22 
EXPEDITION OF THORNE. 
the North Pole,” and he continues, “ 1 know it to be my bounden 
duty to manifest the secret to your grace, which hitherto, I sup¬ 
pose has been hid.” He represents in the strongest terms the 
great glory and the vast riches, which the kings of Spain and 
Portugal had acquired by their discoveries in the East and West 
Indies, and strenuously recommends the king to emulate their 
fame by undertaking discoveries towards the north. He states in 
a very masterly manner the high reputation that must attend the 
attempt, and the great benefits, in regard to the extension of com¬ 
merce, likely to accrue to the subjects of this country, from the 
advantageous situation of foreign lands, should the undertaking 
be crowned with success ; which, “ he quaintly observes,” seems 
to make the exploring this, the only hitherto undiscovered part, 
the king’s peculiar duty.” 
Thorne was fully aware that the great danger attending the 
expedition, might be urged as a very cogent argument against 
it; and therefore to meet that objection, he, although astronomi¬ 
cally incorrect, enlarges upon “ the great advantages of constant 
daylight in seas ; that men say, without great danger, difficulty, 
and peril, yea, rather, that it is impossible to pass; for they 
being past this little way which they named so dangerous 
which may be two or three leagues before they come to the pole 
and as much more after they pass the pole, it is clear from thence¬ 
forth the seas and lands are as temperate as in these parts.” 
It is evident, that the worthy Bristol merchant may be classed 
amongst those enthusiasts, who, in the prosecution of any favorite 
project, turn away from an examination of the obstacles and diffi¬ 
culties, which present themselves in every quarter to frustrate the 
accomplishment of it, and in the present instance Mr. Thorne 
expectedthat the elements would, with becoming indulgence, 
relax in their natural severity, and enter into an alliance, by 
which the success of the undertaking could be insured. 
Thus in the paper addressed to Dr. Ley, he enters minutely 
into the advantages and practicability of the undertaking, ail of 
which are very ably and circumstantially exposed, leaving 
untouched however the many contingencies, by which it was mos 
likely to be defeated Amongst many other arguments to prove 
