sir Rev. W. Scoresby's Remarks on the ProhdbilUy 



sion of his narrative, in vindication of the plan of his recent ex- 

 pedition *, it might seem captious in me to start objections, or 

 presumptuous to think of proposing a better plan ; but I would 

 venture to appeal to the opportunities for observation, and the 

 extensive experience which twenty-one voyages to the Green- 

 land whale-fishery have afforded, for forming a decided personal 

 judgment, in respect to an adventure of the nature of that under 

 consideration. 



But I proceed to state the several considerations in the plan 

 of the expedition, all capable of a different arrangement, to 

 which I have referred above, as essentially affecting the result of 

 the expedition. These are, The weight of' the sledge-boats ; 

 The season of' the year at which the experiment was tried ; and> 

 lastly, The meridian upon tvhich the party travelled. 



I. In regard to the Weight of' the Sledge-Boats. 

 T^'he mode of travelling, by which it always appeared to me 

 that the journey to the pole might be attempted with the great- 

 est hope of success, was by light sledges or sledge-boats, drawn 

 by dogs or reindeer ; but in the event of the failure of these 

 animals on the journey, it did not seem to me impossible (and 

 much less so since the expedition of Captain Parry) that the 

 return, or indeed the whole journey, might be effected on foot, 

 with hand-sledges for the provisions and a})paratus -(-. The 

 sort of sledge I suggested " might consist of slender frames of 

 wood, with the ribs of some quadruped for lightness and 

 strength, and coverings of water-proof skins, or other materials 

 equally light X.""^ Something of the nature of the Esquimaux 

 timiaJc, or women's boat, for instance, which, although 30 feet 

 or upwards in length, and capable of carrying from ten to twenty 

 persons, besides their domestics and fishing utensils, is yet so 

 light, that, when the Esquimaux are performing a voyage in it 



• Captain Parry does not speak of his experiment as conclusive; but he 

 says, " that the object is of still more difficult attainment than was before 

 supposed, even by those persons who were the best qualified to judge of it, 

 will, I believe, appear evident from a perusal of the foregoing pages ; nor can 

 I, after much consideration, and some experience of the various difficulties 

 which belong to it, recommend any material improvement in the plan lately 

 adopted."— .iVarrariy^, p. 142. . 



I Wemerian Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 330-1. t Id* 331. Notew 



