28 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1821. highly conclusive to every unprejudiced mind ; while the latter, fully im- 

 Jr?iL" pressed with a conviction that the story of the " Frozen Strait was all a 

 chimsera, as well as every thing that" Captain Middleton had said " con- 

 cerning that part of the voyage," confidently insisted on the probability 

 of the tide rinding its way in through Wager River, or, at least, through some 

 arm of the sea communicating with that inlet from the westward. The 

 fallacy of this latter opinion was amply proved by the researches of the next 

 Expedition under Captains Moor and Smith, who, being sent out for the 

 avowed purpose of contradicting or confirming the report of Middleton, 

 traced Wager Inlet in their boats, till it was found to terminate in two incon- 

 siderable and unnavigable rivers. 



On leaving the Wager, Captain Middleton proceeded to the northward, 

 keeping both the American coast and that of Southampton Island in sight, and 

 noting their bearings and distance frequently and minutely in his log, as far as 

 Cape Hope, in which space no doubt has ever been entertained, either by Mr. 

 Dobbs or by any other person, of the complete continuity of the land on the 

 American side. I felt perfectly satisfied, therefore, that Cape Hope formed 

 a portion of the continent, and that the examination of the coast to the south- 

 ward of it would be a needless and unprofitable occupation of our time. 



To the northward of Cape Hope, the land is described by Captain Middle- 

 ton as having been observed to turn short round to the westward ; but the 

 joy and encouragement afforded by this circumstance are said to have been 

 soon clouded by finding they had reached a close bay, which prevented 

 their further progress in that direction, and which, in consequence, obtained 

 the appropriate name of Repulse Bay. It is worthy of particular remark, 

 that even this part of the coast has not drawn from Captain Middleton's 

 accusers, who, as well as their commander, had the advantage of being 

 eye-witnesses of the whole transaction, a single expression implying a doubt 

 of the continuity of the land in Repulse Bay. But the imputation of negli- 

 gence or fraud, to which, in particular instances, he appears to have laid 

 himself open, has, by a construction not uncommon, been extended to his 

 general conduct, throwing an unmerited degree of doubt and uncertainty on 

 every part of his labours. On this account, as well as from its geographical 

 position, which seemed so favourable for the termination of the American 

 continent to the north-eastward, has an importance been attached to Repulse 

 Bay, even by those who are not the most sanguine on the subject of the 



