246 Observations on the late Expedition of Capt. Parry . 
navigators would then have the current in their favour ; but this 
appears to us quite insufficient to balance the heavy objections 
against it. Before beginning their career, there would be a voy- 
age to be performed nearly equal to the circumference of the 
globe, without any hospitable port to receive or refresh them, 
The straits, blocked up with ice, would be equally inaccessible on 
the western as on the eastern side; and if, as appears probable, 
the greatest difficulties are at the eastern extremity, this would 
only render more serious the situation of a vessel which, after a 
voyage of two years, had arrived there, without being able to 
make its way into Baffin's or Hudson’s Bays. We know not how 
exactly to estimate the value either of the aid or opposition of 
this current ; but it does not appear that Captain Parry, who 
had constantly to struggle against it, complains of any very for-? 
midable obstruction which it opposed to him ; or that, when 
wind favoured, and ice did not oppose, there was any difficulty 
in making even a rapid progress. We see no reason to think, 
therefore, that the favour of the current thus gained would af- 
ford any compensation for the very high price at which it would 
be necessary to purchase it. 
Since writing the above, we have perused the pamphlet pub- 
lished under the signature of Scrutator , entitled, “ Impractica- 
bility of a North-west Passage for Ships.’' It displays consider- 
able shrewdness and information ; but the author writes in so 
caustic and controversial a tone, and employs himself so much 
in combating, now this, and now that passage, in the Edinburgh 
and Quarterly Reviews, that we have difficulty in making out 
any thing very precise as to his own views. It appears, indeed, 
that the passage, which we only think rather improbable, he 
thinks impossible. He disputes the existence of the great cir- 
cumvolving current passing through Behring’s Straits, and 
round the northern coast of America. The current through 
Behring’s Straits, however, is attested by Kotzebue and Cook, 
and seems to arise almost necessarily from a conformation of 
coasts, similar to that which pushes the gulf-stream through the 
Bahama channel. How far the current from the westward en- 
countered by Captain Parry can be identified with that coming 
form Behring’s Straits, may admit of controversy. But if we 
