, of which only the extremities are annually broken off by
storms, consumed by the action of the sun, and regenerated in winter.
This opinion is the less exceptionable, since there seems to be no
absolute necessity for the existence of land towards the formation of
ice, and because we have little reason to suppose that there actually
is any land of considerable extent in the frigid zone."--G.F.

"Mr F. has most amply and ably discussed the point in his
observations, controverting unanswerably, as the writer thinks, the
opinion of Buffon and others, as to the existence of southern lands
being necessary for the production of such large masses of ice. The
limits of the present note preclude the insertion, in any satisfactory
shape, of the opposing arguments; but there is ground for anticipating
an opportunity of considering the subject, and some others of an
interesting nature, in a manner more suitable to their importance,
than a mere notice implies. We go on then with the narrative.--E.

[13] Captain Cook, from an excess of delicacy, rarely specifies his
personal sufferings; but one really requires to know something of
them, in order to make a proper estimate of his magnanimous resolution
in fulfilling his instructions, and to entertain a just conception of
the self-denial which such an expedition demanded. We shall be aided
by the following particulars, which, besides, imply the very extensive
distress of the whole crew: "A great number of our people were
afflicted with very severe rheumatic pains, which deprived them of the
use of their limbs; but their spirits were so low, that they had no
fever. Though the use of that excellent prophylactic, the sour krout,
prevented the appearance of the scurvy during all the cold weather,
yet, being made of cabbage, it is not so nutritive that we could live
upon it, without the assistance of biscuit and salt-beef. But the
former of these being rotten, and the other almost consumed by the
salt, it is obvious that no wholesome juices could be secreted from
thence, which might have kept the body strong and vigorous. Under
these difficulties all our patients recovered very slowly, having
nothing to restore their strength; and my father, who had been in
exquisite torments during the greatest part of our southern cruise,
was afflicted with toothaches, swe