108 cook's VOYAGE TO NOV. 



length, both in distance and in time, and as a part 

 of it must be performed in the very depth of winter, 

 when gales of wind and bad weather must be ex- 

 pected, and may, possibly, occasion a separation, 

 you are to take all imaginable care to prevent this. 

 But if, notwithstanding all our endeavours to keep 

 company, you should be separated from me, you are 

 first to look for me where you last saw me. Not 

 seeing me in five days, you are to proceed (as directed 

 by the instructions of their lordships, a copy of which 

 you have already received) for the coast of New 

 Albion ; endeavouring to fall in with it in the lati- 

 tude of 45. 



" In that latitude, and at a convenient distance from 

 the land, you are to cruize for me ten days. Not 

 seeing me in that time, you are to put into the first 

 convenient port, in or to the north of that latitude, 

 to recruit your wood and water, and to procure re- 

 freshments. 



" During your stay in port, you are constantly to 

 keep a good look-out for me. It will be necessary, 

 therefore, to make choice of a station, situated as 

 near the sea-coast as is possible, the better to enable 

 you to see me, when I shall appear in the offing. 



" If I do not join you before the 1st of next April, 

 you are to put to sea, and proceed northward to the 

 latitude 56 ; in which latitude, and at a convenient 

 distance from the coast, never exceeding fifteen 

 leagues, you are to cruize for me till the 10th of 

 May. 



" Not seeing me in that time, you are to proceed 

 northward, and endeavour to find a passage into the 

 Atlantic Ocean, through Hudson's or Baffin's Bays, 

 as directed by the above mentioned instructions. 



" But if you should fail in finding a passage through 

 either of the said bays, or by any other way, as the 

 season of the year may render it unsafe for you to 

 remain in high latitudes, you are to repair to the 

 harbour of St. Peter and St. Paul, in Kamtschatka* 



