16I0. HENRY HUDSON. 187 



HENRY HUDSON- -Fouvth Fot/age, 1610. 



Once more the public attention of the British 

 nation is again turned to tlie north-westward. 



Sir John Wolstenhohn, Sir Dudley Digges, and 

 some others, were so thoroughly persuaded of the 

 existence of a north-w^est passage, that they fitted 

 out a vessel at their own expense, and gave the 

 command of her to Henry Hudson, whose cha- 

 racter had long been established as an experienced 

 and enter prizing seaman. 



Of this voyage, which terminated so fatally to 

 the brave commander, we have only a very meagre 

 account, at least of that part of it which is said to 

 have been written by Hudson himself; enough, how- 

 ever, to shew that he passed through the strait into 

 the mediterranean sea, improperly enough called a 

 bay, both of which bear his name. The ship appro- 

 priated for this service was the Discovery, of 55 

 tons, victualled only, as it would appear, for six 

 months. She left the river on the 1 7th April, 1 6 1 0, 

 and on the 9th June arrived off the entrance of Fro- 

 bisher's Strait ; but, on account of the ice and con- 

 trary winds, was compelled tq ply to the w^estward 

 for nearly a month, when on the 6th July she reached 

 some rocks and islands, which Hudson named the 

 Isles of God's mercies. Still plying to the west- 

 ward, Hudson observed more land, in latitude 61** 

 g^', to which he gave the name of Hold with Hope, 



