[ l *7 ] 



ftorm% as to have loft their fupport; whilft others again may 

 have been reft from the mafs to which they before adhered 

 by the expanfive power of the froft b . 



Great part of the field, or lower ice, I take to be formed by the 

 fnow falling on the fands left bare for fix hours (from half ebb 

 to half flood), which immediately diftblves upon touching, the 

 fands* and, before the tide returns, becomes folid ice; part of 

 thefe pieces are by the wind, or tide, again returned to the 

 fame fands, where they again meet with another ftore of ice, , 

 formed during another fix hours, which, in the courfe of a 

 winter, muff, by packing, accumulate to immenfe mafles. That 

 this is not mere conjecture, but the fact, I appeal to Captain- 

 James's account of what he hirnfelf was witnefs of whilft he 

 wintered at Charlton Ifland, in Hudfon's Bay c . 



The above relation, which" my brother gives from his own obferva-- 

 tion, in North latitude, 52 deg. 15 min. . accounts very naturally and 

 eafily for the formation of that furpriiing number of the vaft pieces of 

 ice which is annually fee 11 on the Labradore coaft, and confiderably to 

 the Southward... John Cartwright." 



a " The fea has waflied underneath the ice cliffs, as high as the 

 " Kentifh Forelands, and the arches overhanging, fupport mountains 

 ** of fnow, which have lain fince the creation." Wood's Voyage, ..p. 20. 



41 Cundta gelu, canaque aeternum grandine tecta, 



" Atque awi glaciem cohibent, riget ardua montis 



" JEtherii facies, furgentique obvia Phccbo, 



" Duratas nefcit flammis mollire pruinas." 



Silius Italians, Lib. III. l.'^o. 



b " The rocks along the coaft burft with a report equal to that of 

 artillery, and the fpiinters are thrown to an amazing diftance." Mr, - 

 Wales, in Pbilofophical Iranfadhns, Vol. LX. p. 125... 



c For Captain James's account, fee Boyle, Vol. II. as alfo Harris, 

 Vol. II. p. 420. where it is confiderably abridged, and differs in fome 

 few circumftances. It is ftated, however, that in few hours the fnow 

 thus frozen will be five or fix feet thick; 



S Now- 



