EXPEDITION OF SIR THOMAS BUTTON. 
51 
skins and crushed bones of the fowls, which with a little vinegar 
is reported to have made “ a good dish of meate.” Robert Iver 
the second of the mutineers, died of actual want, and the 
remainder of the crew reached Galloway in Ireland, in safety. 
The report of the discovery by Hudson of a great sea to the 
westward of Cape Wolstenholme, was considered by the English 
merchants as strongly indicative of the existence of the north 
western passage, and in order to determine the outlet of that sea, 
an expedition was fitted out, the command of which was given 
to Capt. (afterwards Sir Thomas) Button. It may appear con¬ 
trary to prudence and sound judgment, to have accepted in this 
expedition, of the services of two men, who were implicated in 
the mutiny, by which the unfortunate Hudson lost his life; but 
their well known skill and experience in the navigation of the 
northern seas, seemed to operate as an equipoise to the criminality 
of their former conduct, which they succeeded in convincing 
their employers was more forced upon them by the threats of 
their companions, than the actual result of their own cruel and 
perfidious dispositions. The names of these men were Pricket 
and Bylot, the latter of whom bore the reputation of being one 
of the most skilful pilots of his time, although in other respects 
bereft of any of the advantages of even a common education. 
This expedition sailed in 1612, the names of the vessels being 
the same as those which were under the command of the cele¬ 
brated Cook, in his last voyage—the Resolution and the Discovery. 
Capt. Button shaped his course direct for Hudson’s Straits, 
with the view of penetrating into the great open sea as described 
by Hudson; continuing in a westerly course, he fell in with the 
main land of America in latitude 60° 40', to which he gave the 
name of Hopes Checked. Finding his passage impeded to the 
westward, he bent his course southward, and in latitude 57° 10 
discovered a river, to which he gave the name of Nelson’s River, 
and where he determined to pass the winter; the cold however 
became so intense, that many of the crew died, and the remainder 
were supported through their sufferings, and prevented from 
yielding themselves up to despair, solely by the judicious and 
able conduct of their captain. He diverted their minds from 
