original Suggestion of the Modem Arctic Expeditions. 97 



That, however, the sketch already given of my letter to Sir 

 Joseph Banks may be duly substantiated, and the nature of that 

 communication more accurately exhibited, I shall subjoin some 

 extracts from a copy fortunately preserved of the letter in ques- 

 tion, which, as far as I know and believe, are (even verbally) ac- 

 cordant with the original. 



After some observations not particularly bearing on the sub- 

 ject in question, the letter states, — " I found on my last voyage 

 about 2000 square leagues of the surface of the Greenland Sea, 

 included between the parallels of 74° and 80° N., perfectly void 

 of ice, which is usually covered with it. Now, all this ice has 

 disappeared within the last two years, and there is little doubt 

 but it has been drifted to the southward into warmer climates, 

 and there dissolved.'* 



After a description of the progress made towards the coast of 

 Greenland, &c. already mentioned, the letter proceeds: — 



" Had I been so fortunate as to have had the command of an expedi- 

 tion for discovery instead of fishing", I have little doubt but that the mys- 

 tery attached to the existence of a north-west passage might have been 

 \1 should have added ' in some measure'] resolved. There could have 

 been no great difficulty in exploring the eastern coast of Greenland, and 

 probably the fate of the colony established by the Icelanders so many cen- 

 turies ago might have been ascertained. I do conceive there is sufficient 

 interest attached to these remote regions to induce Government to fit out an 

 expedition, were it properly represented. The simple examination of the 

 shores of Spitzbergen would be a matter of much interest to the naturalist 

 and geologist. 



'^ I should have much satisfaction in attempting an enterprise of this 

 kindj namely, to examine and survey the islands of East Greenland or 

 Spitzbergen, especially the eastern part, which has not been visited [for] 

 many years past ; and to ascertain, for the benefit of the whalers, whe- 

 ther the whales resort thither ;* to endeavour to reach the shore of West 

 Greenland, determine its position, prove its insularity, and ascertain the 

 fate of the Icelandic colony, together with making researches [contem- 

 plating a continuation of the exploration through a series of years] rela- 

 tive to the north-east and north-west passages, &c. ; for the performance 

 of which objects, I could point out a method by which the entcrprbc 

 could be conducted with little, or possibly no, expense to the nation* 



• " Both my father and myself, in the course of last voyage, attempted, 

 though unknown to each other, to explore the eastern part of Spitzbergen 

 but meeting with more ice than is usual in this quarter, our navigation wMt 

 interrupted." ' 



VOL. XX. NO. XXXIX.^JANUAEY, 1836. C 



