12 INTRODUCTION. Chap. I. 



commanding officer is directed to cause constant 

 observations to be made for the advancement of 

 every branch of science — astronomy, navigation, 

 hydrography, meteorology, including electricity and 

 magnetism, and to make collections of subjects in 

 natural history, — in short, to lose no opportunity 

 of acquiring new and important information and 

 discovery; and when it is considered that these 

 voyages give employment to officers and men, in 

 time of peace, and produce officers and men not to 

 be surpassed, perhaps not equalled, in any other 

 branch of the service, the question cm bono is easily 

 answered in the words of the minister of Queen 

 Elizabeth — " Knowledge is Power," — the truth of 

 which was practically demonstrated to the grum- 

 blers of that day by the following results. 



Sir Humphry Gilbert, in consequence of his 

 grant of the island of Newfoundland, made a 

 voyage thither, on his return from which he nobly 

 perished ; but his knowledge did not perish with 

 him: it laid the foundation of that valuable cod- 

 fishery which still exists. Davis, by the discovery 

 of the strait that bears his name, opened the way 

 to the whale-fishery, which still continues to flou- 

 rish ; and Frobisher pointed out the strait which 

 conducted Hudson to the bay that bears his name, 

 and which gave rise to the establishment of a com- 

 pany of merchants, whose concerns are of such an 

 extensive nature, as to be carried on across the w hole 

 continent of America, and to the very shores of the 



