E 91 J 



This account agrees with that of Barentz, whilft he wintered 

 in Nova Zembla l , and that of the Ruffians in Maloy-Brun ; 

 the North wind cannot therefore, during the coldeft feafons of 

 the year, be fuppofed to blow over ten degrees of ice. 



Governor Ellis indeed, whofe zeal in profecuting the attempt 

 of difcovering the N. W. paffage through Hudfon's Bay is fo 

 well known, hath fuggefted to me an argument, which feems 

 to prove the abfolute impoffibility of a perpetual barrier of ice 

 from 80 deg. and a half to the Pole. 



If fuch a tract hath exifted for centuries, the increafe, in point 

 of height, mufl be amazing in a courfe of years, by the mow, 

 which falls during the winter, being changed into ice, and which 

 muft have formed confequently a mountain perhaps equal to the 

 Pic of TenerifF m . Now the ice, which fometimes packs to the 

 Northward of Spitzbergen, is faid commonly not to exceed two 

 yards in height. D. B. 



^See, Thoughts on the Probability, &c. of reaching the North Pole, 



m Mr. De Luc obferves alfo, that the ice upon the Glacieres is always 

 increafing. See his interefting obfervations on thole mountains of Swit- 

 zerland. 



OBSER- 



