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The notion that approaching to a pafTage under the Pole 

 would deftroy the ufe of the compafs, is a popular opinion with- 

 out any juft grounds to fupport it. For it prefumes that the needle 

 is directed by the Pole of the World ; which it certainly is not, 

 as appears from the needle's variation, and even the variation of 

 that variation, which if this notion was true could never happen. 

 In Sir Thomas Smith's found in Baffin's Bay, the variation was 

 found to be fifty-fix degrees Wefhvard, the greater!: yet known. 

 Captain Wood is very clear upon this point, and maintains, 

 that no danger was to be apprehended from this caufe w . Thofe 

 who aflerted, that they had advanced within a degree of the 

 Pole, eftimated the variation there at five points of the compafs. 

 Captain Wood, in ftating the account given of the Dutch fea- 

 men's voyage by Captain Goulden, omits one very material point, 

 of which we are, informed by Mr. Boyle, which is, that one 

 of the Dutch captains coming over to England, Captain Goulden 

 carried him to fome of the Northern Company, who were per- 

 fectly fatisfied as to the truth of his relation \ On the whole, 

 therefore, whether we refpect. reafon or facts, there are no juft 

 grounds for apprehensions on this head, more cfpecially as there 

 are other means by which the true fituation of a veffel might be 

 determined, and the difficulty, if any arofe, would be but of 

 very fhort continuance. But as fuch a voyage <?ould not fail of 

 affording many new lights in refpecl: to aftronomy and geo- 

 graphy, fo in this refpect alfo it mult necelfarily afcertain fully 

 what is at prefent only matter of doubt and conjecture. 



7 Wood's Voyage for the Difcovery of a North-earl Pafiage, p. 139. 



* See the, honourable Mr. Boyle's Hiflory of Cold, in refpecl: tothis 

 and a multitude of other curious particulars, which fhew with how much 

 induftry and care he ftruggled to deliver truth from vulgar errors, and 

 fiction. 



1. 



As 



