NORTH-EAST Passage

NORTH-EAST Passage, a passage to the East Indies along the northern coasts of Asia, which, like the former, hath frequently been attempted, but hitherto without success. The first attempt was made in 1553, by Sir Hugh Willoughby, who commanded three ships. He departed from the Thames and sailed to the North Cape, where one of his ships left him, and returned home. The other two ships being separated, Sir Hugh proceeded farther northward, and discovered that part of Greenland which the Dutch have since called Spitzberg; but the severity of the cold obliging him to return to the southward, he was forced, by bad weather, into the river Arzina, in Muscovite Lapland, where, not being able to come out, he was found the next spring frozen to death, with all his ship's company; having the notes of his voyage and his last will lying before him, whereby it appeared that he lived till January. But Richard Chancellor, in the third ship, with better success, in the meanwhile entered Wardhuys, where he waited some time for his companions to no purpose; uncertain whether they were lost, or driven farther by stress of weather. He held a council on what he should do; whether to return, or pursue his voyage. Whatever danger might be in the last, every one agreed to it, that they might not seem to have less courage than their captain. They therefore set sail, and in a few days found themselves in a sea where they could no longer perceive any night. This ship, wandering about, entered soon after into a large bay or gulf. Here they cast anchor, in sight of land; and while they were examining the coast, they discovered a fishing boat. Chancellor getting into his sloop, went towards it; but the fishermen took to flight. He followed, and, overtaking them, showed them such civilities as conciliated their affections to him; and they carried him to the place where now is the famous port of St Michael the Archangel. These people immediately spread through all the coasts an account of the arrival of those strangers; and people came from several parts to see them, and ask them questions. They, in their turn, examined the others, and found

North-east found that the country they were in was Russia, go-
North-east
Passage,
Northallerton.
vernal by the mighty emperor John Baslowitz. Chan-
cellor from Archangel travelled on sledges to the Czar
at Moscow; from whom, overjoyed at the prospect of
opening a maritime commerce with Europe, he obtained
privileges for the English merchants, and letters to
King Edward VI. who was not, however, alive to re-
ceive them.

In 1585, Mr John Davis in two barks discovered
Cape Delolation, which is supposed to be part of
Greenland; and two years after advanced as far as
Lat. 72°, where he discovered the strait which still
bears his name. To enumerate all the attempts which
have been made to discover a north-east passage, would
swell the article to very little purpose. The English,
Dutch, and Danes, have all attempted it without suc-
cess. The last voyage from England for this pur-
pose was made in 1676, under the patronage of the
duke of York. That unfortunate prince, who was
on all occasions earnest for the promotion of commerce,
and the Lord Berkeley, &c. fitted out a ship, com-
manded by Captain Wood, for an attempt once more
to find a north-east passage to India, accompanied with
a ship of the king's. They were encouraged to this at-
tempt, after it had been so long despaired of, by several
new reports and reasonings: some of which seem not
to have been very well grounded—As,

“ 1. On the coast of Corea, near Japan, whales had
been found with English and Dutch harpoons stick-
ing in them. This is no infallible proof that ships
could get thither by a north-east passage, although
whales might.

“ 2. That, 20 years before, some Dutchmen had
failed within one degree of the north pole, and found
it temperate weather there: and that therefore Wil-
liam Barents, the Dutch navigator who wintered at
Nova Zembla in the year 1596, should have failed
further to the north before turning eastward; in which
case, said they, he would not have found so much ob-
struction from the ice.

“ 3. That two Dutch ships had lately failed 300
leagues to the eastward of Nova Zembla; but their
East India Company had stifled that design, as against
their interest:—and such like other airy reports. But
this attempt proved very unfortunate. They doubled
the North Cape, and came among much ice and drift
wood, in 76° of north latitude, steering to the coast of
Nova Zembla, where the king's ship struck upon the
rocks, and was soon beat to pieces; and Captain Wood
returned home with an opinion, “ that such a passage
was utterly impracticable, and that Nova Zembla is a
part of the continent of Greenland.”

These passages, however, are not yet deemed imprac-
ticable by all. The count de Buffon holds it for cer-
tain, that there is such a passage; and he thinks, that if
any farther attempts be made to discover a passage to
China by the north, it will be necessary to steer direc-
tly towards the pole; and to explore the most open seas,
where unquestionably, says he, there is little or no ice.
This opinion has been revived by the honourable Daines
Barrington. See North-POLE.