of reaching the North Pole. 9B^ 



liave gone forward at a constant progress, or whether, in some 

 few cases, the party must have ma^le a second trip ; yet, upon 

 such ice as they would have met with at a diflferent season, and 

 on a different meridian, there can be no doubt but a constant 

 progress, unless in some very extraordinary cases, would have 

 been made : And if so, no new obstacles occurring, even at 

 the slow rate at which they actually travelled, the whole dis- 

 tance to the pole, if a few days more time had been given to 

 the task, might have been accomplished. 



II. In regard to the Season of the year at which the Experi- 

 ment was tried. 



But the weight of the boats was not the only considera- 

 tion that essentially affected the final result, — the season of 

 THE YEAR at which the experiment was tried was perhaps the 

 most uivfavourdble that could have been selected. This may 

 appear a gratuitous assertion, especially when put along with 

 Captain Parry's opinion before quoted ; with which opinion, how- 

 ever I am disposed to respectful deference, I cannot coincide, 

 unless the arguments which appear to me to be so conclusive 

 against it, can be repelled and refuted. 



Without stating these arguments formally, I shall briefiy 

 mention what the views are which I have always held as to the 

 best season for undertaking such an expedition ; and then the 

 peculiar and formidable difficulties which Captain Parry en- 

 countered, arising out of the season at which his adventure was 

 undertaken, will naturally constitute both argument and ground 

 of proof. 



The original plan which I had the honour of submitting to 

 the Society in the year 1815, I find, on carefully reviewing it, 

 as still affording, in my opinion, the best chance of success in 

 any attempt for reaching the pole ; though there are a few mi- 

 nor circumstances, which an experience of several additional 

 voyages among the polar ices would now induce me perhaps to 

 modify. But the great outline of the plan I would still justify- 

 as feasable, and as being well adapted to the peculiarities and 

 the difficulties of the bold adventure ; and there are few parts 

 of the plan which I should consider of more importance than 

 that relating to the season for making the experiment : For the 

 occurrence of detached ice and soft snow arc obstacles which 



