24 
VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
might, if possible, remove the hostile impressions, 
which I both plainly saw, and was confidently 
assured existed, against my inventions. In addres- 
sing them, I stated my object in visiting Greenland, 
and requested it might be distinctly understood, 
that it proceeded from no selfish motive, but from 
a desire to benefit my country, by an endeavour 
to improve the whale-fishery, and to lessen the 
dangers that are sometimes fatally attendant on its 
prosecution; that, for the attainment of these ob- 
jects, I had devised a hand-harpoon, on a new prin- 
ciple, and felt the greatest confidence, that it would 
afibrd better security in holding the fish, than those 
now in use ; also a gun-harpoon possessing such 
combined mechanical strength, and singular prin- 
ciples to DEFY RETRACTION ; and that I had pro- 
vided likewise shells and carcasses, to prevent those 
fatal accidents which often occurred to the crews 
of boats, in lancing what are termed wicked fish,'* 
The employment of these last missiles, was, I also 
stated, desirable on the ground of humanity, by 
their quickly terminating the misery of the fish, and 
obviating the necessity of the barbarity often un- 
avoidable in the present system, and which had 
called forth on the whale-fishery, the clamorous 
indignation of some who possessed the finer feel- 
ings of sensibility. I then read the following ad- 
dress to the harpooner appointed to the gun-boat in 
the presence of the rest. 
‘"Richard Simpkin, you have been selected to 
the charge and direction of the boat, appointed to 
