IN THE CASE OF SUCCESS. 273 



voyage every summer might be effected between Disko 

 and Newfoundland, which, affording greater faciUties, would 

 add much to the importance of the new colony. Here 

 however I deem it adviseable to guard against the mis- 

 chiefs of monopoly, not to suffer a few interested indi- 

 viduals to take advantage of that station, as such a 

 proceeding would defeat the valuable consequences arising 

 from the passage by the north-west, or rather by the arctic 

 shores of North America. Government, by holding the 

 place in possession for the common benefit of all, will 

 thereby make it a national concern, and the public at large 

 will benefit by the measure. 



The stone materials for building are so easily raised, as 

 they lie loosely on each other in basaltic form, that in the 

 course of an incredibly short time a respectable fortress 

 might be erected in any point the most eligible, at, or 

 near Lievely, as may be determined by a competent engi- 

 neer. Those materials will not require much labour to 

 bring them into shape, and may in the first instance be 

 placed in their natural form, and the building can after- 

 wards be beautified in proportion as the advantages of the 

 colony may be known. By that means a mole may be 

 easily extended across the islands at Lievely, which will 

 serve both as a military defence, and a shelter for vessels 

 which may happen to remain there for the winter. A 

 similar work will protect that little harbour on the eastwardj 



2 N 



