328 DISCOVERIES OF WALTER YOUNG. 1777. 



but it would appear from his journal, that no 

 regard whatever was paid to those instructions, 

 and no attempts made to push into Baffin's Bay. 



One circumstance of this voyage is worthy to 

 be remarked for the contrast it affords with that of 

 Pickersgill; by avoiding the shoals and islands 

 near the western coast of Greenland, Young 

 reached the latitude of 72° 42' N. so early as the 

 8th June; whereas Pickersgill got only to 68° 10' 

 so late as the 5th August. 



" It was natural to hope," says Dr. Douglas, 

 " that something would have been done in one or 

 other, or in both these voyages of the Lion, that 

 might have opened our views with regard to the 

 practicability of a passage from this side of Ame- 

 rica. But, unfortunately, the execution did not 

 answer the expectations conceived. Pickersgill, 

 who had acquired professional experience when 

 acting under Captain Cook, justly merited the 

 censure he received, for improper behaviour when 

 entrusted with command in Davis's Strait; and 

 the talents of Young, as it afterwards appeared, 

 were more adapted to contribute to the glory of a 

 victory,* as commander of a line of battle ship^ 

 than to add to geographical discoveries, by en- 

 countering mountains of ice, and exploring un- 

 known coasts."t 



* He died in the West Indies, when Captain of the Sandwich, 

 bearing the flag of Sir George Rodney, in May, 1781. 

 t Introduction to Cook's last Voyage, p. 40. 



