12 BOTANY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. HEKALD. 
satisfi(^a that the Old and the New World were disconnected. It was reserved for the 
iHustrious Cook to obtain the first view of the north-west coast, and to set the question 
finally at rest. In the hope of finding the North-west Passage, Cook in his last voyage sailed 
for Behring's Strait, discovered Cape Prince of Wales, and accurately detcmiiued the distance 
between Asia and America. Elated by success, he pushed forward, till, in latitude 70° 44' 
north, the packed ice stopped his progress. Hydrographical discoveries were not the only 
benefit resulting from the enterprise. Botany obtained its due share of attention. David 
Nelson, who, like Dr. Solander and Sir Joseph Banks on former occasions, accompanied 
the vessels, collected a number of plants, and thus laid the foundation of our present know- 
ledge of the Flora. A long interval succeeded before the vegetation was again investigated. 
In lbl6, however, Otho von Kotzcbuc, a Gennan, sailed in a Russian ship, 'The Rmick,' 
for Behring's Strait, and discovered the Sound since denominated after him. Chamisso, 
Chloris, and Eschscholtz accompanied the expedition, and by their exertions, especially by 
those of the former, the naturahst of the voyage, considerable collections of plants were made, 
in Kotzebue Sound and the adjacent coast, which afterwards were pubUshed by Chamisso 
and Schlechtendahl in various volumes of the ' Linnaea.' 
The discovery of the North-west Passage had lain dormant during the wars subsequent 
to the first French revolution. AYlien, however, peace had been established, and the 
agitation abated, the British Government despatched several expeditions to the Arctic regions, 
and it was in order to cooperate with one of them that, in 1826, H.M.S. Blossom appeared 
in Behring's Strait. Though the principal object of that vessel was frustrated, science was 
allowed to profit by the mission. An additional piece of coast was discovered, and Collie, 
the sm-gcon, as well as several other officers attached to the expedition, collected a number 
of plants, since made known by Sir William J. Hooker and Dr. Walker Arnott, in their great 
work, 'The Botany of H.M.S. Blossom.' 
Though the numerous attempts to discover the passage had failed, still hopes of ultimate 
success were entertained. In May, 1845, H.M.S. Erebus and Terror, under the command 
of Sir John Franklin, left England. After a reasonable time had elapsed, without the vessels 
retunuug, or any inteUigence of them rcacliing home, the Admiralty deemed it necessary to 
adopt measmes for their relief. In 1848, H.M.S. Enterprise and Investigator were sent to 
the eastern, H.M.S. Herald and Plover to the western side of America, to endeavour to 
discover traces of the lost voyagers. The author had the good fortmie to hold at the time 
the office of Naturalist of the Herald, and during 1848, 1849, and 1850, he took advantage 
of every opportunity to explore Norton Sound, Kotzebue Sound, the River Buckland, Cape 
Lisbume, Herald Island, Wainwriglit's Inlet, and other localities. The Florula of Western 
Eskimaux-land may be considered as the result of his labours, as well as a summary of all 
that which, in these parts, the zeal of Nelson, Collie, and Chamisso had collected, the leamin 
of Schlechtendahl, Hooker, and Arnott has elucidated. 
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