Rev. Mr Scoresby on the Arctic Sea and Ice, 383 



Scotland, and gives to the circle of perpetual congelation an al- 

 titude of 7791 feet, — a s.tatement contradicted by facts.'' 



Now, in this bold remark, Dr Latta first ascribes to me 

 a statement I never made, that I am aware of; then bluntly 

 says, that it is contradicted by facts ! I do mention it, in- 

 deed, as a remarkable circumstance, that, on mountains of 3000 

 feet elevation in Spitzbergen, the snow should sometimes be 

 wholly dissolved at their summits, when, in so much lower a 

 latitude, Ben-nevis should occasionally exhibit a crest of snow 

 throughout the year (Vol. i. p. 123.) But I nowhere reason 

 myself into the supposition that the climate is therefore warmer. 

 I only reason that " the upper line of congelation, ^where frost 

 perpetually prevails,'' is much higher on the Arctic lands than 

 was to have been expected from its mean temperature. And, 

 applying the known law of diminution of temperature, on 

 ascending in the atmosphere, to the summer heat of Spitzbergen, 

 I observe, that " it will require an elevation of 7791 feet for 

 reducing that temperature to the freezing point ;" and hence I 

 reckon this to be about the altitude of perpetual freezing, — 

 p. 120. 



What facts Dr Latta can bring forward, to shew that a thaw- 

 ing temperature never occurs so high, I know not ; especially 

 when, by observation of the thermometer, I found the tempera- 

 ture in Spitzbergen so high as 37° Fahr. at mid-night, at an ele- 

 vation of about 3000 feet. 



Not thinking it right to allow a bold assertion, which I 

 believe to be unfounded, to pass before the Society as cor- 

 rect, nor an assertion declared to be dependent upon facts to re- 

 tain such a basis, unless these facts can be substantiated, I have 

 ventured to trouble the Society with these remarks. Besides, I ac- 

 knowledge my feeling to be that which is no doubt common to 

 authors, greatly averse to the charge of such theorising views as 

 to be capable of reasoning myself into conclusions contradicted 

 by facts ; an equal aversion, also, to be charged with asserting 

 what, to the best of my knowledge, I never did. As such, I 

 think it behoves Dr Latta, either to bring forward the facts 

 which contradict my statements, or to have the candour to ac- 

 knowledge the mistake he has fallen into. 4 



Bridlington Quay, \^ 

 January 6. 1827. J 



