212 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
voyage brought out qualities which shone forth in after 
years at the battle of Navarino and in the first China war 1 . 
The Arctic discoverers were received with enthusiasm 
by their countrymen, and the authorities justly placed 
the greatest reliance on the skill and judgment of Parry, 
who was promoted to the rank of Commander. 
Captain Parry thought quite correctly that a passage 
could not be forced by a sailing vessel on the parallel of 
the south coast of Melville Island. His conclusion was 
that it could only be effected along the north coast of 
North America, in which again he was quite right. But 
at that time only the mouths of the Mackenzie and 
Coppermine were discovered, and the distribution of land 
and water to the north of America was known to be 
excessively complicated. Parry advised that the next 
attempt should be by way of Hudson's Bay. 
The Admiralty accordingly resolved to despatch Parry 
on a second Arctic voyage. He was to investigate and 
settle doubtful questions about Middleton's Frozen Strait 
and Repulse Bay, and then to get hold of the north-west 
corner of North America, and if possible to follow that 
coast to Bering Strait. The Griper was too small, a bad 
sailer, and ill adapted for the work. The great point 
was to select two vessels with equal sailing qualities and 
of equal size. Two bomb vessels were therefore com- 
missioned, the Fury of 377 tons by Captain Parry and the 
Hecla by Captain G. F. Lyon, with Hoppner as his first 
Lieutenant. The other Lieutenants were three of Parry's 
midshipmen in the Hecla, Nias, Reid, and Palmer. 
Bushnan 2 was Assistant Surveyor; James Ross, still 
a midshipman, was in every voyage. Three new mid- 
shipmen who were afterwards distinguished as Arctic 
1 Cyrus Wakeman, in the Dorothea with Buchan, and the Griper, 
1819-20 was afterwards at the battle of Navarino, where his splendid 
Gallantry is recorded by Lady Bourchier in her Memoirs of Str Edward 
Codrington, K t p. 102 (Longman, 1873). He died in the Niger expedition 
Sir Toseph Nias K.C.B., was in the Alexander, Hecla, and Fury with 
Parry 1818-23 He distinguished himself in the Herald during the first 
China war, at the capture of the forts of the Bocca Tigris and m all the 
operations in the Canton river, becoming Rear Admiral m 1857. In 1855 
he married Isabella, only child of John Laing of Montagu Square, where 
he died December 16th. 1879. 
a Bushnan, on his return, was appointed to Franklins land journey, 
but died before starting, in 1825. 
