The Three Voyages of William Barents

Excerpt from The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions: 1594, 1595 and 1596 The Introduction to the second edition of this volume was already printed when the Arctic exploring ships, H. M. S. Alert and Discovery, returned to England ... Read more

Excerpt from The Three Voyages of William Barents to the Arctic Regions: 1594, 1595 and 1596 The Introduction to the second edition of this volume was already printed when the Arctic exploring ships, H. M. S. Alert and Discovery, returned to England, and I avail myself of this opportunity to express the feelings of admiration which the undaunted courage and perseverance displayed by its gallant crews have given rise to abroad; and to repeat, with warm enthusiasm, that "welcome-home" which is still finding expression over the whole civilised world. The year 1876 will undoubtedly be written with golden letters in the annals of English Arctic exploring, for not only the north, but also the north-east, was the scene of English enterprise. At the same time that Captain Nares and Captain Stephenson, under the most trying circumstances, succeeded in pushing the Government ships through the heavy barriers of ice which obstructed the outlet of Smith's Sound, another Englishman, Mr. Charles Gardiner, boldly penetrated the Kara Sea. Mr. Gardiner visited Barendsz Yshaven, and brought home from thence a valuable collection of highly interesting relics. Less