16 INSTRUCTIONS. 



winter on any part of the coast of Greenland, 

 Spitzbergen, Nova Zembla, or the adjacent 

 coasts, but to leave the ice about the middle, or 

 20th of September, or the 1st of October at 

 the latest, and make the best of your way to 

 the river Thames. 



Although the first and most important object 

 of this voyage, is the discovery of a passage 

 over, or as near the Pole as may be, and 

 through Behring's Strait, into the Pacific, it is 

 hoped that it may, at the same time, be like- 

 wise the means of improving the Geography 

 and Hydrography of the Arctic regions, of 

 which so little is hitherto known, and contri- 

 bute to the advancement of science and natural 

 knowledge. 



With this view, we have caused a great 

 variety of valuable instruments to be put on 

 board the ships under your orders, of which 

 you will be furnished with a list, and for the 

 return of which you will be held responsible; 

 and have also, at the recommendation of the 

 President and Council of the Royal Society, 

 ordered to be received on board the Dorothea, 

 Mr. Fisher, who is represented to us as a gen- 

 tleman well skilled in Astronomy, Natural His- 

 tory, and various branches of knowledge, to 

 assist you in making such observations as may 



