26 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



CHAPTER II. 



REVIEW OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION OBTAINED BY THE RESEARCHES OP 

 FORMER NAVIGATORS ON THE COAST OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT, IN THE NEIGH- 

 BOURHOOD OF WAGER RIVER DISCOVER AND ENTER THE DUKE OF YORK'S BAY, 



SUPPOSING IT TO BE A PASSAGE INTO THE SEA CALLED THE WELCOME — LEAVE 



THE DUKE OF YORK'S BAY, AND PROCEED TO THE NORTH-WESTWARD PASSAGE OP 



THE FROZEN STRAIT AND ARRIVAL IN REPULSE BAY CONTINUITY OF LAND THERE 



OBSERVATIONS ON SHORE REMARKS CONCERNING THE GEOGRAPHY, TIDES, AND 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THIS PART OF THE CONTINENT.VL COAST. 



1821. My instructions directed me to " penetrate to the westward, through 

 ^^^^' Hudson's Strait, until I reached, either in Repulse Ray, or on some other j)art 

 of the shores of Hudson's Bay, to the north of Wager River, a part of the coast 

 which I should feel convinced to be a portion of the conlinent of North 

 America." " Then to keep along the line of this coast to the northward, 

 always examining every bend, or inlet," &c*. It became, therefore, my first 

 business to inquire to what point the examination of the eastern coast of 

 North America had already been carried, and its continuity satisfactorily 

 determined. 



The proceedings of the Expedition under the command of Captain 

 Middleton, in his Majesty's sliip the Furnace in the year 1742, together with 

 the inciuiry instituted by the Admiralty on his return, in consequence of the 

 representation of Mr. Dobbs, furnish the principal materials for judging of 

 this question. The disputes between Mr. Dobbs and Cai)tain Middleton, 

 which, like most other contests of a similar nature, gave rise to much personal 

 animosity and virulent invective, have at least served the useful purpose of 

 pointing out, with all the minuteness which the most determined hostility 

 could suggest, the particular parts of Captain Middlcton's conduct, which his 



* Official Instructions. 



