OF A NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 29 



Noitli-Wcst Passage, which subsequent investigation has proved it not to |g5|_ 



deserve. A"^«^ 



Having, on the considerations detailed above, decided on taking up the 

 examination of the continental coast, from Cape Hope northwards, it became 

 a question of scarcely less importance to determine, in the next place, by 

 what route the Expedition would most quickly be enabled to reach that 

 point, so as to occupy as much as possible of the present summer, upon 

 ground not hitherto explored; and, if practicable, to get fairly on our way 

 to the westward, along the northern coast of America, before the close of 

 the navigable season. Here it was necessary for me still more carefully to 

 balance in my own mind the ocular evidence of Captain Middleton against 

 the speculative reasoning of Mr. Dobbs, the former having asserted that he 

 had actually seen a strait intervening between Southampton Island and the 

 shore to the northward of it, though apparently impracticable on account of 

 ice ; while the latter had written half a volume to prove the strait in question 

 a fabrication, invented by the Captain for the purpose of deceiving Govern- 

 ment, and of favouring the supposed views of the Hudson's Bay Company, 

 his former employers. If Mr. Dobbs's suspicions were well founded, it 

 would be necessary for us, by pursuing the known but circuitous route 

 round the south end of Southampton Island, to sail a distance of one 

 hundred and seventy leagues from our present station, and above two hun- 

 dred, in case of failure at the Frozen Strait, in order to reach the point 

 where our operations were to commence ; whereas, on the supposition of 

 the existence, and, of course, the practicability, of that passage, the distance 

 would scarcely exceed fifty leagues; a difference of no small moment in the 

 icy seas. After the most anxious consideration of all this contradictory 

 evidence, 1 came to the resolution of attempting the direct passage of the 

 Frozen Strait; though, I confess, not without some apprehension of the risk 

 I was incurring, and of the serious loss of time which, in case of failure 

 cither from the non-existence of the strait or from the insuperable obstacles 

 which its name implies, would thus be inevitably occasioned to the Ex- 

 pedition. 



On standing back to the west south-west the ice was found as impenetrable 

 as before, and the ships were therefore made fast in the best manner we 

 could, to await some alteration in our favour. On the morning of the 3d, Frld 3. 

 we had some heavy rain, although the wind was westerly; but, on its 

 veering to the northward, the weather cleared up, and continued beautifully 



