238 ATTEIMPTS MADE TO DISCOVER 



than latitude 81° 36' N. somewhat less than Hudson had 

 gone before. 



Capt. Phipps having explored thus far, and being 

 satisfied that a passage by that way was impracticable, 

 determined to return home, and both ships arrived in the 

 month of October in the same year. 



In this manner ended the latest attempt, having for its 

 object the determination of a passage by the north seas 

 to the Pacific Ocean, each undoubtedly undertaken with 

 the most confident hope of success, in the assurance that 

 the errors of preceding trials would enable the successor 

 in the enterprise to avoid such, and consequently to attain 

 a point of such desirable importance. The motives which 

 put the adventurers into action were unquestionably fair 

 and praiseworthy, and no impartial mind should blame 

 their want of success. A cause wherein such men as 

 Mr. Briggs, Mr. Dobbs, and Mr. EUis voluntarily were 

 engaged must, from a consideration of their talents, be of 

 the highest respectability ; but, in the present, we have not 

 alone their valuable suffrage, but that of the whole nation, 

 and of the legislature, that the undertaking so long and 

 frequently attempted should not even yet be abandoned as 

 hopeless. 



Of the expedition now in contemplation, I must, in 

 truth, pretend ignorance regarding its object and arrange- 

 ment, except so far as the reports of the daily prints are 



