Preliminary Chapter. xxxix 



other localities and names have also been marked on the Eastern and 

 the Western hemispheres, and the Northern Asiatic coast-line is noted 

 as corrected by Nordenskiold, 1878-79. 



EARLY AMEEICAN VOYAGES FOR THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE. 



It is of interest to note at what early dates in our colonial history 

 citizens of Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia shared in these 

 explorations. The following letter from Dr. Franklin is in proof The 

 oiiginal was presented by Hon. George Bancroft to Mr. Grinnoll. Mr. 

 Bancroft refers to it in his History of the United States, vol. iv, p. 141. 

 The extracts which follow the letter have been taken from the files of 

 "The Pennsylvania Gazette, found in the Mercantile Library, Phila- 

 delphia. The letter of William Allen is from the Penn Papers of the 



Pennsylvania Historical Society, 



Philadelphia Feh'^ 28'", 1753. 

 * * * I believe I have not before told you, that I have provided a 

 subscription here of £1.500 to fit out a vessel in search of a North West passage. 

 She sails in a few days, and is called the Argo, commanded by M^ Svraine, wlio 

 was in the last Expedition in the California and author of a Journal of that voy- 

 age in 2 Volumes. We think the attempt laudable, whatever may be the success. 

 If she fails, " magnis tamen excidit ausis." 

 With great esteem, 



BENJ. FEANKLEST. 



Mr. Cadwalader Colden, N. Y. 



Of this voyage the Pennsylvania Gazette, "printed for IVnijaniiii 

 Franklin, postmaster, and D. Hall," November 15, 1753, says: 



Sunday last, arrived here the Schooner Argo, Captain Charles Swaiiie, wlio 

 sailed from this Port last Spring on the Discovery of a North AVest Passage. She 

 fell in with the Ice of Cape Farewell ; left the Eastern Ice, and fell in with the 

 Western Ice, in Lat. 58^, and cruised to the Northward to Lat. 63°, to clear it. but 



