A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 227 



obtained. The ruffianly crew, with much difficult}', and in 

 the greatest hardship, endeavoured to return home, and one 

 only of the wretches survived their attempt to recount the 

 melancholy tale. Thus terminated the efforts of the un- 

 happy Hudson, a man in everj^ respect worthy of a better 

 fate. 



Captain Button was afterwards sent out in the year l6l2, 

 in hopes of recovering poor Hudson ; and after encounter- 

 ing great dangers in Hudson's Bay and Strait, having 

 been, on one occasion, intercepted in the strait by the 

 ice, he laj^ with his ship locked up for twenty Aveeks' con- 

 tinuance ; he at length succeeded in extricating- himself 

 from his perilous situation, and returned home in the 

 utmost disappointment, without hearing any tidings what- 

 ever of Captain Hudson, or having the least chance of 

 finding the north-west passage. 



Captain Gibbons made a similar attempt in l6l4, an 

 returned equally unsuccessful. 



In the year 1615, Captain Robert Bylot, an experienced 

 navigator, and one who was also well acquainted with the 

 causes of mischance in former expeditions, having sailed 

 with Hudson, Button, and Gibbons, was appointed to 

 make another trial for a north-west passage. 



Captain Bylot took Avith him the celebrated William 

 Baffin to act as pilot in the arctic seas, for Avhich duty 

 he was peculiarly qualified on account of his experience in 



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