Alexandria Gazette

The Great Arctic Problem Solved

One of the most important geographical discoveries of the age (says the Journal of Commerce) is made known to us through the London Morning Chronicle of April 19th. It is no less than a solution of the long pending problem whether or not there is a communication by water from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean around the northern portion of the American continent. It is now ascertained that there is such a communication. The narrative of its discovery is published in the Morning Chronicle

The following abbreviation of the contents of this interesting narrative is copied from the New York Evening Post of Monday:

"The scientific expedition undertaken at the expense of the Hudson's Bay Company, to survey the extreme northern coast of America, has, in part, fulfilled its object. Messrs. Dease and Simpson, with ten attendants, reached Fort Good Hope, the northernmost settlement of the Company, on the 4th of July last, and descended the Mackenzie river to its mouth. They reached the ocean on the 9th of July, and proceeding westerly, followed the line of coast to Point Barrow. They thus completed the survey of the coast between the extreme points laid down by Capt. Beechey and Capt Franklin.

"They passed a few days with the Esquimaux at the Point, and, setting out on their return, reached Fort Norman on the 4th of September, having been sixty four days absent. From Fort Norman, they were, at the time the despatches were sent, preparing to proceed to a settlement which had been got ready for them at the east end of Great Bear Lake. Here they were to winter, and in July next to resume their labors. Proceeding to the eastward, they hope to connect the discoveries of Franklin and Back, and then complete the survey of the whole coast of North America."