.'360 ACCOUNT OF THE AllCTIC llEGIONS. 



prevail more in winter than in those months where- 

 in the temperature has been tried by observation, 

 and consequently, that the weather would be warmer 

 than it is here made out. I cannot find, however, 

 any reason for supposing that this is the case, but 

 rather the contrary, as will more particularly appear 

 from the observations, in a following section, on the 

 winds. 



Before I quit this speculative subject, I am na- 

 turally led to the consideration of the probable tem- 

 perature of the North Pole. Following the ex- 

 ample of every generalizing meteorologist, I may, 

 with some propriety, extend my speculations to the 

 verge of the Earth, provided I can proceed on data 

 not merely arbitrary or fanciful, but founded on ob- 

 servation and analogy. 



It has been observed, that Professor Mayer's 

 theorem for ascertaining the temperature of every 

 latitude, becomes exceedingly wide of the truth, 

 when we approach the regions of perpetual ice, not- 

 withstanding in most other situations on the sea, 

 or bordering thereon, it holds sufficiently near. The 

 anomaly is evidently the frigorific effect of the ice. 

 Admicting, then, that Mayer's form.ula, which has 

 been received with very slight limitations, by almost 

 every meteorologist, is founded on philosophical 

 principles and correct observation, and consequent- 

 ly that it would have applied with accuracy through- 

 out the northern hemisphere, provided there had 



