I 4 
A VOYAGE TO 
i 777‘ jetty’s fubjedts as fhall firft difcover a communication be- 
tween the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in any direction 
whatever, in the Northern hemifphere; and alfo to fuch as 
firall firft penetrate beyond the 89th degree of Northern 
latitude. I made no doubt, I told them, that I fiiould find 
them willing to co-operate with me in attempting, as far as 
might be poflible, to become intitled to one or both thefe 
rewards; but, that to give us the belt chance of fucceeding, 
it would be necefiary to oblerve the utmoft ceconomy in 
the expenditure of our ftores and provifions, particularly 
the latter, as there was no probability of getting a fupply, 
any where, after leaving thefe ifiands. I ftrengthened my 
argument by reminding them, that our voyage muft laft at 
leaft a year longer than had been originally fuppofed, by 
our having already loft; the opportunity of getting to the 
North this fummer. I begged them to confider the various 
obftrudtions and difficulties we might ftill meet with, and 
the aggravated hardfhips they would labour under, if it 
fhould.be found necefiary to put them to fhort allowance, 
of any fpecies of provifions, in a cold climate. For thefe 
very fubftantial reafons, I fubmitted to them, whether it 
would not be better to be prudent in time, and rather 
than to run the rifle of having no fpirits left, when fuch 
a cordial would be moft wanted, to confent to be with¬ 
out their grog now, when we had fo excellent a liquor as 
that of cocoa-nuts to fubftitute in its place; but that, 
after all, I left the determination entirely to their own 
choice. 
I had the fatisfadtion to find, that this propofal did not 
remain a fingle moment under confideration; being unani- 
moufty approved of, immediately, without any objection. 
1 ordered Captain Clerke to make the fame propofal to his 
1 people; 
