lltt Arctic Regions. -^89 
amotig seamen. To us Captain Scoresby appears to unite that 
genius for observation, which has rendered the narratives of 
Dampier so instructive and attractive, with a mind beyond 
comparison more enlightened. 
The 5th Chapter appears to belong rather to general physics 
than to navigation ; yet, in fact, it is not wholly foreign to this 
art, since it treats of causes which exert great influence on the pre- 
vailing winds, and leads to an explanation of the use of the ba- 
rometer in predicting the weather, from the oscillations of the 
mercury. The title is ‘‘ Observations on the Atmospherology 
of the Arctic Regions, particularly relating to Spitz bergen and the 
adjacent Greenland Sea.” The author first speaks of the climate, 
which in general is alternately excessively cold and humid ; he 
afterwards explains its effects on inanimate substances, and on 
the human body ; and he finally treats of the temperature of 
the Polar Regions. Aided by experiments carried on in the ci- 
vilised countries nearest the icy seas, and by the hypotheses 
which philosophers have thence deduced, he attempts, by an 
ingenious method, to estimate the mean temperature of different 
parallels near the Pole, and also of the Pole itself. The author 
next gives the result of his experience on the extremes of the 
barometric column during the fishing season ; and he deduces, 
from a series of twelve years observations, the relation between 
the weather, and the variations in the height of the mercurial 
column. 
These interesting results, of easy application, are followed by 
remarks on the appearance, the colour, the transparency, the 
density, the moisture and the dryness of the atmosphere, and 
its state of electricity. The subject which concludes the fifth 
chapter is not less interesting than those which preceded it. 
The author here details the phenomena of the extraordinary at- 
mospheric refractions of those climates ; he adds some observa- 
tions on the prevailing winds in icy regions ; and some remarks- 
on the aqueous meteors, as on the causes of clouds,, ra’- ^ ’"ail 
and snow, frost-rime, hoar-frost, and fogs. We find in the ac- 
companying discussions, the principles of the soundest physics, 
supported by all the knowledge which modern times have intro- 
duced into science. 
VOL. IV. NO. 8. APaiL 1821. 
T 
