10 
favourite Arctic regions at the age of ten, without the previous know- 
ledge of Mrs Scoresby, — an attached wife, and no less fond a mother. 
The idea, it must be added, did not occur to the father till he one 
day detected, with much trouble, the urchin hidden below in the 
Resolution, while the Blue Peter ” was flying from the mast-head, 
and when the boy had a clear intention of running away from home 
in this remarkable manner. Entering thus early on a life of fearless 
adventure, it is no wonder that the second Scoresby outstripped the 
first in eminence as a navigator. At the age of sixteen, he discovered 
with his father an open sea near Spitzbergen, apparently stretching to- 
wards the North Pole ; and he actually sailed in it to the latitude 
of 78 ° 46', — the highest known to have been ever attained up to 
that time. At the age of twenty-one he succeeded his father as 
commander of the Resolution whaler of Whitby ; and for twelve 
years afterwards he annually fished the Greenland Seas, carrying on 
at the same time constant researches in geography, magnetism, geology, 
and zoology ; for which he had prepared himself by several winters 
of study under Jameson and other Professors of the University of 
Edinburgh, The results were published in his “ Account of the 
Arctic Regions,” and in his “ Voyage to the Northern Whale 
Fishery.” 
A deep pure vein of piety, fostered by careful early training on 
the part of his parents, everywhere pervaded his pursuits, whether 
professional or scientific. No whale was hunted, and no other work 
that could be dispensed with was done, by the crew of the Resolution 
on the Sabbath. Their captain was constantly as assiduous in main- 
taining the religious condition of his men, as in preserving their 
health, and availing himself of their seamanship. But it is also 
recorded of him, that he generally contrived to reward the forbear- 
ance of his men while their game was sporting securely on all sides 
around them on Sunday, by ensuring that they should make prize 
of a whale or two at the first entrance of the hours upon Monday 
morning. 
The depth and sincerity of his feelings, as a responsible creature ? 
he has recorded in his <c Sabbaths in the Arctic Regions.” The 
ultimate consequence of his following this bent of his mind was, that, 
while still in the prime of life and vigour, he deserted his favourite 
the sea, studied at Cambridge for the English Church, took soon 
