, the scientific advantages to be derived from it, its chances of success, as well as the importance of encouraging that spirit of maritime enterprise which has ever distinguished the English people, her Majesty's Government have determined to lose no time in organising a suitable expedition for the purposes in view.” Steps have, we believe, been already taken to carry into effect this resolution, which reflects so much credit on her Majesty's Government. Admiral M'Clintock left for Dundee on Tuesday with an engineer and shipwright, to buy two steam whalers, which will be fitted out under the tried explorer's superintendence at Portsmouth. Capt. A. H. Markham, who went to Baffin's Bay last year, will probably occupy an important post in the expedition, the route of which will, of course, be Smith's Sound. Now that the thing has been decided on, there is no doubt that it will be thoroughly well done; and now that Englishmen have once more got the chance, we may expect something like real work, if, indeed, they do not take the last step in the solution of the Arctic mystery.