IVernenan Society of Edinlurgh. 221 



WERNERIAN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF KDINBUR-GH. 



March 11. A paper by Mr. Scoresby, of Whitby, was read, 

 on the subject of polar ice, and the (lifficulties encountered by 

 tlie wlialers in their annual visits to those northerii regions. — 

 Mr. Scoresby's frequent visits to that part of the globe have in- 

 duced him to turn his attention to the possibility of reaching the 

 pole by means of an excursion over the ice ; and a considerable 

 portion of his paper was devoted to this very interesting subject. 

 It appears, from his accounts, that the whalers have sometimes 

 penetrated so high as SH degrees, or within about GOO miles of 

 ihe pole, which space he considers might be travelled in sledges, 

 by means of rein-deer or dogs, in about a fortnight ; and that 

 for the retiu'ii, allov.'ing for casualties, and time for observations, 

 the whole might be accompli^'.ed in sis weeks. From his knov.'- 

 ledge of the climate, he thinks the temperature of the vvciUher 

 will present no very great obstacle, having observed that after a 

 long continuance of north wind the thermometer never was very 

 considerably depressed. The difficulties he conteuiplates are, 

 open water, rough cr mountainous ice or similar land, soft snow, 

 and dense mists. 



As it is supposed that the first will not be very extensive, he 

 proposes to have his trainaux formed in the shape of canoes, so 

 that they might pass over any thing of the kind, while the dogs 

 might be made to swim ; and for other obstacle*, he must in a 

 great measure trust to chance, supplying himself \>i!;h whatever 

 may be necessary to overcome them, should they occur. 



in shaping his course to tlie pole, he must soon lose tlie assist- 

 ance of the magnetic needle, and mu'st trust to solar observa- 

 tions, which, together with a good chronometer, would unsv/er 

 every purpose, could lie be sure of not meeting with mists. He 

 likewise proposes to assist himself in misty Aveather by making 

 his cavalcade move at some distance apart in a straight line, 

 which once properly directed mav, with attention, be got to pro- 

 ceed with tolerable accuracy. Erom his experience of the at- 

 mosphere cf high northern latitudes, however, he does not anti- 

 cipate such weather, except with southerly winds, which are not 

 of frecjuent occurrence or long continuance. 



It is very satisfactory to observe a subject of tliis kind treated 

 with so much ardour, and at the same time vvitli so much science, 

 as Mr. Scoresby has done. It is an object which has long been 

 very much desired by ncn of science, to ascertain tlic nature and 

 form of the globe at the pole, and the manner in Avhich the 

 needle is acted upon in j)roceeding towards it. This, however, 

 is not an object that can be taken up by an individual ; and ii, 

 nfler eNplaininp; his views to men of science,' his plan may be 



jironounced 



