CAPTAIN SABINE'S LETTER. 347 



cacy, continued through many successive hours, 

 and for successive davs, at the summit of one of 

 the hills of principal elevation, such as would 

 probably form the greater part of the trigono- 

 metrical stations, I may venture to hazard the 

 opinion which that varied experience warrants. 

 The subject was in my mind when on the spot, 

 and I have since reflected continually, in refer- 

 ence to it, and have heard, I believe, most of the 

 objections which from time to time have been 

 suggested in conversation, against its practical 

 accomplishment. I still, however, entertain the 

 opinion formed on the spot, viz., that there is no 

 reason to anticipate any difficulties, either of cli- 

 mate or country, but such as may be surmounted 

 by the patience and exertion requisite in such 

 operations, or which, being surmounted, would in 

 the slightest degree interfere with the accuracy of 

 the result. I may observe, that I am speaking 

 of difficulties which I think it not improbable I 

 may be called on myself to meet ; and that I am 

 not likely, under such circumstances, either lightly 

 or inconsiderately to underrate them. 



It is very satisfactory to me to be enabled to 

 add, that the inferences I had drawn from my 

 own personal experience at Spitzbergen, have 

 been greatly strengthened by the highly interest- 

 ing and important information, as regards this 



