GREENLAND OR POLAR ICE. 



335 



2d, Speaking of the south-western tendency of 

 the ice, I have also noticed, the loss of several of 

 the Dutch Greenland fleet in 1777, from which 

 we learn, that part of the unfortunate suffering 

 crews, under every privation of provision and 

 clothing, and exposed to the severity of an arctic 

 winter, accomplished a journey on foot, along the 

 coasts of Old Greenland, from the east side near 

 Staten-Hook to the Danish settlements on the west, 

 a distance of near a hundred leagues. 



Sd, On contrasting the projected polar jour- 

 ney with the catalogue of marvellous occurrences, 

 and wonderful, preservations which are exhi- 

 bited in the records of maritime disasters ^, the 

 difficulties of the imdertaking, in a great measure 

 vanish, and its dangers are eclipsed, by the won- 

 derful results which necessity has in various in- 

 stances accomplished. 



Nbte, — It may not be improper here to observe, 

 that I am aware that the preceding remarks are 

 capable of considerable extension, and of various 



* See « Shipwrecks and Disasters at Sea.' 



