74 
FIRST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
If however all your endeavours should fail in getting so far to 
the westward as to enable you to double the north eastern extre¬ 
mity of America, (round which these instructions have hitherto 
supposed a passage to exist,) you are in that case, to use all the 
means in your power by keeping to the northward and eastward, 
to ascertain to what extent you can proceed along the western 
coast of Old Greenland, and whether there is any reason to sup¬ 
pose that it forms a part of the Continent of America, and you 
are also to endeavour to improve the very imperfect geography of 
the eastern coast of America, and of the island or islands which 
are supposed to intervene between it, and Disco Island, in Davis' 1 
Strait, but you are on no account, in this latter case, to remain on 
this service so long, unless accidentally caught in the ice, as to 
be obliged to winter on any part of the eastern coast of America, 
the western coast of Old Greenland, or the intermediate Islands, 
but to leave the ice about the middle, or the 20th of September, 
or the 1st October at the latest, and make the best of your way 
to the river Thames. 
Although the first and most important object of this voyage, is 
the discovery of a passage from Davis’ Strait along the northern 
coast of America, and through Behring’s Strait into the Pacific; 
it is hoped at the same time, that it may likewise be the means 
of improving the geography, and hydrography of the Arctic 
regions, of which so little is hitherto known, and contribute to 
the advancement of science and natural knowledge. 
With this view, we have caused a great variety of valuable 
instruments to be put on board the ships under your orders, of 
which you will be furnished with a list, and, for the return of 
which you will be held responsible ; and have also at the recom¬ 
mendation of the president and council of the Royal Society 
ordered to be received on board the Isabella, Capt. Sabine of the 
royal artillery, who is represented to us as a gentleman well 
skilled in astronomy, natural history, and various branches oi 
knowledge, to assist you in making such observations as may 
tend to the improvement of geography and navigation, and the 
advancement of science in general. Amongst other subjects of 
scientific inquiry, you will particularly direct your attention to 
