EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC. 97 



Quimper. It need scarcely be added, that beyond the geographical position of the 

 eutrance, it has uo resemblance to the imaginary passage between the two oceans which 

 Jnan de Fuca declared he had discovered. 



In 1728, a Russian expedition under Behring discovered the strait named after the 

 commander, who on this occasion explored part of the North-west coast. In 1141, Behring 

 was again employed, and coasted as far south as Mount St. Elias, which he named. Behring 

 and his crew were rendered helpless by scurvy ; he expired in a miserable condition 

 during the winter on an island in the strait, which comnremorates his name. 



In 1791, Vancouver was sent ont from England in charge of an expedition. The 

 special objects were to ascertain whether the inlet of Juan de Fuca really formed a strait ; 

 and to explore the coast from latitude 30' N. as far north as Cook's Inlet with a view to 

 the discovery of an eastward passage. Those familiar with the peculiar character of the 

 Pacific coast, embraced within the limits of British Columbia and southern Alaska, will 

 understand the necessity of an minute survey ; for the passage might have so narrow an 

 entrance as lo elude the search made for it. Vancouver examined the coast with great 

 care, surveying all inlets up to latitude 52" and left for England in 1794. 



The thorough examination of the coast by Vancouver, together with the discoveries 

 made by Behring, and the overland travels of Alexander Mackenzie to the mouth ot 

 the river Mackenzie in 1789 and across the Rocky Mountain chain, in 1793, together 

 with the expedition of Hearne, twenty years earlier, to the mouth of Coi)permine River, 

 swept away all belief in the existence of a navigable passage through the continent. 

 It was now established beyond all doubt, that the continent extends unbroken from the 

 Grulf of Mexico to latitude 69', the mouth of the great river which bears the name of the 

 celebrated traveller. 



(9) Eighteenth Century Attempts lo find a passage to Asia across the Polar Sea. 



Every effort to find a navigable channel between the eastern and western coasts of 

 America, having so far resulted in complete failure, the idea of a passage from Europe to 

 Asia across the polar sea, attracted great attention towards the close of the last century. 

 A mass of evidence with regard to its feasibility was laid before the Royal Society whose 

 president Earl Saudwich, was also at the head of the admiralty. The projei't of an expedi- 

 tion across the pole received the favorable consideration of the king who commissioned 

 two ships for the service. They was placed in command of Captain John Phipps and 

 Captain Lutwidge. Horatio Nelson joined the expedition as a midshipman. 



The expedition left England in June 1773, proceeded almost due north to Spitzbergen, 

 and finally reached latitude 80° 37' when the ships were iucompassed by ice and remained 

 in a perilous conditions for some time. Having with difficulty escaped destruction, the 

 ships returned home. 



Forty-three years later, the British Government again sent out a similar expedition 

 with a corresponding result. 



(10) Efforts to find a North-west Passage in the Nineteenth Century. 



Notwithstanding so many discouragements, navigators continued to believe in the 

 existence of a North-western passage connecting the Pacific by Behring Strait, to be reached 



Sec ir, 18S9. 13. 



