I Hi ] 



PREFACE 



TOT H E 



POLAR TRACTS. 



T | 1 H E following trails relative to the poffibility of near ap- 

 JL proaches to the Pole of our own hemifphere, as likewife 

 •of a communication between the Atlantick and Pacifick oceans 

 in any Northern direction, were firfl publimed in 1 775 and 1776. 



I now think it right to print them a fecond time, becaufe they 

 contain many weil-attefted facts with regard to reaching high 

 Northern Latitudes, which are not to be found elfcwhere, and 

 have a .tendency to promote geographical difcoveries. I am very 

 ready to admit indeed, that the purpofes of commerce can never 

 be anfwered by the great uncertainty of a conftant paflage (even 

 when fuch communication is difcovered) in feas which are fo fre- 

 quently obftrucled by the ice packing in vail fields. I find likewife 

 that fince the Refolntion and Endeavour returned from their laft 

 voyage, many conceive a N. E. or NAV. paflage to be in) practica- 

 ble, becaule our mips in two fucceflive years were not able to pene- 

 trate beyond yi y by impediments of ice. BAides, however, that 

 the ice packing in particular fituations varies often in different 



b 2 years; 



