236 ATTEMPTS MADE TO DISCOVER 



frequently discussed, but never acted on until the year 1775, 

 when a voyage was undertaken at the request of the Royal 

 Society, to try how far navigation was practicable towards 

 the North Pole, and whether there existed a possibility of 

 discovering a passage to the East Indies, by any route 

 through those frozen regions. 



The late Lord Mulgrave, then the Hon. Capt. Phipps, 

 and Capt (afterwards Admiral) Lutwidge, received severally 

 the command of the Race Horse and Carcass bomb-ships, 

 to carry this attempt into execution. All the necessary 

 means for comfort and security were provided ; nor were 

 the concerns for scientific observation overlooked. 



On the 2d of June they sailed from the Nore, being- 

 directed to steer by a particular meridian, until the presence 

 of ice would make it necessary to alter their course to the 

 eastward, and proceeded with very little obstruction until 

 they reached above the eighty-first degree, where they were 

 driven by the pressure of the ice descending from the north- 

 ward, into a bay, and the ships were apparently locked up, 

 never again to be extricated. Every exertion was made to 

 free the ships, but in vain ; for after several days' inefiiectual 

 toil in that endeavour, the commanders came to the sad 

 resolution of abandoning them, in order to save the lives 

 of the men. The confusion attending such a resolution is 

 described as extreme, as each individual, anxious for his 



