Refolution.
Difcovery•
Picberfgill, we fee, was not to attempt the difcovery o f
the paffage. He was directed to explore the coafts of
Baffin’s Bay, with a view only to bring back, the fame
year, fome information, which might be an ufeful di-
reition toward planning an intended voyage into that
bay the enfuing fummer, to try for the difcovery of a
paffage on that fide, with a view to co-operate with Captain
Cook, who, it was fuppofed (from the tenor of his inftruc-
tions) would be trying for this pafiage, about the fame time,
from the oppofite fide of America.
Pickerfgill, obeying his inftruitions, at leaft in this in-
ftance, did return that year; but there were fufficient rea-
fons for not fending him out again ; and the command of
the next expedition into Baffin’s Bay was conferred on Lieutenant
Young; whofe Inftruitions, having an immediate
connection with our voyage, are here inferred.
EXTRACT of INSTRUCTIONS to Lieutenant
Y o u n g , commanding the L io n armed V e l f e l ,
dated 13th March 1777. *
r j / r llE R E A S , in purfuance of the King's pleafure, fignified to us ly the
Earl of Sandwich, his Majefty's Jloopi named in the margin have been
fent out under the command of Captain Cook, in order, during this and the
enfuing year, to attempt a difcovery of a Northern paffage, byfea, from the
Pacific fo the Atlantic Ocean -, and, for that purpofe, to run ftp as high as the
latitude of 65° North, 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 Jhall ' think proper, very carefully tofearchfor and explore fuch
rivers or inlets as may appear to be of a confidefable' extent,' an f pointing to
Hudfon s or Baffin s Bays, or the North Sea-, and, upon finding any paffage
• 4 - through,
through, fufficient for the purpofes of navigation, to attempt fuch paffage with
. one or both of the Jloops-, or, i f they are judged to be too large, with fmaller
veffels, the frames of which have been fent out with him for that purpofe:
And whereas, in purfuance of his Majefty’s further pleafure, fignified as afore- -
ffaid, the armed veffel under your command hath been fitted in order to proceed
to Baffin’s Bay, with a view to explore the Wefiern parts thereof and to endeavour
to find a paffage, on that fide, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean,
and we have thought fit to intruft you with the conduit of that voyage-, Tou
are therefore hereby required and directed to put to fea in the faid armed veffel,
without a moment's; lofsoftime, and make,the beft ofyour way into Biffin’s
Bay, and Jo ufe your beft endeavours to explore the Wefiern Jhores thereof, as
far as in your judgment the fame can be done, without apparent rifque, and to
examine fuch confiderable rivers or inlets as you may dijcover-, and, in cafe
you find any, "through which there may be a probability of paffing into the Pacific
Ocean, you are to attempt fuch paffage -, and i f you fucceed in the attempt,
and Jhall be able to repafs it again,'fo as to return to England this year, you
are to make the beft of your way to Spithead, or the Nore, and remain thereuntil
you receive further order-, fending us an account of your-arrival and pro- ■
ceedings. But ifyou Jhall fucceed in the attempt, and Jhallfind thefeafon I tor
fa r advanced for you to return the fame way, you are then to look out for the
moft convenient place to winter in, and to endeavour to return by the faid paffage
as- early in the next year, as the feafonwill admit, and then to make the
b’eft of your way to England, as above direbted.
In cafe,, however, you Jhould not find, or Jhould be fatisfied there is not any
probability of finding, any fuch paffage, or, finding it, youJhouldnot he, able tq
get through at the Pfffel you. command, you., are then to return. to England,' as
'before mentioned, unlefs you Jhall find any branch of the fea leading to the
Weftward which you Jhall judge likely 'to afford a communication between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and which you Jhall nob be able to explore in the -
courfe of Ms year, it being, in that cafe, left to your difcretion to ftay the
Winter in the moft commodious fituation you can find, in order to purfue the
difcovery next year, i f you Jhall find it advifable fo to do-, and, having-, dijcoveredfuch
paffage, or not fucceedff- in the attempt, you- are to make the- beft of '
your way to England, as-above direbted.
It