C 49 3 



3d. There is not any reafon to fuppofe, that there is any per- 

 manent ice, either North or Weft of Spitzbergen, fo far as 90 0 ; 

 and it hath been always found, by able and experienced naviga- 

 tors, that there is not near the quantity of ice, nor fo liable to 

 fet faft to the North of Spitzbergen, as there is to the South of 

 8o° as far as 74 0 , owing to the continent of America (called 

 Gallampus land by the failors) and Spitzbergen, which makes a 

 narrow paflage in proportion to what it is to the North of Spitz- 

 bergen. The land of America is fometimes feen by our Green- 

 land traders from latitude 74 0 to 76 0 ; and as it is not feen any 

 further North, is fuppofed to round away to the North-weft, 

 which makes it imagined by many, that there is not any land 

 near the Pole. 



4. South winds bring moft fnow; North winds bring froft ; 

 but that is in the month of April and two-thirds of May; after 

 that time, to the ift or 10 th of July, it is in general mild, fine, 

 clear, fun-fliine weather, and winds variable ; after that again, 

 often thick fogs and high winds. 



5. It is very poffible, by fleering North or N. N. E. by the 

 Ihip's compafs, (if it can be fo contrived as to have the card oil 

 the needle fteady, and the winds prove favourable,) with a little 

 perfeverance, a (hip may get near the Pole, if they do not meet 

 with rocks. 



VI. 



S I R, 



IN the year 1766, trade being dull, I fitted a {hip at my fole 

 expence to the Greenland feas; and the faid fhip returned with 

 one fifh, eleven feet bone. Finding the trade could be conducted 

 better in private hands than a company's, I was induced to fend 



H a fecond 



