the whole, as they opened a passage to many lucrative fisheries, such as those in Davis's Straits, Baffin's Bay, and on the coast of Spitzbergen. Besides this, they laid open Hudson's Straits and Bay, with the coast on both sides, which have been already productive of many advantages, and which, in process of time, cannot fail of producing more, in consequence of our being in possession of Canada, and being thereby sole masters of those seas and coasts. It is, however, very remarkable, that, notwithstanding the views, both of our traders and of such great men as were distinguished encouragers of discoveries, the ablest seamen (who without doubt are the best judges) were still inclined to this passage by the North, such as Captain Poole, Sir William Monson, and others; and this was still the more remarkable, as they were entirely guided therein by the lights of their own experience, having no knowledge of Mr. Thorne's proposal, or of the sentiments of each other. From the reason of the thing, however, they uniformly concurred in the motives they suggested for such an undertaking. They asserted, that this passage would be much shorter and easier than any of those by the North-west or North-east; that it would be more healthy for the seamen, and attended with fewer inconveniences; that it would probably open a passage to new countries; and, finally, that the experiment might be made with very little hazard, at small expense, and would redound highly to our national honour, if attended with success. It may be then demanded, why it has not hitherto been attempted, and what objections have retarded a scheme so visibly advantageous? These objections, as far as they can be collected, are the fear of perishing by excessive cold, the danger of being blocked up in ice, and the apprehension that there could be no certainty of preserving the use of the compass under or near the Pole. In respect to the first, the antients had taken up an opinion, that the seas in the frigid zone were impassable, and the lands, if there were any, uninhabitable. The philosophers of later ages fell into the same opinion, and maintained that the Poles were the sources and principles of cold, which of course increased and grew excessive in approaching them. But when the lights of experience were admitted to guide in such researches, the truth of this notion came to be questioned, because from facts it became probable, that there might be a diversity of climates in the frigid as well as the torrid zone.

Charlton Island, in which Captain James wintered, lies in the bottom, that is, in the most Southern part of Hudson's Bay, and in the same latitude with Cambridge, and the cold there was intolerable. The ser

vants of the Hudson's Bay Company trade annually in places ten degrees nearer the Pole, without feeling any such inconvenience. The city of Moscow is in the same latitude with that of Edinburgh, and yet in winter the weather is almost as severe there as in Charlton Island. Nova Zembla has no soil, herbage, or animals; and yet in Spitzbergen, in six degrees higher latitude, there are all three; and, on the top of the mountains, in the most Northern part, men strip themselves of their shirts that they may cool their bodies. The celebrated Mr. Boyle, from these and many other instances, rejected the longreceived notion, that the Pole was the principle of cold.

Captain Jonas Poole, who in 1610 sailed in a vessel of seventy tons to make discoveries towards the North, found the weather warm in near 79° of latitude, whilst the ponds and lakes were unfrozen; which put him in hopes of finding a mild summer, and led him to believe that a passage might be as soon found by the Pole as any other way whatever; and for this reason, that the Sun gave a great heat there, and that the ice was not near so thick as what he had met with in the latitude of 73°. Indeed, the Dutchmen, who pretend to have advanced within a degree of the Pole, said it was as hot there as in the summer at Amsterdam. In these Northern voyages we hear very much of ice, and there is no doubt that vessels are very much hindered and incommoded thereby. But after all, it is, in the opinion of able and experienced seamen, more formidable in appearance than fatal in its effects. When our earliest discoveries were made, and they reached further North than we commonly sail at present, it was performed in barks of seventy tons, with some trouble, no doubt, but with very little hazard. At this day it is known, that in no part of the world are there greater quantities of ice seen, than in Hudson's Bay; and yet there is no navigation safer, the Company not losing a ship in twenty years, and the seamen, who are used to it, are not troubled with any apprehensions about it.

It is no objection to this, that we hear almost every season of ships lost in the ice on the Whale Fishery; for these vessels, instead of avoiding, industriously seek the ice, as amongst it the whales are more commonly found than in the open sea. Being thus continually amongst the ice, it is no wonder that they are sometimes surrounded by it; and yet the men, when the ships are lost, generally speaking, es

cape.

But in the seas near the Pole, it is very probable there is little or no ice, for that is commonly formed in bays and rivers during the winter, and does not break up

and

and get into the sea till the latter end of March, or the beginning of April, when it begins to thaw upon the shores. It is also, when formed, very uncertain as to its continuance, being broken and driven about by the vehemence of the winds. As a proof of this, we have an instance of a vessel frozen in one of the harbours of Hudson's Bay, which, by the breaking of the ice, drove to sea, and, though it was Christmas, found the Straits quite free from ice, which are frequently choked with it in May and June, and made a safe and speedy passage home.

All our accounts agree, that in very high latitudes there is less ice. Barentz, when his ship was frozen in Nova Zembla, heard the ice broken with a most horrible noise by an impetuous sea from the North, a full proof that it was open. It is the invariable tradition of the Samoides and Tartars, who live beyond the Waygat, that the sea is open to the North of Nova Zembla all the year; and the most knowing people in Russia are of the same opinion. These authorities ought to have more weight than simple conjectures.

It may not be uninteresting, at this period, to notice the expedition undertaken by John Davis, a native of Devonshire, in 1585, for the purpose of discovering a new passage, by the North-west parts of America, to the East Indies. It shews the insuperable difficulties that existed at that distant period of navigating the Northern seas, and proves the extensive discoveries that have been subsequently effected by enterprising navigators. At the same time we may cherish the pleasing hope, that the time is not far distant, when the desired object of effecting a passage through Bhering's Straits, will be eventually attained; particularly when we reflect on the wonderful improvements made of late years in navigation. It will be seen, by a perusal of Davis's Voyages, that the utmost difficulties were encountered at that infant state of navigation, even in those low latitudes which are now traversed without apprehension or danger.

John Davis sailed from Dartmouth, June 7, 1585, with two barks, one of fifty and the other of thirty-five tons, which were fitted out at the charge of some noblemen and gentlemen; and met, July 19, many islands of ice floating, in 60 degrees Northern latitude. They were soon encompassed with them; and going upon some, perceived, that the roaring noise they heard, at which they were greatly astonished, was caused only by the rolling of the ice together. The next day, they discovered the Southern coast of Greenland, five hundred leagues distant from the Durseys, or Missenhead, in Ireland; and observed it to be extremely

rocky and mountainous, and covered with snow, without any signs of wood, grass, or earth to be seen. The shore, likewise, was so full of ice, that no ship could come near it by two leagues and so shocking was the appearance of it, and the cracking of the ice so hideous, that they imagined it to be a quite desolate country, without a living creature, or even any vegetable substance; for which reason captain Davis named it, "The Land of Desolation." Perceiving that they were run into a very deep bay, wherein they were almost surrounded with ice, they kept coasting along the edge of it, South-southwest, till the 25th of July; when, after having goue fifty or sixty leagues, they found that the shore lay directly North. This made them alter their course to the North-west, in hopes of finding their desired passage: but on the 29th they discovered land to the North-east, in 64 deg. 15 min. latitude. Making towards it, they perceived that they were passed the ice, and were among many green, temperate, and pleasant islands, bordering upon the shore; though the hills of the continent were still covered with great quantities of snow. Among these islands were many fine bays, and good roads for shipping: they landed in some, and the people of the country came down and conversed with them by signs, making Mr. Davis understand that there was a great sea towards the North and West. He staid in this place till the first of August, and then proceeded in his discovery. The 6th of that month, they found land in 66 deg. 40 min. latitude, quite free from ice; and anchored in a safe road, under a great mountain, the cliffs whereof glistered like gold. This mountain he named Mount Raleigh: the road where their ships lay at anchor, Totness Road: the bay which encompassed the mountain, Exeter Sound: the foreland towards the North, Dier's Cape: and the foreland towards the South, Cape Walsingham. He departed from hence the 8th of August, coasting along the shore, which lay South-south-west, and East-north-east; and on the 11th came to the most Southerly cape of that land, which he named, "The Cape of God's Mercy," as being the place of their first entrance for the discovery. Going forward, they came into a very fine straight, or passage, in some places twenty leagues broad, in others thirty, quite free from ice, the weather in it very tolerable, and the water of the same colour and nature as the main ocean. This passage still retains the name of its first discoverer, being called to this day Fretum Davis, or Davis's Straights. Having sailed, Northwest, sixty leagues in this passage, they discovered several islands in the midst of it; on some of which they landed. The

coast

coast was very barren, without wood or grass; and the rocks were like fine marble, full of veins of divers colours. Some days after they continued searching for the North-west passage, but found only a great number of islands. And, on the 20th, the wind coming contrary, they altered their course and design, and returning for England, arrived at Dartmouth the 29th of September.

Next year Mr. Davis undertook a second voyage, for discovering the North-west passage, being supported and encouraged again by secretary Walsingham, and other adventurers. With a view therefore of searching the bottom of the Straights he had been in the year before, he sailed from Dartmouth, May the 7th, 1586, with four ships, and the 15th of June discovered land in 60 degrees latitude, and 47 degrees longitude West from London. The ice along the coast reached in some places ten, in some twenty, and in others fifty leagues into the sea, so that, to avoid it, they were forced to bear into 57 degrees latitude. After many tempestuous storms, they made the land again, June the 29th, in 64 degrees of latitude, and 58 of longi. tude; and ran among the temperate islands they had been at the year before. But the water was so deep, they could not easily come to an anchor; yet they found means to go ashore, on some of the islands, where they were much caressed and wellcomed by the natives, who knew them again. Having finished a pinnace, which was to serve them for a front in their discoveries, they landed, not only in that, but also in their boats, in several places; and, upon the strictest search, found the land not to be a continent, as they imagined, but a collection of huge, waste, and desert isles, with great sounds and inlets passing between sea and sea. They pursued their voyage the 11th of July, and on the 17th, in 63 degrees 8 minutes latitude, met with a prodigious mass of ice, which they coasted till the 30th. This was a great obstacle and discouragement to them, not having the like there the year before; and, besides, the men beginning to grow sickly, the crew of one of the ships, on which he chiefly depended, forsook him, and resolved to proceed no farther. However, not to disappoint Mr. W. Sanderson, who was the chief adventurer in this voyage, and for fear of losing the favour of secretary Walsingham, who had this discovery much at heart, Mr. Davis undertook to proceed alone in his small bark of thirty tons. Having therefore fitted, and well-victualled it, in a harbour lying in 66 degrees 33 minutes latitude, and 70 degrees longitude, which he found to be a very hot place, and full of muscatoes, he set sail the 12th of August, and coming into a straight followed the course

of it for eighty leagues, till he came among many islands, where the water ebbed and flowed six fathom deep. He had hopes of finding a passage there, but upon searching farther in his boat, he perceived there was bone. He then returned again into the open sea, and kept coasting Southward as far as 54 degrees and a half of latitude; in which time he found another great inlet near forty leagues broad, between two lands, west, where the water ran in with great violence. This, he imagined was the passage so long sought for ; but the wind being then contrary, and two furious storms happening soon after, he neither thought it safe nor wise to proceed farther, especially in one small bark, and when the season was so far advanced. He, therefore, sailed for England the 11th of September; and arrived there the beginning of October. By the observations which he made, he concluded, that the North parts of America are all islands.

He made a third voyage to these parts again the year following, 1587. All the Western merchants, and most of those of London, refused to be engaged farther in the undertaking; but it was encouraged by the lord treasurer Burleigh and secretary Walsingham. Mr. Davis having, in his last voyage, discovered prodigious quantities of excellent cod-fish, in 56 degrees of latitude, two ships were sent along with him for fishing, and one only for the discovery of the North-west passage. They sailed from Dartmouth the 19th of May, and discovered land the 14th of June, at 16 leagues distance, but very mountainous, and covered with snow. Ou the 21st of June the two barks left him, and went upon the fishing, after having promised him, not to depart till his return to them about the end of August, yet having finished their voyage in about sixteen days after, they set sail for England without any regard to their promise. Captain Davis, in the mean time, pursued his intended discovery, in the sea between America and Greenland, from 64 to 73 de. grees of latitude. Having entered the Streights which bear his name, he went on Northward, from the 21st to the 30th of June; naming one part Merchants Coast; another, the London Coast; another, Hope Sanderson in 73 degrees latitude, being the farthest he went that day. The wind coming Northerly, he altered his course, and ran forty leagues West, without seeing any land. On the 2d of July, he fell in with a great bank of ice, which he coasted Southward till the 19th of July, when he came within sight of Mount Raleigh on the American coast, in about 67 degrees of latitude. Having sailed sixty leagues North-west into the gulf that lies beyond it, he anchored, July 23, at the bottom of that gulf, among many islands,

embody the vigour of manhood-others to trace the more careful forms of female loveliness-some to give the softness, the richness, the nature and substance of flesh-others to catch those splendid gleams of light, from Nature, which always surprise and please. The advantages which the Academy affords in the painting school also should be an additional spur to the advancement of the Student; for, not to mention the importance of the study of such examples of the great masters, in regard both to the choice and the treatment of a subject, the very presence of them should be some excitement to emulation, if the Student considers that he sits side by side, and studies, as it were, in company with those celebrated painters.

It was with sincere pleasure that the President noticed the continued and decided improvement of the Students of the antique-their sense of his Majesty's most gracious regard for the Royal Academy, in presenting them with so splendid a collection of antique models-many of them cast under the inspection of the greatest sculptor which ages have produced-and their veneration for those memorials of the taste of the best age of Greece, were fully proved, by the zeal and attention which their drawings display. He recommended to them strenuously to endeavour at a progressive improvement, and to remember the uncertain tenure by which all excellence is held. He trusted that the time would come, when, having accomplished the noblest ends of art, and their works being submitted to the inspection of men the most enlightened in understanding, most refined in taste, and profound in learning, of all Europe, it may with pride be acknowledged, that the basis of so magnificent a fabrick was laid under the auspices of Mr. Fuseli.

The President concluded, by expressing his earnest wishes for their prosperity and happiness.

HYDRAULIC RAM.

M. Godin, of Paris, has invented an hydraulic ram, of a construction so simple, that it may be easily worked by any village labourer. This invention applies to the watering of meadows, to the draining of marshes, and drawing water out of the earth, and raising it to considerable elevations. To those who wish to construct the machine on the spot, M. G. transmits instructions, accompanied with engravings, and also a small model in relievo, if desired.

DIVING MACHINE.

Some time ago it was announced in most of the Papers on the Continent, that Mr. Francis Farkas, an Hungarian, had GENT. MAG. December, 1820.

ΤΟ

invented a machine, named a Dolphin, by means of which a person may dive to the bottom of the deepest rivers, lakes, and the sea. The machine enables the diver to walk at his ease on the bottom, to work his hands and feet with freedom, and mount at pleasure, without any assistance, to the surface, or remain stationary in the middle of the water, or in any depth, and continue as long as he may wish, without the least interruption or effort. The object of this useful invention is to give prompt and effectual relief to vessels wrecked; to collect from the bottom, with greater facility, pearls, coral, and amber, and to aug. ment our fine collections of shells; also to raise from the cavities of the sea, treasures which perhaps are to us at present unknown. An experiment was made with this machine at Vienna on the 1st of October last, in the Military Swimming School at the Prater. Count Joseph Esterhazy de Galanthy, Count Fergas de Ghymes (Court Secretary), the acting Chamberlain Nemes Slagod, several learned Englishmen, and many persons of distinction were present. The servant of the inventor plunged with the Dolphin in twenty-four feet water, and walked upon the bottom over the whole square of the Swimming School. To prove that there could be no want of light, the inventor sent down a lanthorn, and when it was taken up again the light was still burning. -After the man bad remained one hour under water, be returned without the least assistance to the surface of the water, not because he wanted air, a thing which never occurs, but because the persons who were witnesses of the experiment declared they were perfectly satisfied, and requested that he might be directed to

come up.

INSTRUMENT FOR PERSPECTIVE DRAWINGS.

M. J. Auracher d'Aurach, Major General in the Austrian service, has invented a very ingenious instrument, which he calls a Quereographe, by means of which a person is able to draw in perspective with the greatest accuracy, and apply with the various tints according to the rules of chiaroscuro. In the first part of a work which he has published on the subject, he gives a description of the instrument, which is of very simple construction; in the second he shews its use, and how it is to be applied to every kind of perspective.

NEW PLOUGH.

A plough has been invented for tilling rough land, called a rid-plough. It is prevented from getting choaked up before and behind the coulter. The principal alteration is in the beam and coulter; and it is more easily guided and drawn than the common plough.

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