The sea is stated to be open, and always clear of ice, even in the middle of winter, on the northern part of Spitzbergen, which is situated in latitude eighty degrees north; and the further north the more clear it is of ice.[15] But, at the same season, on the southern parts of Spitzbergen, the sea is bound up with solid and compact ice. If the doctrine be true, that the earth is a solid spheroid, the cold must increase regularly as we approach the pole, and, consequently, vegetation invariably diminish: this, however, is ascertained not to be the fact. Nova-Zembla, which is situated in north latitude seventy-six degrees, produces no timber, nor even a blade of grass,[16] consequently, all the quadrupeds which frequent it, are foxes and bears; both carniverous animals. On the coast of Greenland, about latitude sixty-five and seventy degrees, neither timber nor grass grows;[17] while on the northern parts of Spitzbergen, they have rein-deer, which are often exceedingly fat; and Mr. Grey mentions three or four species of plants which grow and flower there, during the summer.[18] On any meridian passing through England, it is ascertained to be more temperate at the latitude of eighty degrees north, than at seventy-three degrees:[19] and both Pinkerton and Barrington inform us, that beyond the latitude of seventy-five degrees, the north winds are frequently warm in winter;[20] that in the middle of winter for several weeks, there falls almost continued rain; and that vegetables and animals are more abundant at the latitude of eighty degrees than at seventy-six degrees. It has long been observed that the climates vary very considerably on the same parallels of latitude. New York, which is situated in latitude 40 degrees, is known to be considerably colder in the winter than London, which is situated in latitude fifty-five degrees; and the parallel of latitude forty degrees on the plains of Missouri is much colder than the city of New-York. The climate at St. Peters, on the Mississippi, which is in latitude forty-six degrees, is said to be considerably colder than Quebec.[21] This difference of climate has, by some, been attempted to be accounted for, on the principle that land is colder than water, and that the cold is occasioned by the large portion of land in the continent of America: however, I submit to the consideration of the reader, whether so great a difference could arise from a cause of this nature.