The North-West Passage, and the Plans for the Search for Sir John Franklin. A review

Front matter

THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. intent firookj-, LU ix Gramattislaiia. "'itakyHamL " Cape Spencer. * Xhf feaTO imthelowjomt. CajeHity Iiebus &. Terror JW thfi "Mater Quarters if Sir John feoiHin _ . 3am. a Sketch taken, Try JFR.M^CCWMICK.RJs Camrruxndmr} the, Boat JExpeeteum, -up Wdkngtxm/ Channel in Starch, of S-anMuu THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE, AXD THE PLANS FOR THE SEARCH FOE SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. % priefo : BY JOHN BROWN, F.R.G.S., FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ANTIQUARIES, COPENHAGEN, &C, &C, " A mighty maze ! but not without a plan."— Pope. " Here, on a single plank thrown safe ashore, I hear the tumult of the distant throng."— Young LONDON: PUBLISHED BY E. STANFORD, CHASING CEOSS. 1858. LONDON: J AND W RIDER, PRINTERS, 14, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE. TO THE PRESIDENT, SIR RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON, G.C.St.S., F.E.S., V.P.G.S., and L.S., Corr. 3s. Inst.

France, Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sec, Ssc, THE COUNCIL AND THE FELLOWS OP THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, THIS VOLUME IS EESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR.

Preface

. The renewal of the sad subject to which the following pages are devoted, may to some appear ungracious, and therefore unnecessary ; but while the lives of one hundred and thirty-five gallant Englishmen sent on a perilous service remain unac counted far, while the area to which they were specially directed is yet unsearched, the British nation's character for honour and humanity suffers. The fate of Sir Hugh Willoughby and his companions became known to us, because the scene of the melancholy catastrophe was within the range of his fellow man's haunts and wanderings ; but, unhappily, it is not so with Sir John Franklin and his associates — they are beyond com munication with the civilized world. Cut off from it, they can never be recovered, or the question of their existence set at rest, unless sought; happily, the area within which efforts may be concentrated is circumscribed, but renewed search is imperative.

To keep alive the recollection of the hapless, forlorn position of our missing countrymen is the primary object of this volume. With failure, notwithstanding the persevering efforts of our daring sailors, in the past ; we cannot think this appeal to the British nation, so renowned for its generous humanity, will be made in vain. CONTENTS.

PAGE Preface ..... vii Introduction ...... 1 Chapter I. — A Glance at the Origin of the Question of a North-West Passage — The Old Worthies by Sea and by Land . . . 4 — 15 Chapter II. — Attempts to get to the North of Hudson's Bay — Knight, Barlow, and Vaughan — Scroggs, Middleton — Hearne, Mackenzie — Phipps to reach the Pole — Cook and Clerke to get North-East from Behring's Strait — Pickersgill and Young to meet them by Davis's Strait — New Facts — Break up of the Ice on the East Coast of Greenland — Sir John Barrow — Captain Scoresby — Batch of Arctic Heroes . . . 15 — 18 Chapter IH. — Royal Geographical Society invites Opinions on the North-West Passage — Sir John Barrow's — Dr. Richardson's — Sir John Franklin's — The Hydrographer's — Sir John Ross's — The Terror Sails — Dease and Simpson — Sir R. I. Murchison— Sir John Barrow's Plan adopted — Remarks — The Erebus and Terror Commissioned — Sir John Franklin and Capt. Crozier, their Officers, &c. — The Expedition Sails, 1845 — The Plan Developed — Instructions — Reflections — The Americans — France — Russia — Our Sailors —The Search— Sir John Franklin — End of 1846 — Sir John Ross- Opinions asked for — Hudson's Bay Company — Remarks. . 19—62 Chapter IV. — Various Plans — Rewards — Admiral Beechey's Plans- — Dr. M'Cormick's — Notes, Fitzjames — Memorandum of Sir John Barrow — Sir J. C. Ross's Plans by Lancaster Sound, and by Behring's Strait — Notes, Fitzjames— 1847 ends. ..... 63—72 Chapter V. — Plover Sails for Behring's Strait, and Herald — Rumours from Peel's River — Sir John Richardson's Final Plan — Dr. King's Plan — Opinions on it — Remarks — Rewards — Lady Franklin to Mr. Barrow — Sir John Richardson and Dr. Rae start for the Mackenzie —Sir J. C. Ross and Capt. Bird — Instructions — The Enterprise and Investigator Sail — Remarks — Peel's River Report again— 1848 closes. . . . 73—89 Chapter VI. — Intelligence from Sir J. C. Ross — Opinions — North Star Sails — Lieutenant S. Osborn and the North-West Continent of America — Additional Rewards Offered by Government and Lady Franklin — Dr. M'Cormick's Plan of a Boat Expedition — Sir John Richardson's Beport — Sir John Ross— Pond's Bay Report and Sketch — Sir J. C. Ross's Unexpected Return Sir John Richardson Arrives — Dr, Rae left to renew Search of Wollaston and Victoria Lands — Sir F. Beaufort Proposes an Expedition by Behring's Strait — Opinions — Remarks — Hudson's Bay Company to renew Search — Dr. Rae — Mr. Christopher — Capt. Penny — Behring's Strait — 1849 ends. 90—110 Chapter VII. — New Year Sad but Active — New Plans — Dr. M'Cormick — X CONTENTS.

Lieutenant S. Osborn— Lady Franklin— Offers of Service from Capt. Reid, Rev. J. Wolff, R. A. Goodsir— Sir John Ross's Plan— Capt. Collinson and Commander M'Clure Sail for Behring's Strait— Instructions— " Observer "— Hydrographer's New Expedition to Barrow's Strait— Opinions — Hamilton, Parry, Sabine, Back, Beechey, Richardson — Remarks — Lady Franklin — Addi tional Offers of Search from W. P. Snow, John M'Lean, U.S. America, Lieu tenant S. Osborn — Remarks — Dr. Scoresby's Offers of Search from S. Russel Bartlett— Capt. W. F. Lynch, U.S.N.— Capt. Wilkes, U.S.N. 111—143 Chapter VEIL — Dr. King — Sir R. H. Inglis — Remarks — Lieutenant Pullen — Dr. Rae — Capt. Penny and Mr. Stewart Sail — Instructions — Remarks — Capts. Austin and Ommaney Sail — Instructions — Sir John Ross Sails — Mr. Grinnell — The American Expedition under Lieutenant de Haven Sails — Remarks — Prince Albert, Commander Forsyth, R.N., Sails — Esquimaux (Adam Beck's) Report — Prince Albert Returns — First Traces of Franklin at Point Riley and Beechey Island — Royal Geographical Society — Our Views — Remarks — Year 1850 closes. . . . 144 — 169 Chapter IX. — Plans — Admiral Taylor's — W. P. Snow's — Behring's Strait Expedition — Kellett and Moore — Reports — Lieutenant Pim — Collinson and M'Clure Sail for the North — Collinson compelled to Return — Prince Albert Sails under Mr. Kennedy and Lieutenant Bellot, F.I.N. — Instructions — Lieutenant Pullen and Mr. W. H. Hooper — Behring's Strait Squadron — Capt. Collinson — Lieutenant Barnard — Kindness of the Russian Authorities — Unexpected Arrival of Capts.

Austin and Ommaney, and of Capt. Penny and Mr. Stewart — Committee of Inquiry — Travelling Parties — Ommaney, S. Osborn, Browne, Aldrich, M'Clintock, &c. — Results — Remarks — Penny, Stewart, Sutherland, Goodsir, Marshall, &c. — Results — Remarks. 170 — 192 Chapter X. — Evidence before the Committee — Austin and Penny's Expedition — Report of Committee — Opinions Requested — Replies from Sir John Ross, Dr. Scoresby, Capts. Austin, Kellett, Ommaney, Sir John Richardson, and Capts. Penny and Stewart — Remarks — Sir John Ross Arrives — Commander Phillips — Adam Beck's Second Report— Remarks. . . 193 — 213 Chapter XI. — Sir J. C. Ross's Suggestions — Lieutenant Pim and the Kolyma — Polynia — Russian Government — A Balloon — Dr. Rae's Opinion — The American Expedition Returns — Fearful Drift in the Ice — Dr. Rae Examines Wollaston Land — Lieutenant W. H. Hooper's Plan — Dr. M'Cormick's — Mr. Roome's — Capt. R. Maguire's Plan — Commander Pullen's — Behring's Strait Squadron — Collinson, Moore, Wellesley — Death of Lieutenant Barnard — Collinson Sails for the North — Reflections — The Year 1851 ends. 214 — 233 Chapter XL* — Home Thoughts — Capt. Penny again Offers his Services — Capt. S. Osbom's New Plan — Sir John Ross's renewed Offer of Service — Adam Beck's Tales Resuscitated — Mr. D. Beatson's Plan, addressed to Sir R. I. Murchison, President of the Royal Geographical Society — Remarks — Mr. A. Petermann's Plan, via Novaia Zemlia — Bemarks — Capt. Wilkes, U.S. Navy, , Views on the Search — Two Ships Seen in the Ice off Newfoundland — The Admiralty direct Capt. Ommaney to Examine the Report — His Opinion — CONTENTS.

XI Dr. Rae Examines Victoria Land, and discovers Relics of Government Ships' Fittings — Remarks— Sir Edward Belcher and Capt. Kellett Sail for Barrow's Strait — Instructions — Remarks — Sir Edward Belcher takes the Wellington Channel and Capt. Kellett the Melville Island Route — Lieutenant W. H. Hooper's Plan — -Important Letter of Capt. Fitzjames — Reflections — Dr. Rae offers Suggestions — Commander Inglefield Sails for Smith's Sound — Commander H. Trollope offers Services, rid Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla — The Prince Albert, Kennedy and Bellot, Arrives — Their Report — Remarks — Capt. Ommaney offers Services to attempt to reach the North Pole — Com mander Inglefield returns — His Daring Voyage — Capt. Penny suggests Two Plans — Deer with Slit Ears at Spitzbergen. . . 234 — 272 Chapter XII. — Petermann's revised Plan — Observations thereon — Behring's Strait Searching Ships— Reflections on the Close of the Year 1852. 273—278 Chapter XTII. — New Year — State of Feeling — Kennedy's projected Expedition to Behring's Strait in the Isabel, but abandoned — Phœnix sails for Beechey Island — Additional Instructions to Sir Edward Belcher — Lieutenant Bellot, E.I.N. — Second American Expedition sails for Smith's Sound, under Dr. Kane — Basis of the Voyage — Remarks — W. Parker Snow's projected Expe dition from Melbourne to Behring's Strait abandoned — Phœnix returns — Capt. Inglefield's Despatches — Death of Lieutenant Bellot — Sir Edward Belcher's Despatches — Winters in Northumberland Sound — His Discoveries — Remarks — Report of his Travelling Parties — Commander Richards — Lieu tenant S.

Osborn — Assistance and Pioneer leave Northumberland Sound — Capt. Henry Kellett's Despatches — Winters at Dealy Island, Bridport Inlet — Preparations for Spring Journeys — Lieutenant Mecham discovers Commander M'Clure's Record at the Parry Sandstone, Melville Island — Lieutenant Pim crosses to Banks' Land — Finds Commander M'Clure and Investigator at the Bay of Mercy — Capt. Kellett despatches Travelling Parties — Their Routes — Lieutenant Pim returns with Commander M'Clure — Dr. Domville sent to Mercy Bay with Commander M'Clure, to hold Survey on Investigator's Crew Capt. Kellett's Hopes — His high Opinion of his Officers — His Buoyant, Generous Feelings. ..... 279—294 Chapter XIV. — Capt. M'Clure's Despatches — Point Warren — Prince of Wales' Strait — The North-West Passage Discovered — Winters, 1850-51, in Prince of Wales' Strait — His Searching Parties despatched — Their Routes and Results Xew Tribe of Esquimaux— Capt. M'Clure's Opinion as to the Missing Expedition — Returns to the South, and again to the North by the West Side of Baring Island — Terrific Navigation — Bay of Mercy— Winters there, 1851-52— Visits Melville Island— Detention— Intentions— Winters, 1852-53 His Observations — Remarks — Lieutenant Pim arrives on board the Investi- „ator Arrangements — Commander Pullen's Despatches — His Visit to Maxwell Bay — Dr. M'Cormick's Boat Party — Remarks — The Press at Home — Rumoured New Arctic Expedition — Exploration— Controversy— Inglefield, Petermann, and the late Admiral Beechey— Despatches from Behring's Strait Capt. Frederick — Commanders Maguire and Trollope— Reflections on the Close of the Year 1853 .... 295—323 CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. — Home— Hope Denied — Additional Instructions to Behring's Strait Squadron — Admiralty Notice to Remove the Names of Franklin and his Officers from the "Navy List"— Official Injustice — Their Names are Erased — House of Commons : Sir Thomas Acland and Sir James Graham — Remarks — The Phœnix again sails for Beechey Island — Additional Instructions to Sir Edward Belcher — Phœnix returns — Capt. Inglefield's Despatch — Ships abandoned — Sir Edward Belcher and Capt. Kellett, their Officers and Crews, return in the Phœnix and North Star — Sir Edward Belcher's Despatches — Western Entrance of Jones's Sound — Arthur's Strait — Buckingham ■ Island — His Opinion regarding the Franklin Expedition — Remarks — Assistance and Pioneer abandoned — Capt. Kellett's Despatches — Mercy Bay — Capt. M'Clure — Drs.

Armstrong and Domville — Investigator abandoned — Capt. Kellett's Travelling Parties — M'Clintock and De Bray — Mecham and Nares — Hamilton and M'Dougall — Results — Ships Blown out from Dealy Island — Winter in the Ice off Cape Cockburn — Mecham's Unprecedented Journey— Krabbe — Remarks — Dr. Rae — Esquimaux Report — Positive Traces of the Franklin Expedition — Party Perished — Where did that Party come from ? — Reflections — Peel Sound — New Strait — New Expedition — Anderson and Stewart — Behring's Strait — Intelligence — Capt. Collinson — His Despatches — His Travelling Parties — Further Traces — Remarks — The Year 1854 ends. ...... 324—389 Chapter XVI. — Reflections — Capt. Collinson Returns — Select Committee — Claims of Capts.

Kellett, Collinson, and M'Clure — Remarks — Who Discovered the North-West Passage ? — Dr. Kane Returns — His Report — Does a Polar Sea Exist ? — Esquimaux New Tribe — Scurvy — Advance abandoned — Arrive at Upernavik — Lieutenant Hartstein — Mr. Grinnell — Mr. Peabody — End of Year 1855. ..... 390 — 401 Chapter XVII. — New Year — Conjecture still Wandering — Anderson and Stewart Return — Their Report — Remarks — Reward Adjudicated to Dr. Rae — The Summary of Opinions — The only Conclusion from them— The South-West rejected, and the North adopted — The Result — Our Sailors — Arctic Authorities—Our Present Views as to the Course taken by the lost Navigators- Are there any Survivors ? .... 402 — 423 Chapter XVIII. — Has all been done that can be done ? — Dr, King's Plan — Mr. A. G. Findlay on the Ice-Bome Ships seen off Newfoundland — Capt. Becher, R.N. — Reflections on the Franklin Expedition — Lady Frankhn — Dr. Kane's Opinions —Capt. Richards' s, R.N., Plan — Sir R. I. Murchison — Memorial to Lord Palmerston — Lord Wrottesley — Lieutenant Pirn's Plan — Dr. King and Lieutenant Pirn's United Plan — Reflections on the Close of the Year 1856. 424—435 Chapter XIX. — The New Year— Renewed Hope— Dr. M'Cormick's Plan— Mr. Roebuck — Report— Mr. Napier — House of Commons — Government Decision — Sir R. I. Murchison and the Final Expedition — Capt. Allen Young — The Fox, Capt. M'Clintock, Sails— The Object of the Voyage — Last News Remarks — Conclusion. .... 436 — 444 Appendix — List of Works on Arctic Subjects — Index. . . 445 — ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS AND THEIR RESULTS.

Introduction

. The Arctic Circle is again left to its own gloom, silence, and dreary solitude. Of the well-equipped squadrons sent to the Arctic regions in search of Sir John Franklin and his gallant officers and crews, part have been abandoned, and the remainder have returned to England. Not a vestige or trace of the Erebus or Terror has rewarded the untiring perseverance of the searchers. "We know nothing of the Expedition since its departure from Beechey Island in 1846 ; the course it took, its movements, its fortunes, its position, or its fate, are wrapped in distressing, and seemingly impenetrable, mystery. The important fragments found in Parker Bay (1851), and brought home by the indefatigable Dr. Bae, notwithstanding their maritime origin and the British Government mark (aifording evidence of identity), offer no decided clue to the whereabouts of the missing expedition, neither do those obtained from the natives of Cambridge Bay (1852), nor the other articles picked up at the largest Finlayson Island (1853) by Captain Collinson, of H.M.S. Enterprise, all equally of naval source, and bearing the same indubitable stamp.

Even (and above all in interest) the still more positive and precious relics, including an Order, and various articles in sdver plate, &c, known as having belonged to Sir John Eranklin and other officers of this dl-fated expedition, — even these, with the calamitous report connected with them, obtained from the Esquimaux of Pelly Bay (1854), due also to the exertions of Dr. Rae ; — these all, sad memorials as they are, while they indicate significantly a probable locality for this anxiously and stedfastly sought for expedition ; while they reveal the too certain fact of a portion of the gallant officers and men of that expedition having perished under the most miserable circumstances, still they do not B INTRODUCTION". entirely solve the mystery; they tell us the sad tale of the whereabouts and fate of a part, but the welfare generally of the expedition, its weal or woe, its safety or its doom, remain as inexplicably dark as ever.

But of these important reliquiæ, more anon ; they involve inquiries too serious to be lightly passed over ; silent but significant is the tale they tell, involving important inferences, especially the earlier relics of Rae and Collinson, 1851-2 and 3, as to the direction in which we must look, if we would learn more of the position of the Expedition or its remains. We fear they have not obtained sufficient attention. Thus are we unhappily placed after six years of rigid search, con ducted, with rare exceptions, with an order, energy, and perseverance above all praise : still every exertion has failed to penetrate the gloomy mystery hanging over the fate of the lamented Eranklin and his gallant companions ; in vain have we tried to lift the awful veil : hidden from our eyes, he and they have become, and all that concerns them, their joys or their sorrows, as it were, a sealed book to us.

Still memory lingers fondly over them, recalls them in the past under a thousand forms, in scenes, happy scenes in years gone by, sees and follows them in the desolate region where science and honour had called them, and pauses, lingering, hoping that hope might arise, unwdling to forsake, and incredulous to believe that all are gone. She yet vivifies the dreary solitude with the animation of our ill starred countrymen ; she mourns a part as already lost, whose sufferings are with the past ; but she forbids the hasty assumption that all have perished ; — the inured manly form, the hardy youth in his beauty, these she conceives may yet live, harboured by the wdd Esquimaux, or, self-sustained, are acclimatized and supported by a more energetic, persevering skill, and a superior management. Thought, ever restless, would penetrate the future; she wails their long absence, and weighs the probabilities of support, of life, and of return.

To her, a small but bright ray yet exists, and hope is sustained by it ; for she doubts the power of the fell destroyer over the will of the strong man in his prime, the self-reliant, him to whom the life of the land and the sea are alike tributary. Thought, too, impatient of failure, scans the means adopted, and the causes that have led to such barren results ; she questions and doubts the judgment which has terminated in such lamentable want of success. " Turn, busy thought, turn from them:" but "thought repelled, resenting rallies," reasons, and questions, — All your efforts have failed to trace the absent ones, those so dear to our hearts : you directed their footsteps, have you followed after them ? Has all been done that can be done to restore

INTRODUCTION.

. the gallant Franklin and his devoted companions to their country and their home ? Having given the question of a North-West Passage, and the Arctic inquiries arising out of it, much and long consideration (since 1817), unbiassed by routine, and free to think, we are compelled to confess, however disinclined to differ from Arctic authorities, that while we admit the sincere desire on the part of those who planned the searching expeditions to advise and to act rightly, and cheerfully acknowledge the great zeal and merit of all the officers and crews of the searching squadrons, whether public or private, — for, with excep tions, they have nobly done their duty, — stdl we cannot bring our minds to think that all has been done that can be done, nor much less can we join with those who think we have sought the Erebus and Terror in the right direction : we do think, and have ever thought, that from the period (1850) when we rejected the search by the southern side of Barrow's Straits for the northern (in other words, departed from the tenor of the instructions given to Franklin on his departure in 1845), from that time we have been in pursuit of a myth.

Plainly to speak, we think that all search by the North, whether by the Wellington Channel, or Jones' or Smith's Sounds, has been so much precious time lost, so much suffering unnecessarily inflicted, and the valuable qualities for daring, endurance, &c, of our heroic officers and men unwisely trifled with. But unhappfly this is not the only source for deep regret ; who can say what this sad hallucination may not have led to ? One dares not contemplate the dreadful results of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow, on board the doomed Erebus and Terror! b2

Chapter I

A. GLANCE AT THE ORIGIN OF THE QUESTION OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. THE "OLD WORTHIES" BY SEA AND BT LAND, TO 1631. It is scarcely necessary to recapitulate in our day, when Arctic enterprise has been so much discussed, all the circumstances that gave rise to the long (more than three centuries and a half) much agitated question of a North-West Passage. The marvellous and brilliant discoveries made by Christopher Columbus in the West, and by Diaz and De Gama in the East,*>without doubt set men's minds pondering on acquisitions still to be gained, and on profitable specu lations yet to be hoped for. Columbus more particularly excited astonishment. Of him " there was great talke in all the Court of Henry VII.," " insomuch that all men with great admiration affirmed it to be a thing more divine than humane to sail by the West unto the East, where spices growe, by a way that was never knowen before."* The Cabotas were already here (Henry VII., 1496) ; men of great reputation.

" John Cabot, the father, who was very skilful in navigation and cosmography," conjectured, from the success of Columbus, " that there might probably be lands to be found out to the North-West." t These opinions at once obtained credit with the king and with the merchants. " The era was propitious to the< quick advancement of knowledge. The recent invention of the art of printing enabled men to communicate rapidly and extensively their ideas and discoveries." "Every step in advance was immediately and simultaneously and widely promulgated, recorded in a thousand forms, and fixed for ever. There could never again be a dark age. Nations might shut their eyes to the light, and sit in wilful darkness, but they could not trample it out ; it would still shine on, dispensed to happier parts of the world."

J John and Sebastian taught "by * Hakluyt, part.jii., p. 6 ; Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 87 ; Hakluyt Society's Vol., 1849 (by Rundall), p. 4. t Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 84. X Washington Irving's "Life and Voyages of Columbus" (Bohn), p. 29. BY SEA AND BY LAND. 5 reason of the sphere," "by way of the North-West," "a shorter track" "into India," and men "became excited," "by this Fame and Report," "to attempt some notable thing."* The Cabotas saw the material for maritime enterprise was there, but dormant, because the object on which to fix itself was wanting ; they saw daring, endurance, and perseverance around them, the elements (good raw material) required ; and the Cabotas, by their skill in cosmography and sea manship, soon furnished the object, and with it threw in their feeling, zeal, and adventurous enthusiasm.

No wonder, then, that an ardent desire should be kindled for the " Passage," which desire has con tinued in all its fulness to the present day. It may at times have been arrested, from causes arising out of various circumstances ; it may have been misdirected ; but though intermitted in its action, the desire has been persistent, and has endured, and will endure, untd discovery has no more "unknowen" regions to bestow — untd science has filled all the blanks in her round of inquiry — and untd the question of the "Passage" is absorbed in perfect knowledge. The love for enterprise is inherent in Englishmen ; it may be interrupted, but, because innate, it cannot be eradicated. The fruits soon followed ; for to John Cabot is due " that the American continent was first discovered, by an expedition commis sioned to " set up" the " banner of England.

"t To these men, then, may be attributed the glory of having raised the spirit of maritime discovery ; the first instalment of which was the " Londe and Isles" $ of continental North America. " For, though Columbus had found certain isles, it was 1498 before he saw the continent, which was a year after Cabot ; so that, in reality, the honour of this great discovery is as much, or more, due to the English nation than to the Spanish. Americus, from whom this whole continent has taken its name, only swept away the gleanings (if I may be allowed the expression) of these two great discoverers ; but Sebastian Cabot went further than all of them, for he saded to about 40° southward of the line, and to 67° towards the North." § We have dwelt with a lingering fondness on the memory and merits of the Cabotas, for they invoked the latent spirit of our beloved country : by them, the example they gave, and the knowledge * Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 87. + "Memoir of Cabot" (Biddle), the original patent, pp. 76 and 77.

J "Memoir of Cabot" (ibid.), p. 76. § See Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 88 ; the testimony of John Smith "author" of the "General History of Virginia." they bequeathed to us, has resulted the exalted position we hold ; by it Britain attained the high position in which it stands, the pride and yet the envy of the nations. They " gave a continent to England ; yet no one can point to the few feet of earth she has allowed them in return."* Alas! their deeds or their memories have had scarcely their meed of praise, scarcely justice. Thus from the Cabotas originated in England the first idea of a North-West Passage, and they were the first to show the way and practically to attempt to solve it. It seems that Henry VII. countenanced it, but it is doubt ful if he did more ; the first charter granted to the Cabotas says, " upon their own proper costs and charges ;"t but whether he aided in the fitting out of the first expedition or not is uncertain.

Be this as it may, the merchants were not slow to act on the suggestions of the Cabotas — "men of great wisdom and gravity;" they saw at once the great advantages that would accrue to themselves if, by any pro bability, the passage could be made. " Diuers marchants of London ventured in her (John Cabota's ship) small stockes," "and in the company of the said ship, sailed, also out of Bristow, three or foure small ships fraught with sleight and grosse merchandizes, &c, &c." J No doubt these "marchants" had already experienced the annoy ances and procrastination — may be, had been subjected to the imposi tions, the robberies, and the losses, arising from and besetting both the long and then only known routes to China, India, and the Spice Islands. They knew of the perils of the stormy cape (of Good Hope), and the hazardous nature of all transport by the Levant, both alike injurious to their interests.

Can we greatly wonder, then, that they should turn their minds to a shorter route and brighter prospects, and give their best energies to the North ? by which the Indies and Cathaio might be quicker reached, either by the " Londe and Isles" " of late found by the said John Kabatto" (Cabot) that is, by the West unto the East, " where spices growe, by a way that was never knowen before," § that is, by a North-West passage. Or, if by an easterly course along the northern coasts of Europe, attain the same object by a North-East passage. It has been charged to the old "marchants" that they were in- * "Memoir of Cabot" (Biddle), p. 223. -J* Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 85, quoting Hakluyt, part iii., p. 4. % See "Robert Fabian's Chronicle," Hakluyt Society's Vol., 1850 (Rundall), p. 23 ; and " Memohof Cabot" (Biddle), p. 43 ; and Lediard's " Naval History," vol. i., p. 88. § Hakluyt, part iii., p. 6; Lediard's "Naval History," vol. i., p. 87. fluenced solely by their covetousness, and were not wont to regard " vertue without sure, certaine, and present games;" and even the estimable Hakluyt, in his " Epistle Dedicatorie," seems led away by a simdar feeling : " Certes, if hetherto in our own discoueries we had not beene led with a preposterous desire of seeking rather gaine than God's glorie, I assure myself that our labours had taken farre better effecte." * This charge, to say the least of it, is not over just towards the "old worthies;" for do we not find the kings of "Spaine" and " Portugale" (in opposite directions) solely influenced by the desire to obtain the " wealth of Mangi, Cathay, and other provinces belong ing to the Grand Khan"? &c, "so that by" "the orient and Occident they haue compassed the worlde."