304 On the PracticahUlty 



more or less strong, probably, according to tlie .season of thd 

 year, it apppars that the motion of the air and waters between 

 the <vest coaot of Asnerica, and the coast of New Holland, and ali 

 the lands to the northward towards Behriiig's strait, is similar 

 to that north of the line, between Africa, Eurone, and America. 

 It is tliercf )re j remmable, that thouph a superjicinl current may 

 run into Behriiig's strait, there nfiust also be one running out of 

 it wid&.rneaf/i, if the principles this theory rests on, are correct. 



The writer of the article I am examining is of opinion, that 

 "the constant circular motion, and interchange of waters between 

 the Pacific and the Atlantic," must be bv Behring's strait, other- 

 wise " it would be difficult to explain the perpetual egress of a 

 current from the polar basin into the Atlantic, without admitting 

 a supply through the only remaining opening into that basin to 

 answer the demand of the current." 



He considers the principal object to a free communication be- 

 tween the Pacific and the Polar basin, to arise from " Capt.Cook 

 having found little or no current to the northward of Behriiig's 

 strait ;" and answers that objection at once, by instancing " the 

 small current perceptible in a milldam, though the waters below 

 may be rushing ojit with the greatest violence under the flood- 

 gate;" meaning, if 1 do not mistake him, that though little or no 

 turrent was found at the surface, there ivas one below " rushing 

 (in) with the greatest violence" from the Atlantic to the Polar 

 basin. 



I admit the probability of a surface current into the strait, for the 

 reasons already given, and believe there maybe one, because it is 

 mentioned thus in Cook's voyage : — " We were now convinced 

 that we had been under the influence of a strong current setting 

 to the north, that had caused an error in our latitude at noon of 

 twenty miles. In passing this strait last year, we experienced 

 the same effect. On the 12th of July, when within the strait, 

 in latitude 69' 37', and half-way between the two continents, the 

 current was found to set N.W. at the rate of one knot." 



This proves there was a surface current, though a small one, 

 bath at the entrance, and to the north of the strait. — But what 

 have we to found the supposition on, that the waters may be 

 " rushing out," — that is — in, with the greatest" violence under 

 the floodgate," which is compared to " the impenetrable barrier 

 of ice which stopped the progress of Cook's successors ?" — Tiie 

 author of the article in question supposes, that " if the Polar 

 basin should prove to be free from land about the Pole, it will 

 also be free of ice," and that this may be the case, is not im- 

 probalde, in the summer season ; not however because of the 

 non-existence of land, but for other reasons which shall be ex- 

 plained by aiul by. He also supposes that " the barrier of ice 



which 



