192 OPEN POLAR BASIN A MERE CHIMERA. 



Scoresby, who seems to have been one of 

 the most accurate and painstaking observers, 

 and a thoroughly practical as well as scientific 

 seaman, who had spent his life in the Polar 

 seas, admits never having been further north 

 than 81° 30 ' ; and I believe with him that 

 this is about the closest authenticated approxi- 

 mation which ever has been made, or which 

 ever will be made, towards the Pole hy loater. 



Prom much reading on the subject, and 

 much conversation with intelligent practical 

 men, well acquainted with those seas, as well 

 as from my own little opportunities of observa- 

 tion during my two visits to Spitzbergen, I 

 may be permitted to express my thorough con- 

 viction that all idea of a great open sea around 

 the Pole, is entirely chimerical : and that no- 

 thing exists within a radius of six hundred miles 

 of the Pole, but vast masses of eternal and 

 impenetrable ice — unless indeed there may 

 happen to be land intervening. 



I am aware that the distinguished Dr. Kane 

 held very strongly an opposite opinion ; but 

 the arguments in his book do not seem to me 

 to be of the slightest avail against the over- 

 whelming amount of evidence in a contrary 

 direction. 



