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wear French cambric or drink French wine for ten years together. We are to interchange goods with foreigners freely, and pay to the Exchequer for revenue purposes alone. Five hundred per cent. is not to be put on one article at the caprice of our rulers, out of national enmity, stinting our exports. The people are to have whatever they can pay for, at as low a rate of duty as possible, under an exchange of their labour for that of the foreigner. Upon this ground, those whose views Sir Emerson Tennent's book opposes, take their stand-take it, in fact, as free-trade supporters.

Sir J. E. Tennent, on the other hand, advocates an enormous rate of duty, because wine is a "luxury." A thousand years of wine-drinking in England, the advantage of it as a medicine for the poor, and as a wholesome beverage, taken in exchange for our manufactures, low duties,-all vanish before a "luxury." Tea and coffee were greater luxuries than wine a century and a half ago. It is inconsistent to call that a luxury which we have drunk for many centuries, and not declare that a luxury which a century and a half ago was almost unknown, possessing no beneficial effect on the constitution. Why, on the other hand, should the public not have tea and coffee, if they desire it, or anything else they wish to consume, without being told "this is a luxury," when, indeed, it is not so more than other articles consumed. "You must give ten times more for it in your goods and manufactures, or go without it—sic volo, sic jubeo." All reasoning in such a case is thrown away.

Sir J. E. Tennent, in advocating revenue according to the old system, refers to past experiences in Mr. Pitt's time, and to the returns of revenue and of consumption, and is opposed in opinion to all who have written or studied the subject of revenue as to the reduction of duties increasing consumption. He denies, in the front of the evidence before the late Wine Committee, which was clearly on the side opposed to him, both as to the quantity of wine procurable and its qualities, that people will drink good wine in England if they can get it. He states his alarm lest such a measure should affect beer and spirits; in plain terms, reduce the revenue from their pernicious consumption, being in fact of a different opinion altogether from his experienced predecessor in office. Sir Emerson therefore seeks a final decision, forgetful, it would seem, that no such decision, however desired by some port-wine merchants and monopolists on the Douro, can take place, while disinterested members in the House of Commons retain free speech and some little insight into free principles. No more effectual decision of the question can be met with than that supplied by the Russian war. Certain we are that, at a future day, not only wine, but all other "luxuries," every kind of foreign merchandise, will be brought within the free-trade category; all nations will exchange their commodities freely to the enriching of each other and the promotion of peaceful intercourse. Sir J. E. Tennent has certainly made all of his case that can be made. His arguments, however, have been drawn too much from his own side, and from men who have not seen with their own eyes what they tender in evidence.

Mr. Bosville James has answered Sir J. E. Tennent, and we think satisfactorily. As may naturally be expected, he is a free-trader in every sense of the word. He brings experience, and a thorough knowledge of business to his aid. He has travelled on the Continent, and seen for

himself; and the evidence before the House of Commons, in 1852, bears out his statements, as those who refer to the Blue-book will readily perceive. Mr. James first shows that his opponent's admissions are favourable to a reduction of duties, with certain, but not a few, reservations. He shows by table on table, and extract on extract, the untenability of many of his opponent's arguments, and the unsound policy of the side he takes. He enters at some length into arguments drawn from the same sources as Sir J. E. Tennent himself, that the views of that gentleman do not rest upon a solid foundation. Both volumes exhibit a great deal of tabular matter, some of which is curious, irrespective of the subject of the duties, which of course are too copious for us to quote. It is undeniable, however, that when even the wine duties have been reduced, so as that the reduction has been sufficient to be really felt, there has at once ensued an increased consumption. Both works should be read attentively, as they furnish an excellent example of the lingering regard for what was once held in opposition to the enlarged and enlightened views which a better insight into commercial principles of the right kind might be supposed to generate. Mr. James has done his work laboriously and well. He agrees with M'Culloch and others, that port wines were first forced upon England by total prohibitions of French, and their usage became confirmed by the Methuen Treaty. These Portuguese wines, too, resembled the strongest French claret, and probably remained so for more than half a century afterwards, until the merchants found that brandy made the wine keep with less trouble, and continual additions since made them what they are at present.

We perceive that our consumption of potables for the year terminating the 5th of January, 1855, was, of British spirits, 25,883,584 gallons; malt, 36,812,727 bushels; tea, 61,970,347 lbs. ; coffee, 37,470,970 lbs. ; foreign and colonial spirits, 4,348,882 gallons; wine, 7,149,589 gallons. Mr. James shows that ample supplies of wine (before the vine disease appeared) might be obtained, even if our consumption reached 36,000,000 gallons. The estimated production of Europe he makes about 1,900,000,000 gallons. To meet the supply of wine at lowered duties, it would only be necessary to double our usual stock and consumption, according to his statements in figures. We must conclude, recommending an attentive perusal of both works, for no pains seem to have been spared by either of the conflicting parties. We may add, that the statements of Mr. J. Warre, respecting the Oporto trade, exhibit the scandalous doings of the merchants there; after which, we cannot wonder at the late falling off in the consumption of port wine. Finally, Mr. James, who is very courteous and gentlemanly in the war of words, is rather satirical where (p. 116) he alludes to some of the authorities. Sir J. E. Tennent quotes authorities that confessed they had little or no local experience of the vine lands. Au reste, as our neighbours the French say, we recommend all who know and love good wine to decide for themselves. We dare not be thus assumptive, feeling the full weight of the query

Who shall decide when doctors disagree?

THE LAST OF THE ARCTIC VOYAGES.*

THE excitement of war has superseded the incidents and adventures of Arctic research, and now that all further discovery in these inhospitable regions has terminated, it is almost to be feared that the deserts of our countrymen may be passed over or eclipsed by matters of greater import. Not so, however; there is a fearful uncertainty connected with the navigation of the Polar Seas, a strange sympathy for the travellers by sledges over such vast distances, and for disciplined men doing that beneath which any other living creature, be he horse or dog, would succumb. So strangely fascinating are those frosty regions-the supposed crystal portals to an open, mysterious, animated ocean, with but one day and one night throughout the year, a day for admission and a night of six months' duration for detention-that the time will never come when our children's children will not read the long story of Arctic adventure with the same deep interest that we have read it, occurring as it has done in our own times, in a succession of striking episodes prolonged through now many years of indomitable perseverance, amid trials, suspenses, and deplorable losses, all ultimately rewarded by success-at least, so far as the solution of the problem originally sought for is concerned, and which it is not always so easy to say of those problems which men seek to decideMacedonian-like-by the sword."

Sir Edward Belcher's expedition to the Arctic regions in search of Sir John Franklin was one of the most numerous and most perfectly organised that ever quitted these shores. It was composed of no less than five vessels-the Assistance, Captain Sir Edward Belcher, C.B.; the Resolute, Captain H. Kellett, C.B.; the North Star, Commander W. J. J. Pullen; and the Pioneer and Intrepid tenders. The expedition sailed on the 21st of April, 1852. Well do we remember the day, nor are we ashamed of the tear that dimmed our eye in sympathy for the gallant adventurers. Towed by smaller steam-tugs, the expedition spent their first Sunday at Stromness, in the Orkney Islands. On the 2nd of May they parted with their tugs, and on the 21st doubled Cape Farewell and entered Baffin's Bay. On the way through the Bay and Davis's Strait they touched at the Whalefish Islands, at Lievely, and at Upernavik. At the latter place almost all the ships suffered more or less injury from the driving of icebergs during a gale of wind. Beyond this latter ultima thule of civilisation the expedition was left to its own resources. "Cut off," writes the gallant but sensitive commander, "for a series of years from any but our own companionship, and dependent in no small degree upon the bonâ fide constituents of our society, power ceases, and the will of the least amongst us may create bella, horrida bella. Upon what a volcano do we stand! The sullen chief, if he be so, must chew the cud, and vegetate year after year in sullenness and vexatiousness of spirit. No such purgatory could exist better calculated for a man of narrow mind-none so dangerous to a sensible mind."

The Last of the Arctic Voyages; being a Narrative of the Expedition in H.M.S. Assistance, under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher, C.B., in Search of Sir John Franklin, during the Years 1852, 1853, 1854. Two Vols.

On the 24th of June the expedition was in Melville Bay, and here the moving floe of ice nearly entailed the loss of the Resolute at the very onset of the expedition. On the 30th, the wreck of a vessel was reported from the crow's-nest. She proved to be the Regalia, of Kirkcaldy, one of a fleet of thirteen whalers, which they fell in company with a day or two after. The Regalia had been nipped ten days before, the ice passing entirely through her, meeting at the main hatchway, or, as the whalers termed it, completely toggling her. The scene presented upon such an occasion rivals the mad deeds of the buccaneers of old. The master having given up the charge, and released the crew from further obedience, each boat-steerer, as customary, took his boat, and, having provisioned her, the crew then broke into the spirits, and regaling themselves in the cabin at their highest pitch of intoxication, ordered the skylight to be closed to keep them warm, when the least motion of the ice might have sent them in an instant to their last reckoning! This was succeeded by every wanton act which madmen could commit. A fire was made upon the rudder lying flat under her stern on the ice, and the ship burned until that end of her sank, leaving her floated merely by the air contained in the bow and empty casks in the forehold.

One fact, however, is related of these hardy whalers in which they totally differ from the old breed of English seamen, and that is a total want of subordination and listless apathy at the time of danger, and when their services are most required. Whilst in the Melville Bay floe, which is one of the first great obstacles to Arctic navigation, an American bark, the M'Clellan, was nipped and ultimately lost; the North Star was placed in a position of great difficulty, if not of danger; and several of the whalers were suffering from the tremendous pressure of the ice. All the while, Sir Edward says, the various "flitters" could be seen astern, with their boats, sails, and provisions, with the crews idly and unconcernedly awaiting the result.

Working their way through the ice, killing birds and bears, the expedition spoke the Esquimaux at Cape York on the 31st of July, from thence gained open water in the stretch across Baffin's Bay to Lancaster Sound, and on the 11th of August reached Beechey Island, where the different vessels of the expedition, most of which had got astray in the floe, joined company. A close search was made of every likely spot on the island, but without discovering further traces of Franklin's expedition. The graves were dug into, but found so firmly frozen that no prospect offered by further disturbance; they were, therefore, replaced and completed anew.

Sir Edward Belcher is of opinion that an accident had happened to Franklin's expedition before they wintered at this place. What has been considered as the remains of a washhouse, he thinks is more likely to have been an hospital; the circles of stones at Cape Riley, he says, were clearly those of Esquimaux, and he adds that Captains Kellett and Pullen, as well as himself, were of opinion that that place had never been selected for magnetic observations.

In plain terms (writes Sir Edward), I believe that some accident occurred there, and possibly they had to cross the bay to regain the ships, if they were there. Another argument against tents is, that they are supplied by the Ordnance, are not of canvas, and could not have the service-mark in their fourstranded cords or lines.

This, then, must still remain clouded in mystery. Another consideration forces itself on the minds of men who work in these temperatures. At what season would they propose to make their magnetic observations? Not at all probable in August, when Franklin would be bound up Wellington Channel or homeward; and only in August, or later, when thaw had removed the ice, would we find men groping, with savage adaptation of rakes, in searching the bottom for objects of natural history. One of three objects only placed them theregame, amusement, or distress: I fear the latter. I cannot, painful as the conclusion is, divest myself of the feelings which were impressed on my mind on searching that so-called washhouse. The indelible features of a catastrophe were there painted canvas, panels, mouldings, oakum from the side-seams of a vessel (wide seams, too), pill-boxes, surgeons' phials, rags-all indicated a house of shelter or hospital. Moreover, the internal inclination was falling to the centre, as if the casks had formed the side barriers, and the sleepers had slept with their feet towards the common fire. Now, taking into consideration the earliest moment that the ships would embark observatory tents, and with tent-pegs any ground into which they were driven would yield them easily in June, July, and August. I ask, what hurry? And again, in colder months, what would they be employed about in tents? And then, whence the confusion? They could not get out in July. Indeed, every suggestion of hurry is absolutely untenable. A collection of the articles found was piled up, and ordered to be preserved, and unfortunately was not attended to; for to my mind the most important article, the oakum from the seams, was lost.

The light which has been thrown by subsequent and independent discoveries on the melancholy fate of Franklin's party tends rather to corroborate than to militate against these views. Yet if the accident which deprived our gallant countrymen of their ships occurred at the entrance to Wellington Channel, what an amount of toil, privation, and suffering must they have undergone when travelling across ice-bound lands and waters a distance of some four hundred and fifty geographic miles as the crow flies, and then only probably to fall victims to the barbarous cupidity and treachery of North American savages!

At this point the Assistance and Pioneer parted company with the other vessels of the expedition to explore Wellington's and Queen's Channels, one of the great objects of the expedition, and of the highest interest to the progress of Arctic discovery, although in a direction precisely opposed to that taken by the survivors of Franklin's party.

We were now (writes Sir Edward Belcher) entering the threshold of the contested Wellington Channel. Anxiety, deep anxiety, oppressed me; it was unmixed with doubt-rather the reverse. Through that channel my course lay. If any explanation of my feelings could have been reached, possibly it was nearer to gratitude that Providence had enabled me to be the humble instrument by whom it was to be explored.

By midnight our entrance, to my mind, was no longer doubtful: no trace of opposition-the clear, deep blue sea, visible to the horizon, was before us, and, reflected in the heavens beyond, the well-known "water sky" afforded us the cheering hope of passing the Rubicon, the icy barrier of Penny, at Cape Osborne. Every foot advanced raised emotions not to be explained, and the telescope had but little rest, so eagerly did we scan every feature of the surrounding coastline.

On the 15th of August, Cape Grinnell, with a small cairn, and Cape Osborne were passed, with an open sea, and white whales sporting very unconcernedly in the brisk tide. On the 16th, a remarkable object on Point Hogarth took the commander on shore. It was found to be a

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