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INTRODUCTION. 



maritime power, but the only one which had never yet 

 been the objeQ: of royal attention, was fuffered to remain 

 without further inveftigation, from the year 1615 till 

 1773, when the Earl of Sandwich, in confequence of an 

 application which had been made to him by the Royal 

 Society, laid before his Majefty, about the beginning of 

 February, a propofal for an expedition to try how far na- 

 vigation was pradicable towards the North Pole ; which 

 his Majefty was pleafed to dired: fliould be immediately 

 undertaken, with every encouragement that could coun- 

 tenance fuch an enterprize, and every afliftance that could 

 contribute to its fuccefs. 



As foon as I heard of the defign, I offered myfelf, and 

 had the honour of being entrufted with the conduct of 

 this undertaking. The nature of the voyage requiring 

 particular care in the choice and equipment of the fliips, 

 the Racehorfe and Carcafs bombs were fixed upon as the 

 ftrongeft, and therefore propereft for the purpofe. The 

 probability that fuch an expedition could not be carried 

 on without meeting with much ice, made fome additional 

 ftrengthening neceffary : they were therefore imme- 

 diately taken into dock, and fitted in the moft compleat 

 manner for the fervice. The complement for the Race- 

 horfe was fixed at ninety men, and the ordinary eftablifh- 

 ment departed from, by appointing an additional number 

 of officers, and entering effedlive men inftead of the 

 ufual number of boys. 



3 I was 



