6 



INSTRUCTIONS 



by the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord 

 High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, &c. 



His Royal Highness the Prince Regent 

 having signified his pleasure to Viscount Mel- 

 ville that an attempt should be made to discover 

 a northern passage, by sea, from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific Ocean ; We have, in consequence 

 thereof, caused four ships or vessels to be fitted 

 out and appropriated for that purpose, two of 

 which, the Isabella and Alexander, are intended 

 to proceed together by the north-westward, and 

 through Davis' Straits ; and two, the Dorothea 

 and Trent, in a direction as due north as may 

 be practicable through the Spitzbergen sea. 



And whereas, we have thought fit to entrust 

 you with the command and direction of the latter 

 expedition, and have directed Lieutenant Frank- 

 lin, who has been appointed to command the 

 Trent, to follow your orders for his further pro- 



