Notes

Abstract

SINCE our last week's note, we understand that the whaling steamer Bloodhound, of Greenock, has been purchased as the chief vessel of the new Arctic Expedition. Other whalers have been examined by Sir Leopold M'Clintock, but none have been deemed suitable. The Bloodhound is a screw steamer, whose engines are nominally 96 horse-power; she is barque-rigged, two years old, strong, sound, and well appointed, and handy either under steam or canvas. It is announced that the vessel chosen to be the consort of the steam-whaler Bloodhound in the forthcoming expedition is Her Majesty's ship Alert. She is a five-gun steam-sloop of 751 tons old measurement, and 100 horse-power nominal. The Alert has been docked at Portsmouth and will undergo a thorough survey. Active preparations for the equipment of the ships will soon commence, but the start will not be made until the latter part of June of next year, as it is considered merely waste of labour and time to push across the north water until the ice has had time to melt and drift out from Smith's Sound. A request has been made by the Foreign Office that the Danish Government will permit their agents at Disco, Proven, and Upernavik to collect hunters, dogs, and dog-drivers for the Arctic Expedition. Capt. Nares is expected to arrive in this country about the end of January, 1875. The Committee for making arrangements with respect to the Expedition sat on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Admiralty for the purpose of deciding on the piovisions and clothing to be supplied to the members of the expedition. They have been occupied hitherto with details as to the route.