CONCLUDING REMARKS. 201 



rear. Sir Edward Parry's most distant position 

 was one hundred and fifty miles beyond the 

 situation occupied by the ice when Captain 

 Buchan entered it ; and, as Sir Edward, when 

 he quitted the ice says, a vessel might have 

 sailed to 82°, it is evident that at least one 

 hundred miles in width of this great icy belt had 

 cleared away since it was encountered by Cap- 

 tain Buchan. Must not such well-authenticated 

 changes afford a reasonable ground for indulging 

 the hope of one day being able to penetrate 

 still further into the heart of the Polar region. 



As a conclusion to the present volume we have 

 given a brief relation of the several early voyages 

 which have been set forth for the purpose of dis- 

 covering a northern passage to the Pacific east- 

 ward of Greenland. We have traced the pro- 

 gress of each, and have recounted the difficulties 

 that attended them, in order that the reader may 

 form his own judgment on the merits of the pre- 

 sent undertaking, and of the prospect of success 

 that awaits any other attempt. But, commend- 

 ing to the reader the perusal of these at his 

 leisure, we think it best to introduce here our 

 concluding remarks upon the result of the whole, 

 whilst the experience more recently gained from 

 the latest modern voyages is still fresh in our 

 minds. 



