220 ATTEMPTS MADE TO DISCOVER 



further than the Bay of St. Lawrence, and, otherwise un- 

 successful, he returned home the same year. 



In the year 1536, the origin of the fishery on the 

 banks of Newfoundland arose from a voyage made from 

 Bristol, by Mr. Robert Thorne, a merchant of that place, 

 who, with the King's permission, which on such occasion 

 appeared indispensable, fitted out a ship at his own ex- 

 pense, and sailed to Newfoundland and Cape Breton, 

 discovering the very valuable fishery of Newfoundland on 

 his passage. By the discovery of Thorne, the naval and 

 commercial prosperity of England has been in a great 

 degree promoted, the fishery, from its justly estimated im- 

 portance, having down to the present day been firmly 

 maintained in British monopoly. Thorne made this great 

 discovery merely by accident, as his purpose on setting 

 sail was also to ascertain the possibility of a north-west 

 passage. 



In the last year of Edward VI. and whilst that pro- 

 mising young prince was confined to his death-bed by 

 sickness, an expedition was planned, under the command 

 of Sir Hugh Willoughby, to prosecute a voyage to China 

 by the north-east passage, if such could be ascertained. 

 For this purpose three ships were fitted out ; but from 

 the obstruction of the ice, though the ships set out in 

 May 20, 1553, Sir Hugh could advance only to the seventy- 

 second degree, and was there shut in, and obliged to 



