countered in thofe parts of the Frozen Sea which they
have unqueft ion ably failed through ; how much time
they employed in making an inconfiderable progrefs, and
how often their attempts were unfuccefsful: when we
reflect at the fame time, that thefe voyages can only be
performed in the midft of a fhort fummer, and even
then only when particular winds drive the ice into the
fea, and leave the fhores lefs obftrudted ; we fhall reafon-
ably conclude, that a navigation, purfued along the
coafts in the Frozen Ocean, would probably be ufelefs for
commercial purpofes.
A navigation therefore in the Frozen Ocean, calculated
to anfwer any end of general utility, muft (if poflible) be
made in an higher latitude, at fome diftance from the
fhores of Nova Zemla and Siberia. And fhould we
even grant the poffibility of failing N. E. and Eaft of
Nova Zemla, without meeting with any infurmountable
obftacles from land or ice; yet the final completion
of a N. E. voyage muft depend upon the ex-
iftence of a free paftage * between the coaft of the
Tfchutfki and the continent of America. But fuch dif-
* I.have faid a free fajfage, becaufe i f we conclude from the narrative
of DelhnefFs voyage, that there really does exift fuch a paflage; yet if
that paffage is only occalionally navigable (and the Ruffians do not pretend
to have palled it more than once) it can never be o f any general
and commercial utility.
quifitions
quifitions as thefe do not- fall under the intention of
this work, which is meant to ftate and examine fadfs,
not to lay down an hypothefis, or to make theoretical
enquiries *.
- • * I beg leave to allure the reader, that throughout this whole work
I have entirely confined myfelf to the Ruffian accounts; and have carefully
avoided making ufe o f any vague reports concerning the difcoveries
lately made by captains Cooke and Clerke in the fame feas. Many o f
■ the geographical queftions which have been occalionally treated in the
courfe of this performance, will probably be cleared up, and the true
pofition o f the Weftern coafts o f America afcertained, from the journals
o f thofe experienced navigators.
U It 2 A P P E N D IX