INTRODUCTION^ 
XXIX 
Mr. Dobbs, a warm advocate for the probability of a 
North Weft paftage through Hudfon’s Bay, in our own time, 
once more recalled the attention of this country to that un¬ 
dertaking ; and, by his acftive zeal, and perfevering folici- 
tation, renewed the fpirit of difcovery. But it was renewed 
in vain. For Captain Middleton, fent out by Government 
in 1741, and Captains Smith and Moore, by a private fociety, 
in 1746, though encouraged by an a Ft of Parliament pafted 
in the preceding year, that annexed a reward of twenty 
thoufand pounds to the difcovery of a paftage, returned 
from Hudfon’s Bay with reports of their proceedings, that 
left the accompliftiment of this favourite objecft at as great 
a diftance as ever. 
When refearches of this kind, no longer left to the feli¬ 
citation of an individual, or to the fubfcriptions of private 
adventurers, became cherifhed by the Royal attention, in 
the prefent reign, and warmly promoted by the Minifter at 
the head of the naval department, it was impoilible, while 
fo much was done toward exploring the remoteft corners of 
the Southern hemifphere, that the Northern paftage fhould 
not be attempted. Accordingly, wdiile Captain Cook was 
profecuting his voyage toward the South Pole, in 1773, 
Lord Mulgrave failed with two ftiips, to determine how far 
navigation was practicable toward the North Pole. And 
though his Lordlhip met with the fame infuperabie bar to 
his progrefs, which former navigators had experienced*, 
the hopes of opening a communication between the Pacific 
and Atlantic Oceans, by a Northerly courfe, were not aban- 
* See the hiftory of former attempts to fail toward the North Pole, in the Introduction 
to Lord Mulgrave’s Journal. Mr. Barrington has collected feveral inftances of ftiipsL 
advancing to very high latitudes. See his Mifcellanies, p. 1.—124. 
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doned; 
