of a direct Passage over the Pole. 295. 



lively interest in the objects it has in view, will estimate, in their 

 own wav, tlie probabilities, and the obstacles, that appear to 

 them to weigh for, and against, its success. 



The appearance of an article in the Quarterly Review this 

 month, on this subject, has led mc to consider some of the mat- 

 ters there stated, and to inquire into the solidity of some of the 

 writer's notions on this interesting topic. In the first place— 

 The disappearance of a whole, or a great part of the impenetrable 

 barrier of ice which had shut up a large portion of the eastern 

 coast of Old Greenland, seems to be authenticated by persons 

 entitled to credit; and it vunjhc, that this "accumulated i)arrier 

 of ice, probably by its own weight and magnitude, and the action 

 of the current together, at length burst its fetters." But at the 

 same time it may be observed, that, if this barrier possessed the 

 eame strength and compactness as it did during the many hun- 

 dred years it is said to have held its post in defiance of it, it 

 would have remained there still. We must, therefore, look for 

 some other cause to account for a diminution of its strength; 

 and this cause might perhaps be, winters unusually mild, without 

 frost sufficient to keep its parts so consolidated as heretofore. Ac- 

 counting thus for a reduction of its strength, the same current ic 

 had so long resisted might separate it. The removal of this ice 

 being " cotemporaneous with the period when the western de- 

 clination of the magnetic needle became stationary," is certainly 

 a '•' remarkable coincidence." 



That there may be some connexion between this disappearance 

 of large masses of ice, and the power of magnetic attraction, is 

 probable enough, from this coincidence. Yet all we can gather 

 is, that the power of magnetic attraction increased with an accu- 

 mulation of ice, and became stationary about the period of its 

 removal from particular places. Whether there exists any com- 

 bination of causes — vvhether the connexion is between the ice 

 and the grand focal point of magnetic attraction, which some 

 philosophers suppose to be situated in the earth, or whether it is 

 between the ice, and electricity in the atmosphere, or the aurora 

 lorealis, or all these together, can as yet be only matter of mere 

 conjecture ; as are opinions of the cause of the aurora Lorealis 

 itself. 



Beccaria conjectures, " that there is a constant circulation of 

 electric fluid from north to south, and that the aurora Lorealis 

 may be this matter performing its circulation in such a state of 

 the atmosphere as rendered it visible, or approaching nearer than 

 usual to the earth." Dr. Halley imagines " that the aurora lo- 

 realis is produced by a kind of subtle matter freely pervading the 

 pores of the earth ; and v/hich entering near the southern pole, 

 T 4 passes 



