xxxvi 
INTRODUCTION. 
Befides ordering Captain Cook to fail on this important 
voyage, Government, in earned: about the objeft of it ? 
adopted a mealure, which, while it could not but have a 
powerful operation on the crews of the Refolution and Dif- 
covery, by adding the motives of intereft, to the obligations 
of duty; at the fame time encouraged all his Majefty’s fub- 
jefts to engage in attempts toward the propoled difcovery. 
By the aft of parliament, palfed in 1745 % a reward of 
twenty thoufand pounds had been held out. But it had been 
held out only to the fhips belonging to any of bis Majeflfs 
fubjedls , exclulive of his Majefty’s own Blips. The aft had 
a Bill more capital defeft. It held out this reward only to 
fuch Blips as fliould difcover a paBage through Hudfon’s Bay ; 
and, as we fliall foon take occafion to explain, it was, by this 
time, pretty certain, that no fuch paBage exiRed within thofe 
limits. Effeftual care was taken to remedy both thefe de- 
fefts, by pafling a new law; which, after reciting the pro- 
vifions of the former, proceeds as foUows : 44 And whereas 
44 many advantages, both to commerce and fcience, may be 
44 alfo expefted from the difcovery of any Northern paffage 
44 for veflels by fea, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 
44 —be it enafted, That if any Blip belonging to any of his 
44 Majefiy’s fubjefts, or to his Majefty , fliall find out, and 
44 fafl through, any paBage by fea, between the Atlantic 
44 and Pacific Oceans, in any direction, or parallel of the 
<£ Northern hemifphere, to the Northward of the 52 0 of 
44 Northern latitude, the owners of fuch Blips, if belonging 
44 to any of his Majefiy’s fubjefts, or the commander, officers, 
44 and feamen, offuchjhip belonging to his Majejly, fliall re- 
46 ceive, as a reward for fuch difcovery, the fum of twenty 
44 thoufand pounds. 
* See the Statutes at Large, 18 George II. chap. 17. 
“ And 
