NOKTH-WEST PASSAGE. 27 



stony beach, — was two or three times exposed to a 

 dreadful beating from ice, agitated by a heavy sea, 

 and was four times on shore upon rocks, during 

 strong winds or considerable swells, in one of whicii 

 instances, she was left by the tide hanging on the 

 point of a sharp rock, so that the greatest appre- 

 hension was excited that she would upset ; yet, 

 after passing through all this uncommon series of 

 dangers, the little bark took home its crew in safe- 



Hence, it is evident, that a vessel intended for 

 discovery in the Polar Seas, should be just large 

 enough for conveying the requisite stores and pro- 

 visions, and for affording comfortable accommodation 

 to the navigators, but no larger. Perhaps a vessel 

 of about 150 tons burden, would be fully sufficient 

 to answer every purpose. 



The num.erous disasters to which Captain James 

 was exposed, are to be attributed to his total igno- 

 rance of the nature of the ice, and of the countries 

 which he explored ; and to liis having refiised, on his 

 outset, to take along with him any persons, who, in 

 these respects, werebetter informed than himself. But 

 he soon had occasion to regret his want of practical 

 knowledge of these peculiar regions, his deficiency 

 in which led him into numerous difficulties. His 



* Captain James's voyage is included in Churchill's '' Col- 

 lection of Voyages ;" in Clarke's " Naufragia," &c. The 

 original edition was published by the command of King- 

 Charles I. in 1 QoZ. 



