[ vi ] 



This, however, hath unfortunately been prevented by Captain 

 Pickerfg ill's death ; but the Aftronomer Royal, who communi-*; 

 cated Captain Pickerfgili's Journal to the Royal Society, hath in- 

 formed me by letter, " That he had often heard this Navigator 

 " exprefs himfelf as well affined of a N. W. paffage ; adding, 

 " that he received accounts of it from the inhabitants on the 

 44 fide of Davis's Straits, and that it was directly N. W. very dif- 

 " ferent from Baffin's track. 



" Captain Pickerfgill likewife thought that the bejl method to 

 " find the paffage, was to get out early before the ice broke away in 

 " the upper part of Davis's Straits."'' 



It thus appears that the laft attempts of a N. W. pafTage 

 ended with the officer's employed thereon, being thoroughly 

 perfuaded that it was not only practicable, but highly pro- 

 bable. 



As the late geographical difcoveries have given fuch general 

 fatisfaction, I have little doubt but that they will be further 

 profecuted when a peace takes place, and {hall therefore here ven- 

 ture to throw out my poor thoughts with regard to the yet re- 

 maining defiderata for the more perfect knowledge of the planet 

 which we inhabit. When we are informed by proper trials, 

 that the attempt in any particular direction cannot fucceed, we 

 {hall then be as much at reft as with regard to Lunar oceans or 

 continents, if fuch there be. 



I have mentioned in the following Tracts, that the Parlia- 

 mentary rewards given for approaching within one degree of the 

 North Pole are not likely to produce the effects intended, be* 

 caufe the Greenland whale mips are all enfured ; if they were 

 therefore to go beyond the common fifhing latitudes, it would be 



fuch 



i 



