261 
GEOGRAPHICAL COLLECTIONS. 
Recent North-West Voyages. 
We are indebted principally to Murray’s North America, and Captain Sa- 
bine’s account of the north-west voyages, for the following attempt at briefly 
chronicling the bold and skilful efforts of those navigators whom Britain sent, in 
the hour of peace, to cull more noble laurels than those of war, and that can only 
be gained by extending the boundary of human knowledge. And if perseve- 
rance does not, at its first endeavours, overcome all obsiacles,—if the eye of 
knowledge cannot at once penetrate the mists and ices which surround the shores 
of the northern archipelago,—and if the practical results do not, in the first mo- 
ment, answer the hasty and sanguine expectations of the multitude, still none of 
these considerations can detract from the credit which must ever be attached to 
these meritorious researches. America itself was not discovered ina day. How 
far has the Ultima Thule of the Romans been removed ? And what an extent 
the Hrythrean Sea has gained ? How large a continent, and what innumerable 
isles have been found stretched over its surface ? 
In the history of geographical discovery, we always find that the difficulties va- 
nish as out acquaintance with them becomes more familiar. Thus the Blue 
Mountains of New South Wales, considered by the first settlers as an insurmount- 
able barrier, are now passed with ease, and civilization extends to the plains be- 
yond, as once dreaded seas are now covered with the vessels of many nations. 
The influence of civilization on climate is immense. The cold impenetrable 
forests of North America, were clothed with one continued mist; but as they 
were gradually felled by the European axe, the sun-beams came to gladden the 
soil, and a rich vegetation sprung forth. Years of an undisturbed possession of 
seas, apparently strewed with islands and peninsulas, have allowed the icebergs 
to cement together in fearful array, and the ice of still bays has extended into 
the sea, and now binds down the restless wave. But were this union once bro- 
ken, the loosened ice would float to melt in more southerly latitudes,—the rave- 
nous bear would be borne on the tall berg to the shores of Iceland, to meet with 
merited destruction ; and were this navigation to be continued, the same changes 
would comparatively be produced in the polar seas, as have ever resulted from the 
progress of civilized man in unexplored lands. and seas. 
The obstacles which lie in the way of diseovery, are then, according to our 
opinion, connected with the physical existence of a state of things, which, if once 
removed, would themselves furnish the means of further explorations ; but it 
would be as ridiculous to suppose that two or three journies, undertaken by how- 
ever experienced navigators, could lay open a passage blocked by the accumulated 
ice of ages, ascertain the existence and boundaries of the continent and adjacent 
islands, or prepare them for the partial colonization of northern nations, as to 
suppose that the plantation of forests would at once bring moisture and cultivation 
.into the deserts of Africa, and that, in a few years, Timbuctoo might be the ca- 
pital of a flourishing and civilized empire. 
The end of all expeditions can only, at the present, be to determine the exist- 
ence of the eastern outlets of the Polar Sea, the direction of the currents, the depth 
of water, and extent of land and coasts ; and finally, to ascertain the revolution 
of seasons, the actual temperature and the variations of climate; and then the 
energies of man might be directed with success in seconding the efforts of nature, 
and then it would not be at all visionary to come to conclusions pretty nearly si- 
milar to those we have hinted at. 
By making these general statements, our readers will be able to perceive an 
importance in the labours of our enterprizing countrymen, and a foresight and 
ability in that government which directed their efforts, which would be lost upon 
them did they keep only in mind the simple passage of a a from Baffin’s or 
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