282 Geographical Collections. 
Hudson’s Bays to Behring’s Straits.—a point at which the increased activity of 
the Russian empire is already beginning to exert a great influence; and a coun- 
try which, in Captain Cook’s time, was a land of snow and ice, now presents a 
materially improved aspect, as the seas are gradually getting clearer, and less co- 
vered with ice. 
Of two expeditions which were fitted out in 1818, the Dorothea and Trent, 
under the command of Captain Buchan, appointed to endeavour to reach and pe- 
netrate across the North Pole, and the ships under the command of Captain Ross, 
we have only records of any length of the latter. Of Captain Buchan’s expedi- 
tion, we only know of the difficulties he encountered, and of the ultimate failure 
of the plan. But Captain Ross’s expedition was destined to lay the foundation 
of a series of navigations and researches, which were carried on with more spirit 
and enthusiasm than had hitherto been recorded in the annals of. maritime or 
geographical discovery. 
On the 18th of April, the expedition, consisting of the Isabella, on which Cap- 
tain Ross had hoisted his fag, and the Alexander, under the command of Lieu- 
tenant Parry, dropped down the river, and about the 30th arrived off Shetland. 
On the 26th of May, Cape Farewell and icebergs came together into view. On 
entering Davis’ Straits, they found its centre occupied, as usual, by an unbroken 
barrier of ice, and were obliged to work their way through a narrow and preca- 
rious channel along the coast, so that it was the 5th or 7th of August before the 
higher latitudes of Baffin’s Bay were attained. Captain Ross sailed up by the 
north-eastern shores of this bay, and passed consecutively, and, according to some 
statements, cursorily and hastily, Worsenholme and Whale Sound, Sir Thomas 
Smith’s Sound at the head of Baffin’s Bay, Ross’s Sound, and Alderman Jones’ 
Sound, till, navigating in a southerly direction, they arrived at Lancaster Sound : 
it seemed to be 40 or 50 miles wide, and bordered by magnificent ranges of moun- 
tains. Its breadth, extraordinary depth, and increased temperature of the water, 
tended to inspire the most sanguine hopes. After proceeding 30 miles, however, 
thinking that the land approached, and being led to consider it as a mere inlet, the 
commander gave up the exploration, and stood out of the bay. In proceeding to 
the south, Captain Ross came upon Cumberland Straits; but it being now in 
the month of October, he considered himself bound by his instructions not to re- 
main longer in the ice. On his return to England, it became a subject of much 
discussion, how far, in quitting Lancaster Sound, he might have been led astray 
by the appearance presented by all winding streams of terminating abruptly. 
Mr. Barrow instanced many cases of these deceptive appearances, and Lientenant 
Parry, in particular, describes himself “ as full of the most sanguine hopes at the 
very moment when, for reasons to him unaccountable, he saw the head of the Isa- 
bella turned out of the sound—a movement which his duty bound him to fol- 
low.”’ 
The Admiralty determined to fit out a new expedition, consisting of two ves- 
sels, giving the command to Lieutenant now Captain Parry. The largest was 
the Hecla of 375 tons, carrying a crew of 58 men, in which he himself sailed, 
the other was the Griper, a 12 gun-brig of 186 tons, commanded by Lieutenant 
Liddon, with a ship’s company of 36. They were provided with coals and pro- 
visions for two years. 
The two vessels left the Nore on the 8th May 1819, and arrived by the 18th 
of June in the middle of Davis’s Straits. The barrier of ice was still close, but 
Captain Parry made his way round by Sanderson’s Slope and the Woman’s Is- 
lands, and at lat. 73° crossed this formidable barrier. On the 2d of August the 
expedition had a full view of Lancaster Sound: there was no appearance of ice 
or land, and a violent pitching of the sea from the westward. After passing va- 
rious headlands, and two large openings, (Navy Board Inlet, south, and Croker’s 
‘Bay, north,) they came, in long. 86° 30’, to two inlets, which they called Bur- 
net and Sratton, and afterwards a cape, which they named Fellfoot. They gave 
the name of Prince Leopold to two islands which they shortly after came in view 
of, -'They discovered to the northward a large space of open sea, over which was 
