A.D. 



1773. 



300 HON. CAPTAIN PHIPPS, 



Majesty George III, in whose memorable reign 

 the spirit of discovery reached a higher standard 

 than it had perhaps ever before attained, and 

 who was pleased to command that two ships 

 should be appropriated to this service, " with 

 every encouragement that could countenance 

 such an enterprise, and every assistance that 

 could contribute to its success." 



The Racehorse and Carcass bombs were ac- 

 cordingly ordered to be prepared, and the com- 

 mand of the expedition was given to the Hon. 

 Captain Constantine J. Phipps (afterwards Lord 

 Mulgrave), who hoisted his pendant in the 

 former, and Captain Skeffington Lutwidge was 

 appointed to the command of the latter. This 

 class of vessel was selected on account of the 

 comparatively superior strength and stowage of 

 the ships, a choice of which the judiciousness 

 has been fully confirmed by all the expeditions 

 which have been employed subsequently upon 

 a similar service. 



Nothing was spared that could render the 

 expedition effective, or that could tend to pro- 

 mote the health and comfort of the seamen 

 engaged in it, and prevent the occurrence of 

 that species of sickness which had heretofore 

 attended the lengthened voyages of almost all 

 their predecessors. The first expedition of 



