INTRODUCTIO]^. j, 



I was allowed to recommend the officers ; and was very 

 happy to find, during the courfe of the voyage, by the 

 great affiftance I received on many occafions from their 

 abilities and experience, that I had not been miftaken in 

 the characters of thofe upon whom fo much depended in 

 the performance of this fervice. Two mafters of Green- 

 landmen Were employed as pilots for each fhip. The 

 Racehorfe was alfo furniOied with the new chain-pumps 

 made by Mr. Cole according to Captain Bentinck's im- 

 provements, which were found to anfwer perfectly well. 

 We alfo made ufe of Dr. Irving's apparatus for diftilling 

 frefli water from the fea, with the greatefl: fuccefs. Some 

 fmall but ufeful alterations were made in the fpecies of 

 provifions ufually fupplied in the navy ; an additional 

 quantity of fpirits was allowed for each fhip, to be ifTued 

 at the difcretion of the commanders, when extraordinary 

 fatigue or feverity of weather might make it expedient. 

 A quantity of wine was alfo allotted for the ufe of the 

 fick. Additional clothing, adapted to that rigor of 

 climate, which from the relations of former navigators 

 we were taught to expect, was ordered to be put on 

 board, to be given to the feamen when we arrived in the . 

 high latitudes. It was forefeen that one or both of the 

 fhips might be facrificed in the profecution of this under- 

 taking ; the boats for each fliip were therefore calculated, 

 in number and flze, to be lit, on any emergency, to 



C a tranfporC 



