THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE. 3 



successive winters, and had been subjected to more 

 intense cold than any other Arctic expedition has 

 outlived, M'Clure crossed over the ice to the ships 

 formerly mentioned, and returned to England through 

 Baffin Bay and over the Atlantic Ocean. In this 

 manner he completed the North -west Passage, al- 

 though 200 miles of the way were accomplished by 

 the use of sledges on the ice instead of by ship. On 

 his return home he received promotion, and was 

 voted by Parliament a national reward of 10,000. 



Since M'Clintock's return no expedition has been 

 organised to penetrate the North-west Passage. 



Circumnavigation of the north coast of Asia from 

 the Atlantic to Behring Strait has been essayed by 

 no less than thirteen expeditions. Of these six 

 were sent out by Holland, five from England, one 

 from Austria, and one from Sweden ; besides an un- 

 successful endeavour to force a passage in an opposite 

 direction, made by the famous Captain Cook, the 

 English circumnavigator, in 1778. 



In 1553, three ships were sent out by England: 

 the Bona Esperanza, Captain "VVilloughby ; the Bona 

 Ventura, Captain Chancellor; and the Bona Con- 

 fidentia, Captain Durforth. These vessels only pro- 

 ceeded as far as Novaya Zemlia. 



In 1556, an English expedition went out under 

 Stephen Burroughs, commanding the ship Search- 

 thrift, which at the Kara Gate was compelled by 

 ice to return. 



