[ *3 ] 



which lies between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, and extends 

 from N. lat. 77 0 25' to 78 0 4.5' f . The Dutch alfo failed round 

 the Northern coaft of Nova Zembla, and wintered on the Eaftera 

 fide in 1^96 g . 



As for Wood's treating all difcoveries towards the Pole, from 

 the Northern parts of Spitzbergen, as fabulous, he had not the 

 leaf): foundation, from. what he had obferved on his own voyage, 

 for this unmerited afperfion upon their veracity ; becaufe, if 

 Wood's barrier between Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, in N. lat^ 

 76, had been perpetual, what hath this to do with the courfe of a 

 fhip failing from the Northern parts of Spitzbergen upon a meri- 

 dian towards the Pole ? 



I cannot, however, difmifs Wood's voyage without making" 

 fome further remarks on his concluding that the obfr.ruc"t.ions : 

 which he met with in N. lat. 76 were perpetual. 



Almoft every voyage to feas* in which floating ice is commonly 

 to be found, proves the great difference between the quantities, 

 as well as fize, of thefe impediments, to navigation, though in ' 

 the fame latitude and time of the year. 



f See the Englifli Tranflation of profdfor Le Roy's account of this 

 ifland, p. 85. London, 1774, 8vo, printed for C. Heydinger. As alfo 

 the Sieur de Vaugondy's Effai d'une Carte Polaire Arctique, publiihed in 

 1774^ .who reprefents this ifland as extending from N. lat. 77 0 20' to 

 78 0 30', its longitude being 60 degrees E. from Fero. 



s See the map of the circumpolar regions which accompanies Wood's 

 voyage. The Northern point of Nova Zembla, in this map, is in 77 

 nearly. There were factions in Holland, with regard to the method of dis- 

 covering the N. E. paflage. . Barentz, inftigated by Plancius the Geo- 

 grapher, was for making the trial to the N. of Nova Zembla ; the other 

 two fhips which failed on that expedition of difcovery were to attempt 

 pafling. the Weygatz. Recueil des Voyages au Nord, torn. IV. Linfcho- 

 ten's Preface. . 



Davis 



