210 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



results obtained twenty years ago, during which 

 period the needle has begun to retrograde, would 

 be particularly desirable. And, amidst other 

 natural phenomena, the stupendous ice forma- 

 tions, which have recently excited much atten- 

 tion, are not unworthy of investigation : whether 

 they really have a progressive motion, tearing 

 their icy bases from , the firmly-frozen earth 

 beneath, or whether they remain immovably fixed, 

 and are thus icy monuments of at least four 

 thousand years' antiquity, are inquiries full of 

 interest, although they sink into insignificance 

 compared with the magnitude of the propositions 

 above mentioned. 



It has been shown that the highest latitude 

 has been reached in the vicinity of Spitzber- 

 gen, and, consequently, that is the point from 

 which any expedition sent upon this service 

 should start. And as the sea here does not 

 become clear of ice until the summer is well 

 advanced, the ships would have ample time to 

 land, and to settle the party engaged in the 

 measurement of the arc of the meridian, and 

 to push other useful inquiries, before they 

 would be required to start on their grand enter- 

 prise. 



If they should chance to arrive at an auspicious 

 moment during one of these favourable openings 



