EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC. 93 



The g-reat uavigator Heury Hudsou was engaged by the Muscovy Compauy. This 

 commander made voyages in 160*7, 1008 and 1609. In the latter year, when exploring 

 the coast of North America for the Dutch East India Compauy, he ascended the river 

 Hudson. In 1610 he discovered the great inland sea which bears his name ; it may 

 well be imagined that on entering on its vast expanse, he felt satisfied that the Pacific 

 Ocean lay before him, and that the problem of a western passage, which had baffled so 

 many, had at length been solved. The illustrious captain never left Hudsou Bay. After 

 wintering there he perished miseral)ly on July 22nd, 1011, at the hands of his mutinous 

 crew. 



In 1612, the Merchant Adventurers of Loudon sent out Sir Thomas Button in com- 

 mand of two ships, to follow up the discoveries of Hudson ; during the following year 

 he continued the examination of the new-found inland sea 



In 1614, Captain Gibbon was despatched on a similar expedition of discovery, but 

 with unimportant results. In 1615 and IGIC, Robert Bytot and William Bathn continued 

 the explorations, examining the coasts of Hudsou Strait and of the great channel which 

 has since been known as Baffin Bay. 



In 1619, Denmark again entered the field of discovery. In that year Christian IV 

 sent out two well equipped ships commanded by Ji'us Munk. Munk traversed Davis 

 Strait, but failing to find the desired opening to the west, he struck southward to 

 Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay. He wintered at Chesterfield Inlet, the crew enduring- 

 great suffering, so that, when summer returned, oiit of sixty-five souls, only three survived 

 to make a perilous voyage homeward. 



Two expeditions left England in 1631, under Luke Fox and Captain James ; the latter 

 wintered in the ice, near Charlton Island, in the southern extremity of James Bay, and 

 returned to England in the October following. Neither of these expeditions discovered a 

 single indication that the desired passage to the west was obtainable. 



In 16^0, the Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated and undertook various voyages 

 having in view the discovery of the north-west passage to the Pacific Ocean. The first 

 was undertaken in 1718 by Mr. Knight, governor at Nelson River ; the two ships engaged 

 were lost and the crews perished. A search was sent out for the missing ships. The 

 officer in charge, Mr. John Scroggs, upon his return, reported confidently that a passage 

 to the Pacific could be found. 



(5) Expeditions of Discoverij in flie Eighteenth Centurij. 



In 1142, the British Government having obtained from the officers of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company information which was regarded as furnishing decisive proofs of the 

 existence of a north-west passage, a naval expedition was despatched in command of 

 Captain Middleton. Middleton's two ships wintered in Churchill River. This expedi- 

 tion was followed in 1*740 by that of Captain "W. Moor, who was sent out to prosecute 

 the same work of discovery. 



In 1760, under instntction from the Hudson's Bay Company, Samuel Hearne was sent 

 out to explore Coppermine River, but without result. In 1770, the exploration was 

 renewed ; he conducted the expedition by land, having arrived at the river during the 

 winter. He followed the Coppermine to its mouth, which he reached in July 1771. 



