304 DISCOVERIES OF 1773. 



the practicability of approaching the north pole, 

 the President and Council of that Society came to 

 the resolution of applying to the Earl of Sand- 

 Avich, then first Lord of the Admiralty, to obtain 

 his Majesty's sanction for an expedition to be 

 fitted out for the purpose of trying how far navi- 

 gation might be practicable towards the north pole. 

 This expedition his Majesty was pleased to direct 

 should be immediately undertaken, " with every 

 encouragement that could countenance such an 

 enterprize, and every assistance that could con- 

 tribute to its success." Two ships, the Racehorse 

 and the Carcass, bombs, as being the strongest, 

 were therefore fixed upon, as the most proper 

 for the purpose; the former having on board a 

 complement of ninety men, and the latter eighty, 

 with an additional number of officers. The com- 

 mand of the expedition was given to the Hon. 

 Captain Constantine John Phipps, (afterwards 

 Lord M nigra ve,) who embarked in the Racehorse, 

 and Captain Skeffington Lutwidge was ap- 

 pointed to the command of the Carcass. Two 

 masters of Greenland ships were employed as 

 pilots. Mr. Israel Lyons was recommended by 

 the Board of Longitude as astronomer ; and in- 

 struments of various kinds, of the best description 

 at that time in use, were sent on this interesting 

 voyage. 



The two ships sailed from the Nore on the 10th 

 June, 1773. On the 27th they had an observation 



