The party again set sail, and on were obscured, and during all the 21st of August arrived on which time it blew a strong gale. board the Heela, after an absence On every other occasion they had of sixty-one days. to land on the naked reefs which front the coast, and on which it The Land Arctic Expedition. often happened no fresh water was About the end of June, 1826, to be obtained, and but little wood. captain Franklin arrived at the Before captain Franklin had reachlast of the Hudson Bay Company's ed more than half way to Icy posts, named Fort Good Hope, in Cape, most of his party began to lat. 67 deg. 28 min. N. long. 130 have swellings in their legs, and deg. 53 min. W.; the expedition showed other symptoms of extreme under his command in excellent suffering from their unavoidable health and spirits; and so far as exposure to wading in the water, depended on personal exertion, for the purpose of dragging the the equipment of their boats, and boats where they were under the the supply of stores and provisions, necessity of landing to rest or to the most sanguine hopes of success get fresh water, or when they were entertained. Three days were compelled by the recurrence journey from thence, on the 4th of of strong gales to seek the shore. July, he despatched a party to the The temperature of the water was eastward, under the command of generally about the freezing-point, Dr. Richardson, and proceeded whilst that of the air seldom exhimself, in command of another ceeded 36 degrees. The coast westparty, by the western channel of ward of Mackenzie's river, under Mackenzie's river, which flows at any circumstances, was extremely the foot of the rocky mountains, hazardous to navigate ; but under and completed a survey of the the difficulties which captain coast from long. 113 deg. W. to Franklin experienced, farther per149 deg. 38 min. W. Captain severance on his part would have Franklin was accompanied by cap ccompanied by cap- been unpardonable rashness. The tain Back who had been his com- whole party being of opinion that panion on the former expedition. the obstructions were insurmountHe was much impeded in his pro- able, being completely beyond hugress by the constant obstruction man control, were compelled to reof ice, unbroken from the shore in turn, in the conviction, however, many parts, until the 4th August that the navigation of the north--by the prevalence of fogs--and west passage is open. by the nature of the sea coast, A novel feature in this expewhich to the westward of the 140th dition was the violence exhi. degree is so extremely low and bited by the Esquimaux. Both flat as to be unapproachable, even captain Franklin's and Dr. Ri . in boats, nearer than two or three chardson's parties were attacked miles. Indeed, beyond the 139th on the same day by great numbers degree it was found impossible to of these people, who had stationed land on the main shore, except at themselves in the eastern and one point; and there they were western outlets of the Mackenzie. most vexatiously detained eight To this conduct the Esquimaux days, in the best part of the season, were probably stimulated by the by a fog so dense, that all objects Indians. The western party were beyond the distance of a few yards also providentially saved from an a attack of a tribe of mountain In- chose a middle one, and that night dians, by an opportune notice of got into brackish water, with an their intention. Before the at- open view of the sea, in lat. 69 tack, however, Dr. Richardson's deg. 29 min. N. long. 133 deg. party met several parties of Esqui- 24 min. W. On the 11th in lat. maux, and had friendly communi- 69 deg. 42 min. N. long. 132 deg cations with them ; and it may, in 10 min. W. the water was persome measure, be ascribed to the fectly salt, the sea partially coversmall number of the party, (twelve ed with drift ice, and no land in all) and the apparently dis- visible to seaward. They expetressed situation of the boats rienced considerable difficulty in grounding on the flats of the Mac- crossing the estuaries of several kenzie river. But after the at- rivers, which were deemed to be tack was defeated, and fortunately outlets of the shallow channels of without injury to the natives, the Mackenzie, that had been left presents were made to, and barters to the eastward. They suffered, with, some individuals who be- besides, some detention from ice longed to the same tribe, but who and bad weather; and it was not had not been engaged in the affair, until the 18th of July that, in lat. and who had signified their disap- 70 deg. 37 min. N. long. 126 deg. proval of the conduct of the assails 52 min. W. they got entirely clear ants. The eastern party, under of the widely-spreading mouths of Dr. Richardson, who was accom- the Mackenzie, and of a large lake panied by Mr. Kendall, an intelli- of brackish water, which seems to gent and distinguished young offi- receive one of the branches of that cer, succeeded in reaching the river. The navigation across these Coppermine river on the 8th of wide estuaries was rendered emAugust, and returned to Fort barrassing from extensive sandy Franklin, Great Bear Lake, on flats, which occasionally compelled the 1st of September. Like that them to go nearly out of sight of under the command of captain land, and left them exposed to a Franklin, they experienced repeat- frequently dangerous surf, in boats ed obstructions from ice, and oc- too slight to venture out into deep casionally from strong breezes; water, amongst heavy ice, in stormy but they were spared the foggy weather. These dangers were weather, except on parts of two gladly exchanged for a coasting days, which had caused the wes- voyage in the open sea. They tern party so much anxiety and rounded Cape Parry, in lat. 70 difficulty in their progress. The deg. 8 min. N. long. 123 deg. W . object of Dr. Richardson's party Cape Krusenstern in lat. 68 deg . was to examine the intermediate 46 min. N. long. 114 deg. 45 min. coast between the Mackenzie and W. and entered George the 4th's the Coppermine rivers. After se- Coronation Gulf, by the Dolphin parating from captain Franklin, and Union Straits (so named after on the 4th of July, they pursued the boats), which brought them the easternmost channel of the within sight of Cape Barrow, and Mackenzie, until the 7th of that two degrees of longitude to the month, when, finding that it dis- eastward of the Coppermine river, tributed itself by various outlets, Their sea voyage terminated as of which the more easterly were before-mentioned, on the 8th of not navigable for their boats, they August, by their actually entering REGISTER that river. With the exception doned the boats, with the remainof a few hours on two or three der of their cargoes of provision, days, Dr. Richardson's party ex- iron-work, beads, &c. to the first perienced contrary winds during party of Esquimaux which should their entire progress, and latterly chance to pass that way; and on were delayed, and compelled to the 10th of August set out by round every inlet of a deep bay, land, with ten days' provisions, by thick ice driving in from sea and their personal baggage reduced ward, and packing closely on the to a single blanket and a few spare shore. The boats' crews, howe mockasins, that they might travel ever, without suffering their ex- as lightly as possible; and, farther ertions to flag, and taking every to reduce the men's loads, the advantage of wind and tide, cut a tents were left behind, and Mr. passage with the hatchet; and by Kendall carried the astronomical four days of hard labour cleared instruments. They reached the this obstacle, the most troublesome eastern end of Bear Lake, at the that occurred during voyage influx of Dease's river, on the along the coast. Although they 18th, and remained there until saw much heavy floe ice, some of the evening of the 24th, before it aground even in nine fathom the boats arrived to convey them water, yet none of it bore marks to Fort Franklin. The person to of being more than one season whom the boats were intrusted, old; and from the heights of land and who was sent off from Fort they could discern lanes of open Franklin on the 6th of August, water outside-so that a ship, with the necessary supplies, and properly strengthened for such a the strictest injunctions from Mr. voyage, could make way through Dease to use diligence in getting it with a favouring breeze. to the river, did not arrive on the Throughout the whole line of latest day appointed for his appears coast they had regular tides, the ance (the 20th), from a vague flood setting from the eastward; belief that Dr. Richardson's party the rise and fall being from a foot would never return, and that he to twenty inches. In the Dolphin should make a needless voyage, and Union Straits, the current in and remain long waiting for them the height of flood and ebb ex- in vain. He therefore loitered by ceeded two miles an hour. They the way; and after the 20th Dr. found drift timber every where, Richardson was obliged to distriand a large portion of it, on many bute his party into hunting and parts of the coast, lay in a line fishing groups, to procure subsista from ten to fifteen, and in some In these operntions they places upwards of twenty feet, were tolerably successful; and above the ordinary spring-tide they also obtained supplies from a water-mark, apparently thrown tribe of Indians, so that they had up by a heavy sea. The coast in abundance. Dr. Richardson was such places was unprotected by not able to collect his party for islands; and the inference is, that embarkation until the evening o.. in some seasons at least, if not the 28th ; and they reached the every year, there exists a long fort, after an absence from it of fetch of open water. After the seventy-one days, the whole party first rapid, in the Coppermine in perfect health. river, Dr. Richardson's party aban ence. NATURAL PHILOSOPHY AND MECHANICAL ARTS. COMPRISING GEOGRAPHY, ASTRONOMY, &c. ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. TURE, AND BOTANY. GEOGRAPHY, ASTRONOMY, &c. a it Observatory. At nine o'clock, grees higher than Polaris, and Sept. 26, a bright yellow light ap- their apparent base was nearly peared in the N.W.quarter, behind horizontal with the star Beta in a low stationary cirrostratus cloud, Ursa Major. At this time the and gradually extended from N. coruscations, which appeared to to W.N.W. It continued to in spring up from a much greater crease in altitude and width, and northerly distance than the coat ten had a brighter appearance lumns were, reached to the conthan the strongest crepuscule that stellation Cassiopeia, which was appears in this latitude in a clear nearly in the zenith. Soon after sky about the time of the Summer eleven a column of light, six de Solstice; but neither lucid co- grees in width, gradually rose lumns nor coruscations yet pre- from the position of the before sented themselves. At half-past inentioned star, and when it had ten the Aurora had formed itself reached an altitude of seventy deinto a tolerably well-defined arc grees it changed from a light of intense light, whose base ex- yellow to a blood red colour, tended from N. to W.; and at which, with the more elevated a quarter before eleven perpen- and vivid flashes that frequently dicular lucid columns and vivid reached twenty degrees south of coruscations of this subtile fluid the zenith, gave the Aurora an appeared in quick succession. So awfully grand appearance. This brilliant was the Aurora at eleven, wide coloured column remained perfect upwards of an hour, alter serene and undisturbed in their nately waning and increasing in vicinity. Soon after two A.M. the brilliancy, and ultimately passed Aurora grew faint, and gradually through the gradation of colours disappeared. The diffusion of the which is sometimes seen in the coruscations through the atmosclouds near the horizon at sun-set, phere caused twelve accensions, or as lake, purple, light crimson, meteors, to appear at intervals in &c.: it became apparently station- different quarters, but most of ary in the N.E. by E. point, and them were to the northward; it its eastern red edge was very well also had the effect, between the defined in the dark blue sky. Two hours of observation, of increasing more columns of light, nearly 'the temperature of the external similar in colour and width, soon air near the ground half a degree, afterwards sprang up, one in due notwithstanding the wind blew N. the other in N. W. and passed fresh from the south. This was the zenith several degrees to the the finest Aurora Borealis that southward. These three columns has been observed here during the presented a very grand appearance. last seventeen years. In sixteen At half-past eleven the Aurora hours after the Aurora, heavy rain suddenly changed to red, but soon and a gale of wind came on from, resumed its light yellow colour. the S.E. by E. (to which quarter From about this time till twelve the coruscations mostly tended), o'clock, the apex of the arc of the common result here of the light was within four or five de- diffusion of a superabundance of grees of the Polar Star, conse- electric fluid in the lower atmo.. quently the hemisphere from N.E. sphere. by E. to S.W. by W. was exceed- New Comet. At eleven o'clock ingly brilliant, whilst the corusca- P.M. on the 20th of June, Mr. tions which flashed through the Gambard discovered a small comet, atmosphere quicker than sheet situated in one of the feet of Caslightning in sultry summer even- siopeia. It was invisible to the ings, formed whole, but irregular- naked eye, and appeared to be aply shaped, arches from these points proaching the pole with great of the horizon through the zenith rapidity. Mr. Pons, at Florence, nearly. At one A.M. lofty per- observed the same phenomenon on pendicular columns emanated from the 21st, at two o'clock A.m.; that the Aurora in the western point, is to say, only three hours after it and at this time the northern he- was seen by Mr. Gambard ;-a. misphere was filled with long and striking proof of the zeal and dilishort streamers varying in width gence with which the science of and brilliancy, and often termi- astronomy is cultivated on the nating in very pointed forms. The continent. coruscations from the N.E. and On the Magnetic Influence of W. frequently met each other in the Heat produced by the Solar the zenith, and enlightened the Rays, fc.-By Mark Watt, esq. scattered patches of cirrostratus -A magnetic needle of about even to within thirty degrees of three inches long was used, and the southern horizon, and from was suspended by a hair which these clouds being stationary, it is hung from a stand, and surrounded probable that the atmosphere was by a sheet of pasteboard, to protect |