Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

NORTH WESTERN EXPEDITION.

The Quarterly Review, just published, contains the following remarks upon Capt. Parry's expedition of discovery:

"Two summers have now passed over, and it is pretty clear that they have not carried him into the Pacific; unless, indeed, which is merely in the chances, he may have taken the route of China and the Cape of Good Hope, which from his ample supply of provisions remaining, is not quite improbable. Had he run from Kamtschatka, or along the coast of America, in the Pacific, we should, before this time, have heard of him. We know he calculated upon three summers, and only wished that, if not heard of in the beginning of 1824, a vessel with provisions might be sent into Bering's Strait, in the autumn of that year. He was last seen near the Upper Savage Island, on the 23d of July, 1821, steering with a fair wind and through an open sea, direct for Repulse Bay; and as Captain Franklin left Cape Turnagain on the 25th of August, of the same year, the latter was on his return before Captain Parry could possibly have reached that point. In the event, however, of his having done so in the course of that season, it is not improbable that he would enter that deep gulf, of which the Cape forms the eastern and northern extremity; the less so, from its being situated in the same longitude, nearly, as the Coppermine River is laid down on Arrowsmith's chart; a point which he would undoubtedly deem it expedient to visit: and if so he would meet with the flag-staff and letter left by Captain Franklin, and probably pass the winter in one of the many snug harbours which the Arctic Gulf affords.

The second season would, with ease bring him to that point of the coast which is terminated by the Rocky Mountains, a little beyond Mackenzie's River, the only spot where we can conceive any difficulty to occur; Here Captain Parry would probably pass the second winter: if so, the third summer would, without difficulty carry him thro' Bering's Strait. And when we consider the character of the commander, who would leave nothing behind him unexamined (and, from the indented nature of the coast, there is much to examine,) we are not in the least surprised at his taking three seasons, which, indeed, he always calculated to do in the course of the present summer. With regard to risk, we apprehend none beyond that to which all navigation in the icy seas is liable, and which the long-frequented whale fishery, conducted in vessels not half so strong, nor half so well manned, has proved to be little more than common sea risk.

Indeed, with ships as strong as wood and iron can make them, stored with provisions and fuel for nearly four years; with a commander excelled by none in the various duties—of his profession, endowed with intellectual faculties of the highest order, and full of zeal and energy, tempered with due prudence and discretion;—with experienced officers and crews of picked seamen, we cannot persuade ourselves that any reasonable ground of alarm for their safety need be entertained."