A NEW POLAR EXPEDITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 49

A NEW POLAR EXPEDITION.

Mr F. G. Jackson, who has lately returned from a three years' expedition in Franz Josef Land, has arranged to start on an expedition to the North Pole as soon as he has completed the work connected with his last journey. Interviewed during New Year week he said : " The report is quite true. I have lately changed my original plaas, which -were practically identical with Peary's, with this exception, that while Peary proposes to go along the west coast of Greenland, via Smith Sound and Robeson Channel, to the northern part of Helpiin Land, I had intended_to push up the east coast of Greenland from Cape Bismarck, mapping in all the undiscovered coast-line and making for the same point of Helprin Land as Peary himself, with the object of pushing north from there. However, on hearing Peary's recent paper, I discovered the fact that our plans wer« practically icpntica', auci as I consider (bat Peary has a prior night to myself in the matter I have changed my plans. "I now propose to proceed via Davis Straits and Baffin's Bay, through Jones Sound, up the undiscovered west coast of Elgmere and Grinnel Land, asing them as a means of getting ncrtb, and connecting with the farthest point, reached by Aldrich in 1876. I shall then endeavour to push north fronif that point, making for any land I may see off Uia coast. No date for the departure of my expedition can yet be definitely fixed, as I must complete the work connected with my last Arctic joraney before I can make detailed preparations for this one. " J shall purchase a whaler, atid push Liar north as far as I can get her. The actual sledging paity will be a small one, consisting only of one other pcason besides myself. As for extended sledge journeys, I am convinced of the absolute necessity of reducing everything to a minimum." Asked as to what were hit* prospects or reaching the Pole by this route, Mr Jackson said : "I consider getting to the Pole a very large order; only inexperienced men will venture to express any definite opinion on it. In common with all Arctic explorers, I have the greatest desire to reach it. Coburg Island, ab the entrance of Jones Sound, on the iJorth T weat coasi of Baffin's Bay, is the farthest point regarding which we can do more than conjecture, and this point can be reached in any ordinary season. Beyond that point I hope to push my ship a cocsiderable distance. On leaving the ship afc the farthest' navigable point I shall establish i b^se depot, and thence shall push north with my one companion. "As I havo said, where thia depot will be established it is impossible to indicate, and therefore the intervening distance to the Pole is equally ancertain. That distance, whatever it may be, will be covered by means of dogs and ponies, the latter of which I have safcißf?ctorf(y proved to be cf the utraosb value in Polar work. I shill carry compressed food for »s long a period as possible. I have not yet gone into detailß, and at present I can only gay that my journey cannot be done in one season. I shall probably be absent from Eagland for at least two years. I shall conduct my expedition on my own linep, and. if necessary, at my own expenee. Pest; experience haa taugbt me that Polar exploration can only be conducted with complete success when the leader's bands are left quite untrammelled. | "It is the veriest nonsense," said Mt Jackson, in conc'usion, "for people to say that the exploration of the North Pole area is practically completed. A glance at the map will at once show that barely one-half of that i vasfc area has ever been trodden by man. I am sorry tc see the apathy amorjg British geographers in regard to further North Pole exploration. Surely the arduous work and the brilliant achievements of such men as M'Olintcck, Omrnaney, Nares, Markham, Young, and other British explorers, who have done &o much to estabh&h Britain's prestige in tho field of discovery, are to b8 I continued and maintained. Geography may |be international — to a certain extent tbis is so— and this country will ulwavs applaud and reward explorers of other countries. I can emphatically say that nothiog gave me more sincere pleasure than to be in a position to help Nausea whan I did, but it will be an evil day for England when she ceases to take part in what has become an international competition, and is content to relinquish to other nations the position she has so long held in the van of Arctic discovery." VATICAN AND QUIRINAL. There are in Rome two seats of sovereign authority — the Vatican, or the palace of the Pope ; the Quirinal, or the Palace of the King. Twenty-seven years ago, both palaces I were Papa), and to-day the Papal inscriptions remain over the doors of the Quirinal. You see them on tbe clock tower in the courtyard ; you see the Papal ins'gnia in tha State apartments; the reminders of the ! Popedom confront at every turn the representatives of the monarchy. The Quirinal was until 1870 the summer palace of the Popes, although for several years before that ■ time ifc had not been much used by Pius IX. Before the Government Rwzed the property and established there the residence of the King, the Pope had caused the 'Quiriaal to be stripped of its treasures, ho that there remain from the Popedom'a occupancy only the decorations upon the walls and ceilings. These have romained untouched. Humbert may or may not believe that he is king by Divine right. Ib is hardly probable that he does believe it. Ho has been reminded often enough that the House of Savoy came to the throne of Ibaly on the crest of a series cf revolutions in which his father, Victor Emmanuel, had won enormous popularity. Victor Emmanuel was a splendid soldier and a capable stateeman. The men by whose names the Italian patriots conjure — Mizzlni, Garibaldi, and the rest — did not lead tbe Italian revolt. becnu?e they wished to present tbe House of Savoy with the throne of Italy. Victor Emmanuel knew that well

enough, and his son, the present king, knows it. The revolution was founded on the aspirations of the people. The monarchy was the result of a chain of political accidents. Humbert's son, the Prince of Naples, bears the name of his illustrious grandfather — he is called Victor Emmanuel. He is 28 years of age, but as yet he is an uncertain quanfciiy in the political calculations. He is adored by hia mother, and she is a brilliant, a beautiful, and a good woman ; but he has not yet given a reason why he should be adored by the people. His marriage rather more than a year ago to the beautiful Princess Helen of Montenegro was, however, distinctly popular. He is an officer in the army and an accomplished horseman. His position prevents him from taking a hand in the political game, and there is hardly anything for him to do, except to be ornamental. He has not yet become a counter in ihe play. There is to-day Sn Ihaly a megnificont opportunity for a great man who is also a groat patriot. King Humbert is a patriot, but he is not a great statesman. For statecraft he has neither the inclination nor the genius. They seem to think in Italy that he might have done more than he has to extricate the country from the lamentable maze of complications in which it fiuds itself. Pox-haps they forget that, after all, King Humbert is a constitutional, not aa absolute, monarch that hia powers are limited, and that his duty is to reign, not govern. On the other hand, they know that Victor Emmanuel was also a constitutional king, bub that, in spite of tha limitations thereby imposed upon him, he directed affair*. Victor Emmanuel had a masterful will. Hehad what we like to call " backbone." He partly placed himself, and he was partly thrust, to the headship of the State. As he had absolutely led the country on the battlefield, so he undertook to lead ifc in legislation and diplomacy. He succeeded. He was a Jiiaa of indemitaoie energy. His public principles were higb, aud ha g.ive him36l? absolutely to what ha conceived to be his duty. Humbert, though a strong soldier, is not a strorig kicg. Were Italy in danger from an armed foe, he would ask no better fortune than to fighfc for her. He would be in tbe front of the fray, and he would give his life without fear and without regret. I am told by niesi who know him wnd who are attached to hid caups that he would, give up his kiegship without regret if he could do so honourably and if the deed would benefit bis country. He would rather be a general in hia own army than the sovereign of the State. What he cares for most are his army, his horses, and the ploaaui.es of the chase. No one at the Quirinal is unconscious oi! tbe development of tbe democratic spirit in Europe, and it is no secret that there has been much uneasiness among what may be called the King's party during recent years. If the Quirinal represents any policy, it is the policy of holding on. But fche Quiricial represents many others besides th« King. There are maay whoso iloraines would fall with the fall o£ the Hon-e of Savoy. They represent a party which is not without influence in the State. Moreover, the relations between the Quiriaal and the military power of Germany are friendly, aud the party cf the King not unnaturally looks to Germany for support in the event of aa Italian uprisirg. Whatever may be ths King's personal views, his hands are bound to be forced some day, as Victor Emmanuel's* were forced when he came to Ejme. Without the House of Savoy there could ' be no king in Italy. Should that House fall, *,here is none other from which the Irsilrans would care to cniose a sovereign. — English Illustrated Magazine.