103 Observations on the Arctic Sea and Ice, and 



with them as without them. The only untoward circumstance 

 is, that Parry would be confined to the same track in returning, 

 by which means his sphere of observation would be more con- 

 tracted ; but then the chance of encountering difficulties unpre- 

 pared for, on his road homeward, might involve him and his 

 party in ruin. 



If the Pole is surrounded by ancient ice, may it not, like the 

 polar glaciers, be fissured all over, much to the inconvenience 

 of the expedition ? 



Far to the north, among these icy realms, the still atmosphere 

 may enjoy perpetual serenity, a matter of the first magnitude 

 in promoting the interests of this undertaking ; for though, in 

 the latitude of Spitzbergen, during June, July, and August, 

 the air is so often obscured by dense raw fogs, yet, in the in- 

 terior ice it is always clear ; if it were otherwise, our adventu- 

 rers would be exposed to the most imminent peril ; for though 

 recent improvements in the compass exclude the influence of 

 such a state of the air on its movements, yet continued obscu- 

 rity would not only cover the sun from their view, but conceal 

 all the circumjacent country, rendering their observations very 

 unsatisfactory. 



Hitherto the general opinion has been very inimical to under- 

 takings of this nature, and all northern voyages have been con- 

 demned, on account of the impracticability of reaching the ob- 

 ject of pursuit, and the inutility of such, even though it were 

 attained. But the opinions of cui bono philosophers are un- 

 worthy of consideration. We feel convinced that all these ex- 

 peditions have contributed much to our knowledge of the globe ; 

 and we hesitate not a moment in affirming, that every one ha- 

 ving a right feeling of what constitutes the character of a great 

 nation like ours, will agree with us, that the bold and daring en- 

 terprize in which Captain Parry is soon to embark, is worthy 

 the marine of Great Britain, honourable to the science of the 

 country, and a proof, if any were wanted, of the liberal and en- 

 lightened views of our Government. Though the enterprize of 

 Parry may not enable us to solve the grand geographical prob- 

 lein which has for so long a period engaged the attention of man- 

 kind, — though the secrets of the Pole may ever remain unre- 

 vealed, — yet ttie interests of science, and the not less important 



