1818.] Scientific Intelligence. 307 



ocean above Davis's Straits, and that different whale ships 

 have penetrated beyond their usual limits, and found the sea 

 comparatively open. In confirmation of this change in the state 

 of the polar ice, we are further informed that immense masses of 

 it have been met with drifting down the Atlantic ; some of them 

 as far as 40° of latitude ; and in some parts, where ice is 

 seldom met with, as about Newfoundland, it occurred in such 

 great quantity as to have considerably impeded the navigation.* 

 To what cause we are to ascribe this extraordinary revolution 

 is a matter of mere conjecture ; we are not aware of any occur- 

 rence to which it can be traced, unless we imagine that the 

 gradually accumulating mass at length gave way from its own 

 increasing bulk, or that the waters of the northern ocean, being 

 as it were dammed up to an unusual height, at length broke 

 through the mound which confined them. It is certain that a 

 strong current sets in a southerly direction on each side of Old 

 Greenland ; and to whatever cause the original dislodgement of 

 the ice may be owing, this current is the agent by which the 

 detached masses of ice have been removed. Many speculations 

 have been formed respecting the effect of this accumulation of 

 ice on the climate of Great Britain and the N.W. of Europe, 

 and on the probable result of its removal. The arguments that 

 have been adduced, to prove that the climate of Great Britain 

 has been gradually deteriorating for the last century or two, 

 appear to us inconclusive ; nor, were the fact of the deterio- 

 ration proved, do we consider the cause assigned as adequate to 

 produce it. But the coldness of the last two seasons is well 

 known, and we think it very possible, and even probable, that 

 the immense fields of ice moving southward, and gradually 

 dissolving as they passed along the Atlantic, may have sensibly 

 affected the temperature both of Europe and America. 



A very interesting consequence that is likely to follow from 

 this revolution in the state of the northern ocean, is an addition 

 to our knowledge of the hydrography of the Arctic circle, more 

 especially of the shape of the upper part of Greenland, of the 

 northern termination of the continent of America, and still more 

 the determination of the celebrated question concerning the 

 existence of what has been called the N.W. passage. To ascer- 

 tain these points, advantage has been taken of the present favour- 

 able state of the northern seas, and an expedition is now on the 

 point of sailing for the purpose of exploring these unknown re- 

 gions. Four vessels of about 300 tuns burden are prepared for the 

 purpose, two of which are to sail N. of Great Britain, to pass 

 between Old Greenland and Spitsbergen, if possible to get to the 

 pole, and then to proceed in nearly a direct course to Behring's 

 Straits ; the other two vessels are to go to the&W. of Old 



• The accumulation of ice about the northern jinrt;of Iceland during the course 

 •it'ltir la.t .uiiMiu-i wa« equally reiuark;ib!e. See dnnals of I'hilo-jophy for March, 

 |j. 9S9. 



i £ 



