Letter 1

           ToMrs.Saville,England 

           St.Petersburgh,Dec.11th,17— 

           Youwillrejoicetohear thatnodisasterhasaccompaniedthecommencementofanenterprisewhichyouhaveregardedwithsuchevilforebodings. Iarrivedhereyesterday, andmyfirsttaskistoassuremydearsisterofmywelfare andincreasingconfidenceinthesuccessofmyundertaking. 

           IamalreadyfarnorthofLondon, andasIwalkinthestreetsofPetersburgh, Ifeelacoldnorthernbreezeplayuponmycheeks, whichbracesmynervesandfillsmewithdelight. Doyouunderstandthisfeeling? Thisbreeze,whichhastravelledfromtheregionstowardswhichIamadvancing,givesmeaforetasteofthoseicyclimes. Inspiritedbythiswindofpromise,mydaydreamsbecomemoreferventandvivid. Itryinvaintobepersuadedthatthepoleistheseatoffrostanddesolation; iteverpresentsitselftomyimaginationastheregionofbeautyanddelight. There,Margaret,thesunisforevervisible,itsbroaddiskjustskirtingthehorizonanddiffusingaperpetualsplendour. There—forwithyourleave,mysister,Iwillputsometrustinprecedingnavigators —theresnowandfrostarebanished;and,sailingoveracalmsea, wemaybewaftedtoalandsurpassinginwondersandinbeautyeveryregion hithertodiscoveredonthehabitableglobe. Itsproductionsandfeaturesmaybewithoutexample,asthephenomenaoftheheavenlybodiesundoubtedlyareinthoseundiscoveredsolitudes. Whatmaynotbeexpectedinacountryofeternallight? Imaytherediscoverthewondrouspowerwhichattractstheneedle andmayregulateathousandcelestialobservationsthatrequireonlythisvoyage torendertheirseemingeccentricitiesconsistentforever.