£9^ GREENLAND OR PoLaR tC^* 



of their usual supplies, or from the increased cold-^ 

 ness of their atmosphere. 



In various countries, changes of climate to a 

 Certain extent, have occurred, within the limits 

 of h ^rorical record ; these changes have been 

 comaionly for the better, and have been consider- 

 ed as the effects of human industry, in draining 

 marshes and lakes, felling woods,, and cultivating 

 the earth : but here is an occurrence, the reverse 

 of common experience ; and concerning its 

 causes, I am not prepared to hazard any conjec- 

 ture. 



This icy barrier, at present, with each recur- 

 ring spring, exhibits the following general out- 

 line. After doubling the southern promontory 

 of Greenland, it advances in a north-eastern di- 

 rection along the east coast, enveloping Iceland 

 as it proceeds, until it reaches John Mayne^s 

 Island ^. Passing this island on the north-west, 

 but frequently enclosing it likewise, it then trends 

 a little more to the eastward, and intersects the 

 meridian of London in the 71st or 7 2d degree of 

 latitude. Having reached the longitude of 6, 8, 

 or perhaps IG degrees east, in the 73d or 74th 

 degree of north latitude, it suddenly stretches to 

 the north, sometimes proceeding on a meridian to 

 the latitude of 80®, at others formnig a deep si- 



* Latitude 71° N.; longitude about 5^° W, 



