had received his professional education under Cook, was despatched in 1790; and, commencing his voyage at Cape Mendocino, in latitude 41°, he sailed northward 219 leagues to the Strait of Juan de Fuça, never losing sight of the surf which dashed against the shore, taking once or twice every day the meridional altitude, and minutely noting the position of the most conspicuous points. The whole coast presented an impenetrable barrier against approach from the sea, and no opening was found to afford his vessels the smallest shelter. He then explored the Strait of Juan de Fuça; and having satisfied himself that no passage across America was to be discovered there, devoted his time to the survey of the labyrinth of islands, sounds, and inlets, between 50° and 60° of latitude. After a series of patient and scientific observations every way worthy of the school in which he had been bred, he ascertained the grand fact that the coast was throughout continuous, and thus dispelled all hope of a north-west passage in this quarter. It was his fate to encounter not a little unreasonable scepticism when the result was made public; and, like many other travellers and navigators, he found too much reason to complain of those lazy closet-philosophers, who refuse to admit any testimony which happens to contradict their own preconceived theories. Time, however, has done him justice, and fully confirmed the accuracy of his report.

After the disastrous result of the expedition of Behring, more than eighty years elapsed before Russia thought proper to pursue the career of discovery on the extreme coasts of North-western America.

At length Count Romanzoff, a scientific and

patriotic nobleman, determined to despatch Lieutenant Kotzebue on a voyage to the straits which bear the name of that great mariner. His equipment consisted of a single vessel, the Rurick, 100 tons burden, with twenty-two sailors, a surgeon, and a botanist. Having doubled Cape Horn, he arrived on the 19th June 1816 at Awatscha. Continuing his course he passed the boundary explored by Behring, and on the 1st of August descried on his right, in latitude 68°, a broad opening which he trusted would prove the long-sought-for passage. Having entered, he landed on the beach, ascended a neighbouring hill, and saw nothing but water as far as the eye could reach. Full of ardent expectation he employed a fortnight in examining this sound, making a complete circuit of its shores. No outlet, however, was discovered, except one, which it appeared almost certain communicated with Norton Sound, and Kotzebue resumed his voyage, which, however, was attended with no new or important results. To this arm of the sea, the discovery of which forms the principal feature in his enterprise, he has very properly communicated his

name.

With Kotzebue terminates our account of the progress of discovery upon the north-western shores of America; for an outline of the survey made by Captain Beechey belongs to a future portion of this disquisition. It is a pleasing reflection, that almost exclusively to the British navy belongs the hard-earned praise of having explored nearly the whole of this coast, with an accuracy which leaves nothing to be desired by the most scientific navigator.

CHAPTER III.

Hearne and Sir Alexander Mackenzie.

Colonisation of Canada-French Fur-Trade-Rise of Hudson's Bay Company-Hearne's Three Journeys-North-West Fur Company-First Journey of Sir Alexander Mackenzie in 1789— His Second Expedition in 1792.

HAVING Completed a brief sketch of the progress of discovery along the wide extent of the eastern and western shores of North America, from the first expedition of Cabot to the latest attempts of Kotzebue, two important subjects present themselves,the rise of the fur-trade, and the great discoveries which were achieved by British subjects connected with this branch of commercial enterprise. The expedition of Cartier conferred on the French that title to the countries round the St Lawrence which results from priority of discovery; and other circumstances combined to direct their efforts chiefly to the colonisation of the more northern tracts of America. Amongst these causes may be reckoned the disastrous failure of their attempt to establish a settlement in Florida, the great power of the Spaniards in that quarter, and the pre-occupation of the middle regions of the continent by the English. In 1598, the Sieur de la Roche, a Breton gentleman of

ancient family, obtained from Henry IV. a patent, equally unlimited with that granted by Elizabeth to Gilbert and Raleigh. He was nominated Lieutenant-General of Canada, Hochelaga, Newfoundland, Labrador, and of the countries lying on the River of the great Bay of Norimbega (meaning the St Lawrence), and the supreme command, both civil and military, was concentrated in his single person. His preparations were singularly disproportionate to these high-sounding titles, and the whole expedition was unfortunate. La Roche, with a small squadron, and crews consisting principally of convicted felons, landed on Sable Island, near the coast of Nova Scotia. From this barren spot, ill adapted for a settlement, he reached the opposite shore, which he surveyed; and having intrusted the temporary command of the colony to an inferior officer, he returned to France to procure additional supplies. On arriving in Brittany, a dispute arose between him and the Duke de Mercœur, a nobleman enjoying the confidence of the French monarch, by whose influence the royal favour was wholly withdrawn from La Roche. That adventurer, deprived of all means of prosecuting his enterprise in the New World, soon after died of a broken heart.

Meantime the colony on Sable Island were exposed to famine and disease, and totally neglected by the king, amid the occupation and excitement of his vast political schemes. Their existence was at length accidentally recalled to the mind of Henry, who in deep remorse for his forgetfulness despatched a vessel, which on its arrival found only twelve survivors. They had formed a hovel of the planks of a shipwrecked Spanish vessel, supported themselves

by fishing, and replaced their worn-out European garments with the skins of the sea-wolf. On their return to France, the monarch was greatly moved by the account of their sufferings, corroborated as it was by their emaciated and hagard aspect, matted hair, beards which almost swept the ground, and singular dress. He hastened to compensate for his neglect, by granting to such as were felons a free pardon, and presenting to each a sum of fifty

These disasters were followed soon after by an attempt of Chauvin and Pontgrave, two fur-merchants, to establish a colony at Tadoussack, on the mouth of the Saguenay, which proved abortive, and gave place to an expedition on a more enlarged scale, planned and conducted by De Monts, a gentleman of Saintonge, whose squadron consisted of forty vessels. His first settlement was on the Island of St Croix, from which he removed to Port Royal, now known by the name of Annapolis, where he appears to have abandoned his more pacific designs for the superior excitation and profits of piracy. The complaints of the merchants engaged in the Newfoundland fishery terminated in the recall and disgrace of De Monts; but Champlain, on whom the command devolved, showed himself every way worthy of the trust. From Tadoussack he removed the principal settlement to Quebec, where he built and fortified a town, reduced the surrounding territory into cultivation, and became the founder of the government of Canada, or New France. Leaving his infant settlement, he next determined to pene

• Histoire Général des Voyages, vol. xiv. pp. 589, 591,