i66 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
Middleton resolved to winter in the Churchill river, 
housing his men in an old fort. In February, 1742, 
scurvy broke out. The only efficacious treatment was 
not then understood, and Captain Middleton's panacea 
was plenty of rum with sugar to make punch. There were 
some deaths in March but not enough to hinder the 
expedition, and in July 1742 the voyage was resumed, the 
plan being to explore the great opening called by Luke 
Foxe u Sir Thomas Roe his Welcome," and to seek a 
passage by that route. The cape on the western side 
of the sound in 65 0 10' N. Middleton named Cape Dobbs. 
Proceeding up the Welcome he discovered an opening 
which at first seemed likely to lead to the desired passage, 
but it turned out to be the estuary of a river which was 
named the Wager River, after Sir Charles Wager, then 
First Lord of the Admiralty. A point of land was named 
Cape Hope, because hopes of a passage were revived on 
rounding it and further north another opening to the 
west was seen, but it could not be explored owing to the 
ice and the state of the weather. It received the name 
of Repulse Bay. Then Frozen Strait was discovered at 
the head of the Welcome and, on climbing a high hill, 
Middleton saw that the coast trended south-east to the 
Cape Comfort of Baffin, thus proving the insularity of 
Southampton Island. The expedition then shaped a 
course down Hudson Strait, arriving in the Thames in 
October 1742. 
Middleton had done his work well, and had made 
some important discoveries. But he was subjected to 
an unjustifiable attack 1 from Mr Dobbs, the projector, 
who accused the explorer of stating that the Wager 
River was only a river when he knew it to be a strait. 
Dobbs had sufficient influence to enable him to raise 
funds for a second expedition. Two vessels, the Dobbs 
and the California, were fitted out and despatched under 
the command of Captain Moore, who fully confirmed 
Middleton's report. Mr Ellis wrote the history of this 
voyage, and pointed to Chesterfield Inlet as a possible 
passage. Accordingly Captain Christopher was sent to 
1 " A cruel attack on the reputation of a skilful and intrepid navi- 
gator." John Barrow. 
