The _Jeannette_ was the new name given to Sir Allen Young’s _Pandora_ after it was purchased by James Gordon Bennett, who had decided to equip a North Polar expedition. The commander of the expedition, Lieutenant George W. De Long, had taken an active and distinguished part in the search for the _Polaris_. In making an attempt to reach the Pole, he favoured the route by Behring Strait, and he was supported by Bennett himself, who had been influenced by the views of Dr. Petermann, the German geographer. One of the chief reasons for choosing the Behring Strait route was the supposed existence of a Japan current, which, it was hoped, would open a way towards the Pole. Another reason was the view held as to the extent of Wrangel Land. Petermann actually believed that it extended right across the Pole and was the continuation of Greenland. It was afterwards proved to be only a small island. Lieutenant Chipp, the second in command, acted with De Long in the search for the _Polaris_. George W. Melville, chief engineer, had been a comrade of De Long’s in the navy. The ice-pilot was William Dunbar, who had been master of whale-ships in and north of Behring Strait. Nindemann, the ice-quartermaster, was one of the crew of the _Polaris_ who underwent the terrible winter-drift on the ice-floe. The _Jeannette_ left San Francisco on the 8th July 1879. A schooner, laden with 100 tons coal and such provisions as the _Jeannette_ could not conveniently carry, followed on the same date. Ounalaska Island was reached on the 2nd August, and left on the 6th. Here, coal, dog-food, and furs were obtained. De Long mentions that there was not a white woman in the place. The native women evidently do not expect a long courtship. A number of men had been brought from St. Paul’s Island on the Thursday; they made their selections on the Friday and Saturday, and were married on the Sunday. St. Michael’s was reached on 12th August, but the schooner did not arrive until the 18th. Here, forty dogs, five sledges, snow-shoes, boots, and a large quantity of skin-garments were obtained. Two natives, named Alexey and Aneguin, were hired as interpreters and dog-drivers. The total number of persons on board the _Jeannette_ was now thirty-three.