230 ATTEMPTS MADE TO DISCOVER 



from some great and vast ocean," alluding to the northern 

 Pacific. 



Captain James, of Bristol, sailed to Hudson's Bay the 

 same year as Captain Fox, and discovered several islands, 

 but was nearly shipwrecked in some shallow soundings, with 

 a rocky bottom, into which he had unexpectedly run. 

 His researches for the north-v/est passage were unsuc- 

 cessful. 



During the same year the Danish government sent out 

 a ship in the same pursuit, and the result was similar to 

 those already experienced. 



In l653, the Danes, unwilling to make a second expe- 

 riment in Hudson's Bay, projected a design of passing in 

 a north-east course, through the Waygate Strait, south of 

 Nova Zembla, and by that way to attempt a passage to 

 India. The obstructions they experienced from the ice 

 compelled them to abandon the undertaking, and they 

 were forced to return as unsuccessful as former adven- 

 turers. 



In the reign of Charles II. anno I676, the Duke of 

 York, afterwards James II., who was ever attentive to 

 maritime concerns, at the advice of Lord Berkeley, ordered 

 a ship to be fitted out, the command of which was given 

 to Captain Wood, who was directed to sail in company 

 with one of the King's ships, for the purpose of discovering 

 a north-east passage to India. But this, like former ex- 



