THE two expeditions recently fitted out for exploring a northern communication between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were of a nature to excite public attention and to engage a large share of general conversation. But as many crude and absurd notions seemed to be entertained on the subject, it was thought that a brief history, arranged in chronological order, of the dangers and difficulties and progressive discoveries of former attempts, might serve as a proper introduction to the narratives of the present voyages, which, whether successful or not, will be expected by the public. In the compilation of this brief history no pretensions are set up to authorship-the collecting of the materials, though widely scattered through many large and some few scarce volumes, employed no great share either of the writer's time or research; in their present form they may be the means of saving both to those who feel disposed to acquire a general knowledge of what has been and what yet remains to be accomplished. London, 1st August, 1818. CONTENTS.. Iceland, Greenland, Labrador, and Newfoundland disco- vered by the ancient Scandinavians.-Discoveries of DISCOVERIES MADE IN THE NORTH DURING THE SIX- Aubert and Jacques Cartier-Estevan Gomez-The Domi- nus Vobiscum-The Trinitie and the Minion-Sir Hugh Willoughby-Richard Chancellor and Stephen Burrough -Sir Martin Frobisher-Edward Fenton-Arthur Pet and Charles Jackman-Sir Humphry Gilbert-John -Captain Gibbons-Robert Bylot-Bylot and Baffin- Voyages of a mixed Character between 1603 and 1615- VOYAGES OF NORTHERN DISCOVERY UNDERTAKEN IN THE EARLY PART OE THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. |