POSTSCRIPT. 437 



wliich the first defenders of independence were 

 obliged to use for cannon balls. 



Later discoveries have brought the question 

 which we discussed respecting the polar regions 

 nearer to a decision, and advanced the point of view 

 from which it is to be contemplated. Lieutenant 

 Parry has penetrated from Lancaster Sound be- 

 tween islands and masses of land intersected by 

 channels, as far as the 115° of west longitude (an 

 extent of 35°,) only 20° this side of the meridian 

 of Mackenzie River. We are inclined to imagine 

 that similar islands and masses of land occupy a 

 great part of the polar regions between Greenland 

 and New Siberia, and particularly in the north of 

 Beering's Straits, (Burney.) 



On the other hand, the discovery of New South 

 Shetland, by William Smith, in 1819, which we 

 cannot help fancying is united with Sandwich 

 land, has revived the belief of a southern continent, 

 to which Cook himself was attached, even after 

 his second voyage. This coast, bordering on one 

 of the most frequented seas, and several hundreds 

 of ships, on account of the westerly storms on the 

 west passage, are obliged to approach it within a 

 few degrees ; we are astonished at the lateness of 

 the discovery. 



Lastly, W. Scoresby (An Account of the Arctic 

 Regions. Edinburgh, 1820,) has given us a work on 

 the North Polar Regions, the solid reasoning of 

 which throws our hasty sketch into the shade. 



F F 3 



