«< Supposing the solar rays 
from tffi icy rings at the poles,4he i mb- 
jVants of the inner surface can have but 
two nights in the year, and those ot but 
short duration, viz: when the sun is near 
to, and about crossing the equinoctial line. 
This preponderance of day to night, must 
make up the difference which we may 
suppose to exist between the rays of heat 
and light coming obliquely and by refrac¬ 
tion, to their coming in nearly a dialect 
line, but of shorter duration, as on the 
surface. What a delightful climate must 
we suppose to be inhabited by our interior 
brethren, where the oblique rays of light 
never heat the surface to a great degree, 
.and where the unfrequent and short dura¬ 
tion of night scarcely allows the atmos¬ 
phere to cool below its ordinary tempera¬ 
ture. But the icy polar reflectors, will, 
I fear, long retard our steps from these 
elysian regions.” 
* * * * * * * 
"But enough of conjectureEvery in¬ 
formation from the arctic regions brings 
additional evidence of the correctness otfj 
your theory, and I wait with impatience 
to hear of a voyage which will put it past 
contradiction. The British cabinet must 
have something of this kind in view— 
they could not have fitted out two succes¬ 
sive expeditions to the north pole, for the 
purpose of viewing icebergs and Esqui¬ 
maux Indians. But as the idea of a polar 
orifice originated in America, they are 
willing to keep their real design a secret. 
And why does our government sleep? 
Have their vessels of war enough employ, 
******* without going 
on an adventure in which there might be 
some risk, but immortal renown to the 
nation which would achieve it.” 
I think you need not be uneasy at the 
lw converts you have made to your doc¬ 
trine. Philosophical truths progress but ! 
slowly—the learned have to combat their 
prejudices* aad the unlearned have to be 
