A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels Volume Xv Part 24

[Footnote 31: Cook's second Voyage.]

Thus far, therefore, the voyages to disclose new tracks of navigation, and to reform old defects in geography, appear to have been prosecuted with a satisfactory share of success. A perusal of the foregoing summary of what had been done, will enable every one to judge what was still wanting to complete the great plan of discovery. The southern hemisphere had, indeed, been repeatedly visited, and its utmost accessible extremities been surveyed. But much uncertainty, and, of course, great variety of opinion, subsisted, as to the navigable extremities of our own hemisphere; particularly as to the existence, or, at least, as to the practicability of a northern pa.s.sage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, either by sailing eastward, round Asia, or westward, round North America.

It was obvious, that if such a pa.s.sage could be effected, voyages to j.a.pan and China, and, indeed, to the East Indies in general, would be much shortened; and consequently become more profitable, than by making the tedious circuit of the Cape of Good Hope. Accordingly, it became a favourite object of the English to effectuate this, above two centuries ago; and (to say nothing of Cabot's original attempt, in 1497, which ended in the discovery of Newfoundland and the Labradore coast) from Frobisher's first voyage to find a western pa.s.sage, in 1576, to those of James and of Fox, in 1631, repeated trials had been made by our enterprising adventurers. But though farther knowledge of the northern extent of America was obtained in the course of these voyages, by the discovery of Hudson's and Baffin's Bays, the wished-for pa.s.sage, on that side, into the Pacific Ocean, was still unattained. Our countrymen, and the Dutch, were equally unsuccessful, in various attempts, to find this pa.s.sage in an eastern direction. Wood's failure, in 1676, seems to have closed the long list of unfortunate northern expeditions in that century; and the discovery, if not absolutely despaired of, by having been so often missed, ceased, for many years, to be sought for.

Mr Dobbs, a warm advocate for the probability of a north-west pa.s.sage through Hudson's Bay, in our own time, once more recalled the attention of this country to that undertaking; and, by his active zeal, and persevering solicitation, renewed the spirit of discovery. But it was renewed in vain. For Captain Middleton, sent out by government in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, by a private society, in 1746, though encouraged by an act of parliament pa.s.sed in the preceding year, that annexed a reward of twenty thousand pounds to the discovery of a pa.s.sage, returned from Hudson's Bay with reports of their proceedings, that left the accomplishment of this favourite object at as great a distance as ever.

When researches of this kind, no longer left to the solicitation of an individual, or to the subscriptions of private adventurers, became cherished by the royal attention, in the present reign, and warmly promoted by the minister at the head of the naval department, it was impossible, while so much was done toward exploring the remotest corners of the southern hemisphere, that the northern pa.s.sage should not be attempted. Accordingly, while Captain Cook was prosecuting his voyage toward the South Pole in 1773, Lord Mulgrave sailed with two s.h.i.+ps, _to determine how far navigation was practicable toward the North Pole_. And though his lords.h.i.+p met with the same insuperable bar to his progress which former navigators had experienced, the hopes of opening a communication between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by a northerly course, were not abandoned; and a voyage for that purpose was ordered to be undertaken.[32]

[Footnote 32: Dr Douglas refers to the introduction to Lord Mulgrave's Journal for a history of former attempts to sail toward the North Pole; and to Barrington's Miscellanies for several instances of s.h.i.+ps reaching very high north lat.i.tudes.--E.]

The operations proposed to be pursued were so new, so extensive, and so various, that the skill and experience of Captain Cook, it was thought, would be requisite to conduct them. Without being liable to any charge of want of zeal for the public service, he might have pa.s.sed the rest of his days in the command to which he had been appointed in Greenwich Hospital, there to enjoy the fame he had dearly earned in two circ.u.mnavigations of the world. But he cheerfully relinquished this honourable station at home; and, happy that the Earl of Sandwich had not cast his eye upon any other commander, engaged in the conduct of the expedition, the history of which is now given, an expedition that would expose him to the toils and perils of a third circ.u.mnavigation, by a track hitherto unattempted.[33] Every former navigator round the globe had made his pa.s.sage home to Europe by the Cape of Good Hope; the arduous task was now a.s.signed to Captain Cook of attempting it, by reaching the high northern lat.i.tudes between Asia and America. So that the usual plan of discovery was reversed; and, instead of a pa.s.sage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, one from the latter into the former was to be tried. For it was wisely foreseen, that whatever openings or inlets there might be on the east side of America, which lie in a direction that could give any hopes of a pa.s.sage, the ultimate success of it would still depend upon there being an open sea between the west side of that continent and the extremities of Asia. Captain Cook, therefore, was ordered to proceed into the Pacific Ocean, through the chain of his new islands in the southern tropic; and, having crossed the equator into its northern parts, then to hold such a course as might probably fix many interesting points in geography, and produce intermediate discoveries, in his progress northward to the princ.i.p.al scene of his operations.

[Footnote 33: It is due to history, and to the character of Cook, to mention a circ.u.mstance respecting his appointment to this expedition, which strikingly proves the high opinion entertained of his abilities for it, and, at the same time, his zeal for the promotion of useful discoveries, and the prosperity of his country. This is done from the information of Lord Sandwich, as communicated in the memoir of Cook inserted in the Biog. Brit. When the enterprise was determined on, it became of extreme consequence to select a proper person to undertake the execution of it. Captain Cook most naturally obtained this respect; and at once, without the possibility of rivals.h.i.+p, would have been appointed to the command, did not a conviction and feeling of sympathy for his former sufferings and important services, restrain his warmest friends from the slightest expression of what they unanimously desired.

Concealing, therefore, their opinion, and avoiding every thing of the nature of solicitation, they, nevertheless, thought it advisable to consult his well-informed judgment relative to the nature of the undertaking, and the person most likely to perform it. For this purpose, Captain Cook, Sir Hugh Palliser, and Mr Stephens, were invited to dine with Lord Sandwich, when the whole affair was discussed. The representation of its magnitude, and beneficial consequences, roused the enthusiasm of the navigator; and starting up, he declared that he himself would undertake its accomplishment. This magnanimous resolution was joyfully received, and could not fail to produce the most sanguine hopes of at least an honourable, if not a successful, issue. His appointment was immediately made out; and it was agreed, that on returning to England, he should have his situation at Greenwich restored.--E.]

But the plan of the voyage, and the various objects it embraced, will best appear from the instructions under which Captain Cook sailed; and the insertion of them here, will convey such authentic information as may enable the reader to judge with precision how far they have been carried into execution.

By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland, &c.

_Secret Instructions for Captain James Cook, Commander of his Majesty's Sloop the Resolution_.

Whereas the Earl of Sandwich has signified to us his majesty's pleasure, that an attempt should be made to find out a northern pa.s.sage by sea from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean; and whereas we have, in pursuance thereof, caused his majesty's sloops Resolution and Discovery to be fitted, in all respects, proper to proceed upon a voyage for the purpose above-mentioned, and, from the experience we have had of your abilities and good conduct in your late voyages, have thought fit to entrust you with the conduct of the present intended voyage, and with that view appointed you to command the first-mentioned sloop, and directed Captain Clerke, who commands the other, to follow your orders for his further proceedings. You are hereby required and directed to proceed with the said two sloops directly to the Cape of Good Hope, unless you shall judge it necessary to stop at Madeira, the Cape de Verd or Canary Islands, to take in wine for the use of their companies; in which case you are at liberty to do so, taking care to remain there no longer than may be necessary for that purpose.

On your arrival at the Cape of Good Hope, you are to refresh the sloops'

companies, and to cause the sloops to be supplied with as much provisions and water as they can conveniently stow.

You are, if possible, to leave the Cape of Good Hope by the end of October, or the beginning of November next, and proceed to the southward, in search of some islands said to have been lately seen by the French, in the lat.i.tude 48 0' S., and about the meridian of Mauritius. In case you find those islands, you are to examine them thoroughly for a good harbour; and, upon discovering one, make the necessary observations to facilitate the finding it again, as a good port, in that situation, may hereafter prove very useful, although it should afford little or nothing more than shelter, wood, and water. You are not, however, to spend too much time in looking out for those islands, or in the examination of them, if found, but proceed to Otaheite, or the Society Isles, (touching at New Zealand in your way thither, if you should judge it necessary and convenient,) and taking care to arrive there time enough to admit of your giving the sloops'

companies the refreshment they may stand in need of, before you prosecute the farther object of these instructions.

Upon your arrival at Otaheite, or the Society Isles, you are to land Omiah at such of them as he may choose, and to leave him there.

You are to distribute among the chiefs of those islands such part of the presents with which you have been supplied, as you shall judge proper, reserving the remainder to distribute among the natives of the countries you may discover in the northern hemisphere. And having refreshed the people belonging to the sloops under your command, and taken on board such wood and water as they may respectively stand in need of, you are to leave those islands in the beginning of February, or sooner if you shall judge it necessary, and then proceed in as direct a course as you can to the coast of New Albion, endeavouring to fall in with it in the lat.i.tude of 45 0' N.; and taking care, in your way thither, not to lose any time in search of new lands, or to stop at any you may fall in with, unless you find it necessary to recruit your wood and water.

You are also, in your way thither, strictly enjoined not to touch upon any part of the Spanish dominions on the western continent of America, unless driven thither by some unavoidable accident; in which case you are to stay no longer there than shall be absolutely necessary, and to be very careful not to give any umbrage or offence to any of the inhabitants or subjects of his catholic majesty. And if, in your farther progress to the northward, as hereafter directed, you find any subjects of any European prince or state upon any part of the coast you may think proper to visit, you are not to disturb them, or give them any just cause of offence, but, on the contrary, to treat them with civility and friends.h.i.+p.

Upon your arrival on the coast of New Albion, you are to put into the first convenient port to recruit your wood and water, and procure refreshments, and then to proceed northward along the coast as far as the lat.i.tude of 65, or farther, if you are not obstructed by lands or ice, taking care not to lose any time in exploring rivers or inlets, or upon any other account, until you get into the before-mentioned lat.i.tude of 65, where we could wish you to arrive in the month of June next.

When you get that length, you are carefully to search for, and to explore, such rivers or inlets as may appear to be of a considerable extent, and pointing towards Hudson's or Baffin's Bays; and if, from your own observations, or from any information you may receive from the natives, (who, there is reason to believe, are the same race of people, and speak the same language, of which you are furnished with a vocabulary, as the Esquimaux,) there shall appear to be a certainty, or even a probability, of a water pa.s.sage into the afore-mentioned bays, or either of them, you are, in such case, to use your utmost endeavours to pa.s.s through with one or both of the sloops, unless you shall be of opinion that the pa.s.sage may be effected with more certainty, or with greater probability, by smaller vessels; in which case you are to set up the frames of one or both the small vessels with which you are provided, and, when they are put together, and are properly fitted, stored, and victualled, you are to dispatch one or both of them, under the care of proper officers, with a sufficient number of petty officers, men, and boats, in order to attempt the said pa.s.sage, with such instructions for their rejoining you, if they should fail, or for their farther proceedings, if they should succeed in the attempt, as you shall judge most proper. But, nevertheless, if you shall find it more eligible to pursue any other measures than those above pointed out, in order to make a discovery of the beforementioned pa.s.sage, (if any such there be,) you are at liberty, and we leave it to your discretion, to pursue such measures accordingly.

In case you shall be satisfied that there is no pa.s.sage through to the above-mentioned bays, sufficient for the purposes of navigation, you are, at the proper season of the year, to repair to the port of St Peter and St Paul in Kamtschatka, or wherever else you shall judge more proper, in order to refresh your people and pa.s.s the winter; and, in the spring of the ensuing year 1778 to proceed from thence to the northward, as far as, in your prudence, you may think proper, in further search of a N.E. or N.W. pa.s.sage from the Pacific Ocean into the Atlantic Ocean, or the North Sea; and if, from your own observation, or any information you may receive, there shall appear to be a probability of such a pa.s.sage, you are to proceed as above directed: and having discovered such pa.s.sage, or failed in the attempt, make the best of your way back to England, by such route as you may think best for the improvement of geography and navigation, repairing to Spithead with both sloops, where they are to remain till further order.

At whatever places you may touch in the course of your voyage, where accurate observations of the nature hereafter mentioned have not already been made, you are, as far as your time will allow, very carefully to observe the true situation of such places, both in lat.i.tude and longitude; the variation of the needle; bearings of head-lands; height, direction, and course of the tides and currents; depths and soundings of the sea; shoals, rocks, &c.; and also to survey, make charts, and take views of such bays, harbours, and different parts of the coast, and to make such notations thereon as may be useful either to navigation or commerce. You are also carefully to observe the nature of the soil, and the produce thereof; the animals and fowls that inhabit or frequent it; the fishes that are to be found in the rivers or upon the coast, and in what plenty; and, in case there are any peculiar to such places, to describe them as minutely, and to make as accurate drawings of them, as you can; and, if you find any metals, minerals, or valuable stones, or any extraneous fossils, you are to bring home specimens of each, as also of the seeds of such trees, shrubs, plants, fruits, and grains, peculiar to those places, as you may be able to collect, and to transmit them to our secretary, that proper examination and experiments may be made of them. Yon are likewise to observe the genius, temper, disposition, and number of the natives and inhabitants, where you find any; and to endeavour, by all proper means, to cultivate a friends.h.i.+p with them, making them presents of such trinkets as you may have on board, and they may like best, inviting them to traffic, and shewing them every kind of civility and regard; but taking care, nevertheless, not to suffer yourself to be surprised by them, but to be always on your guard against any accidents.

You are also, with the consent of the natives, to take possession, in the name of the King of Great Britain, of convenient situations in such countries as you may discover, that have not already been discovered or visited by any other European power, and to distribute among the inhabitants such things as will remain as traces and testimonies of your having been there; but if you find the countries so discovered are uninhabited, you are to take possession of them for his majesty, by setting up proper marks and inscriptions, as first discoverers and possessors.

But forasmuch as, in undertakings of this nature, several emergencies may arise not to be foreseen, and therefore not particularly to be provided for by instructions before-hand, you are, in all such cases, to proceed as you shall judge most advantageous to the service on which you are employed.

You are, by all opportunities, to send to our secretary, for our information, accounts of your proceedings, and copies of the surveys and drawings you shall have made; and upon your arrival in England, you are immediately to repair to this office, in order to lay before us a full account of your proceedings in the whole course of your voyage, taking care, before you leave the sloop, to demand from the officers and petty officers the log-books and journals they may have kept, and to seal them up for inspection; and enjoining them, and the whole crew, not to divulge where they have been, until they shall have permission so to do: And you are to direct Captain Clerke to do the same, with respect to the officers, petty officers, and crew of the Discovery.

If any accident should happen to the Resolution in the course of the voyage, so as to disable her from proceeding any farther, you are, in such case, to remove yourself and her crew into the Discovery, and to prosecute your voyage in her; her commander being hereby strictly required to receive you on board, and to obey your orders, the same, in every respect, as when you were actually on board the Resolution. And, in case of your inability, by sickness or otherwise, to carry these instructions into execution, you are to be careful to leave them with the next officer in command, who is hereby required to execute them in the best manner he can.

Given under our hands the 6th day of July, 1776,

SANDWICH, C. SPENCER, H. PALLISER.

By command of their lords.h.i.+ps,

PH. STEPHENS.

Besides ordering Captain Cook to sail on this important voyage, government, in earnest about the object of it, adopted a measure, which, while it could not but have a powerful operation on the crews of the Resolution and Discovery, by adding the motives of interest to the obligations of duty, at the same time encouraged all his majesty's subjects to engage in attempts toward the proposed discovery. By the act of parliament, pa.s.sed in 1745,[34] a reward of twenty thousand pounds had been held out. But it had been held out only to the s.h.i.+ps belonging to any of his majesty's subjects, exclusive of his majesty's own s.h.i.+ps.

The act had a still more capital defect. It held out this reward only to such s.h.i.+ps as should discover a pa.s.sage through Hudson's Bay; and, as we shall soon take occasion to explain, it was, by this time, pretty certain that no such pa.s.sage existed within those limits. Effectual care was taken to remedy both these defects by pa.s.sing a new law; which, after reciting the provisions of the former, proceeds as follows:--"And whereas many advantages, both to commerce and science, may be also expected from the discovery of any northern pa.s.sage for vessels by sea, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, be it enacted, That if any s.h.i.+p belonging to any of his majesty's subjects, or to his majesty, shall find out, and sail through, any pa.s.sage by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in any direction, or parallel of the northern hemisphere, to the northward of the 52 of northern lat.i.tude, the owners of such s.h.i.+ps, if belonging to any of his majesty's subjects, or the commander, officers, and seamen of such s.h.i.+p belonging to his majesty, shall receive, as a reward for such discovery, the sum of twenty thousand pounds.

[Footnote 34: See the Statutes at Large, 18 George II. chap. 17.]

"And whereas s.h.i.+ps employed, both in the Spitzbergen Seas, and in Davis's Straits, have frequent opportunities of approaching the North Pole, though they have not time, during the course of one summer, to penetrate into the Pacific Ocean; and whereas such approaches may greatly tend to the discovery of a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as be attended with many advantages to commerce and science, &c. be it enacted, That if any s.h.i.+p shall approach to within 1 of the North Pole, the owner, &c. or commander, &c. so approaching, shall receive, as a reward for such first approach, the sum of five thousand pounds."[35]

[Footnote 35: See the Statutes at Large, 1776, 16 George III. chap. 6.]

That nothing might be omitted that could facilitate the success of Captain Cook's expedition, some time before he sailed, in the beginning of the summer of 1776, Lieutenant Pickersgill, appointed commander of his majesty's armed brig the Lion, was ordered "to proceed to Davis's Straits, for the protection of the British whale fishers;" and that first object being secured, "he was then required and directed to proceed up Baffin's Bay, and explore the coasts thereof, as far as in his judgment the same could be done without apparent risk, taking care to leave the above-mentioned bay so timely as to secure his return to England in the fall of the year;" and it was farther enjoined to him, "to make nautical remarks of every kind, and to employ Mr Lane (master of the vessel under his command) in surveying, making charts, and taking views of the several bays, harbours, and different parts of the coast which he might visit, and in making such notations thereon as might be useful to geography and navigation."[36]

[Footnote 36: From his MS. Instructions, dated May 14, 1776.]

Pickersgill, we see, was not to attempt the discovery of the pa.s.sage. He was directed to explore the coasts of Baffin's Bay, only to enable him to bring back, the same year, some information, which might be an useful direction toward planning an intended voyage into that bay the ensuing summer, to try for the discovery of a pa.s.sage on that side, with a view to co-operate with Captain Cook; who, it was supposed, (from the tenor of his instructions,) would be trying for this pa.s.sage, about the same time, from the opposite side of America.

Pickersgill, obeying his instructions, at least in this instance, did return that year, but there were sufficient reasons for not sending him out again, and the command of the next expedition into Baffin's Bay was conferred on Lieutenant Young; whose instructions, having an immediate connection with our voyage, are here inserted.

_Extract of Instructions to Lieutenant Young, commanding the Lion Armed Vessel, dated 13th March, 1777_.

Resolution.} Whereas, in pursuance of the king's pleasure, Discovery } signified to us by the Earl of Sandwich, his majesty's sloops named in the margin have been sent out under the command of Captain Cook, in order, during this and the ensuing year, to attempt a discovery of a northern pa.s.sage, by sea, from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean; and, for that purpose, to run up as high as the lat.i.tude of 65 N., where it is hoped he will be able to arrive in the month of June next; and there, and as much further to the northward as in his prudence he shall think proper, very carefully to search for and explore such rivers, or inlets, as may appear to be of a considerable extent, and pointing to Hudson's or Baffin's Bays, or the north sea; and, upon finding any pa.s.sage through, sufficient for the purposes of navigation, to attempt such pa.s.sage with one or both of the sloops; or, if they are judged to be too large, with smaller vessels, the frames of which have been sent out with him for that purpose: And whereas, in pursuance of his majesty's further pleasure, signified as aforesaid, the armed vessel under your command hath been fitted in order to proceed to Baffin's Bay, with a view to explore the western parts thereof, and to endeavour to find a pa.s.sage on that side, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, and we have thought fit to intrust you with the conduct of that voyage; you are therefore hereby required and directed to put to sea in the said armed vessel, without a moment's loss of time, and make the best of your way into Baffin's Bay, and to use your best endeavours to explore the western sh.o.r.es thereof, as far as in your judgment the same can be done, without apparent risk, and to examine such considerable rivers or inlets as you may discover; and in case you find any, through which there may be a probability of pa.s.sing into the Pacific ocean, you are to attempt such pa.s.sage; and if you succeed in the attempt, and shall be able to repa.s.s it again, so as to return to England this year, you are to make the best of your way to Spithead, or the Nore, and remain there until you receive further order; sending us an account of your arrival and proceedings. But if you shall succeed in the attempt, and shall find the season too far advanced for you to return the same way, you are then to look out for the most convenient place to winter in, and to endeavour to return by the said pa.s.sage as early in the next year as the season will admit, and then to make the best of your way to England, as above directed.

In case, however, you should not find, or should be satisfied there is not any probability of finding any such pa.s.sage, or, finding it, you should not be able to get through in the vessel you command, you are then to return to England, as before-mentioned, unless you shall find any branch of the sea leading to the westward which you shall judge likely to afford a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and which you shall not be able to explore in the course of this year, it being, in that case, left to your discretion to stay the winter in the most commodious situation you can find, in order to pursue the discovery next year, if you shall find it advisable so to do; and, having discovered such pa.s.sage, or not succeeded in the attempt, you are to make the best of your way to England, as above directed.

It was natural to hope, that something would have been done in one or other, or in both these voyages of the Lion, that might have opened our views with regard to the practicability of a pa.s.sage from this side of America. But, unfortunately, the execution did not answer the expectations conceived. Pickersgill, who had acquired professional experience when acting under Captain Cook, justly merited the censure he received, for improper behaviour when intrusted with command in Davis's Strait; and the talents of Young, as it afterward appeared, were more adapted to contribute to the glory of a victory, as commander of a line of battle-s.h.i.+p, than to add to geographical discoveries, by encountering mountains of ice, and exploring unknown coasts.[37]

[Footnote 37: In the Philosophical Transactions, vol. lxviii. p, 1057, we have the track of Pickersgill's voyage, which, probably, may be of use to our Greenland s.h.i.+ps, as it contains many observations for fixing the longitude and lat.i.tude of the coasts in Davis's Strait. But it appears that he never entered Baffin's Bay, the highest northern lat.i.tude to which he advanced being 68 14'. As to Young's proceedings, having failed absolutely in making any discovery, it is of less consequence, that no communication of his journal could be procured.--D.]