33S On the Vracticalllily of a direct Passage over the Pole. 



there does not seem to be the least doubt of there being one for 

 water and fish. 



As to the second, viz, " the more circuitous passage along the 

 north coastof America into the Pacific," the prospect of success 

 is otill more unfavourable than the other, because the navigators 

 are destined in the first place "to struggle against the ice currents 

 and tides in Davis's Strait, and on the east coast of America," 

 which the writer of the article I have been examining, tells us 

 himself, " are of course never free from mountains and patches 

 of ice," and to which he attributes " the failure in every attempt, 

 either to make " this (very) passage or to " ascertain its imprac- 

 ticability," " so that the highest point the former navigators ever 

 reached, is the Arctic circle, or at most the C/th parallel." — But, 

 even allowing that the present adventurers do reach the N.E. point 

 of America, and discover a passage through Avhat appears to be 

 " gratuitously called" Baffin's Bay, they will then have to make 

 no less than 100 degrees of Westing, most prolahly, througli 

 immense masses of ice, fixed, or moving with the circumvolving 

 current as well as the winds, both prevailing in a general di- 

 rection from west to east against them. 



If there is any ground to hope, that a practicable passage for 

 ships can be discovered between the Pacific and the Atlantic, 

 along the north coast of America, the chances are that it will be 

 done (if ever it h)fiom Behring's Strait to the eastward; and, 

 therefore, it is much more likely to be accomplished (if at all) 

 hy the Russian officers, said to be making the attempt this year, 

 than by oius ; because, most of the obstacles opposed to the pro- 

 gress of our navigators from east to west, will be m favour of the 

 Russians the other way, at least as far as the effects of winds and 

 currents go. And though (as the writer in the Quarterly Review 

 observes) it might " be somewhat mortifying, (to national pride 

 and vanity, I suppose) if a naval power, but of yesterday, should 

 complete a discovery in the nineteenth century, which was so hap- 

 pily commenced by Englishmen in the sixteenth," yet it is to be 

 hoped, it will be no less gratifijing to those who are disposed to 

 estimate as highly, some of the still better feelings of our nature. 



Notwithstanding the little reason we have upon the whole to 

 expect, that all the objects of our expedition to explore the 

 Arctic regions will be accomplished ; yet it is possiLde some of 

 them may: but at all events, I perfectly agree with the writer of 

 the article I have taken the liberty so freely to canvass, " that 

 the character of the several officers who have been appointed, 

 and the men of science who are to embark on this grand enter- 

 prise, afford the strongest presumption, that whatever talents, 

 intrepidity, and perseverance can accomplish, " will be effected :" 



at 



