• Mr. Disraeli has written to Sir Henry Rawlinson to
say that after weighing the reasons given for another Arctic expedition, the Government think so highly of the "scientific advantages to be derived from it," and "the importance of encouraging that spirit of maritime enterprise which has ever distinguished the English people," that they intend "to lose no time in organising a suitable expedition for the purposes in view." This is a wise decision. If it be true, as the Daily Telegraph says, that light- ning has never been seen in the region beyond the magnetic pole, it is all but sure that the magnetic phenomena of a success- ful expedition would yield us new discoveries in magnetic science ; and at all events, the spirit of disinterested nautical enterprise is so noble as well as dear to England, that a Govern- ment which cavilled at the slight cost of fostering it, would thereby prove itself out of sympathy with the nation.
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