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VOYAGE TO THE TACIFIC OCEAN. S3 



" it necessary, and then proceed in as direct a course as 

 yon can to the coast of New Albion, endeavouring to fall in 

 with it in the latitude of 45 o' north; 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 

 M 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 friendship. 

 " 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 latitude 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 latitude of 65 , where we could wish you to 

 " arrive in the month of June next. When you get that 

 a length, you are very 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 informa- 

 tion 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 passage into the afore-men- 

 tioned bays, or either of them, you are, in such case, to use 

 your utmost endeavours to pass through with one or both 

 ' of the sloops, unless you shall be of opinion that the pas- 

 " 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, 

 VOL. v. D 



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