xliv INTRODUCTION, 
paffage at Repulfe Bay, had refufed allowing the fhips to 
go into it, being fatisfied as to that place *. 
Setting Repulfe Bay, therefore, aftde, within which we 
have no reafon for believing that any inlet exifts, there 
did not remain any part of Hudfon’s Bay to be fearched, 
but Chefterfield’s Inlet, and a fmall tracft of coaft between 
the latitude 62% and what is called the South Point of 
Main, which had been left unexplored by the Dobbs and 
California. 
But this laft gleam of hope has now difappeared. The 
averfton of the Hudfon’s Bay Company to contribute any 
thing to the difcovery of a North Weft paffage, had been 
loudly reported by Mr. Dobbs ; arid the Public feemed to be¬ 
lieve that the charge was well founded. But ftill, in juftice 
to them, it muft be allowed, that, in 1720, they had fent 
Meffrs. Knight and Barlow, in a iloop on this very difco¬ 
very ; but thefe unfortunate people were never more heard 
of. Mr. Scroggs, who failed in fearch of them, in 1722, 
only brought back proofs of their fhipwreck, but no frefh 
intelligence about a paffage, which he was alfo to look for. 
They alfo fent a floop, and a fhallop, to try for this difco¬ 
very, in 1737; but to no purpofe. If obftrudtions were 
thrown in the way of Captain Middleton, and of the Com¬ 
manders of the Dobbs and California, the Governor and 
Committee of the Hudfon’s Bay Company, fince that time, 
we muft acknowledge, have made amends for the narrow 
prejudices of their predeceffors; and we have it in our 
power to appeal to fadts, which abundantly teftify, that 
* Account of the Voyage, by the Clerk of the California, Vol. ii. p, 273. Mr. 
Dobbs himfelf fays, That be thought the pajfage would be impracticable , or , at leapt , very 
difficult , in cafe there vjas one farther North than 67°.—Account of Hudfon’s Bay, 
p. 99. 
every 
