Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I COLUMBUS
- CHAP. II COLUMBUS AND AMERIGO VESPUCCI
- CHAP. III EARLY DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA
- CHAP. IV SPANISH DISCOVERIES, AND FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE EARTH
- CHAP. V FERNANDO CORTEZ
- CHAP. VI CONQUEST OF PERU
- CHAP. VII CONQUESTS OF THE SPANIARDS
- CHAP. VIII CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE
- CHAP. IX FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO
- CHAP. X VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XI VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XII VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XIII SETTLEMENTS IN THE EAST
- CHAP. XIV SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA
- CHAP. XV ESTABLISHMENTS IN AFRICA
- CHAP. XVI VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVII VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVIII VOYAGES IN THE PACIFIC, AND DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA
- CHAP. XIX EXPEDITIONS OF THE BUCCANEERS IN THE SOUTH SEAS
- CHAP. XX VOYAGES OF PRIVATEERS AND OTHERS TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XXI DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
- CHAP. XXII DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
CHAP. XI - VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAP. I COLUMBUS
- CHAP. II COLUMBUS AND AMERIGO VESPUCCI
- CHAP. III EARLY DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA
- CHAP. IV SPANISH DISCOVERIES, AND FIRST CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE EARTH
- CHAP. V FERNANDO CORTEZ
- CHAP. VI CONQUEST OF PERU
- CHAP. VII CONQUESTS OF THE SPANIARDS
- CHAP. VIII CONQUESTS OF THE PORTUGUESE
- CHAP. IX FERDINAND MENDEZ PINTO
- CHAP. X VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XI VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XII VOYAGES TO THE NORTH
- CHAP. XIII SETTLEMENTS IN THE EAST
- CHAP. XIV SETTLEMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA
- CHAP. XV ESTABLISHMENTS IN AFRICA
- CHAP. XVI VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVII VOYAGES TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XVIII VOYAGES IN THE PACIFIC, AND DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA
- CHAP. XIX EXPEDITIONS OF THE BUCCANEERS IN THE SOUTH SEAS
- CHAP. XX VOYAGES OF PRIVATEERS AND OTHERS TO THE SOUTH SEA
- CHAP. XXI DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
- CHAP. XXII DISCOVERIES OF THE RUSSIANS
Summary
The zeal and ability exerted by Frobisher in the cause of north-western discovery was foiled, as we have seen, by the vain pursuit of the precious metals. The ill success of the recent voyages restored speculation to its legitimate pursuit; and it was now resolved to despatch an expedition of which discovery should be the sole object.
The merchants of London, being satisfied “of the likelihood of the discovery of the north-west passage” fitted out two small barks, the one of fifty, the other of thirty-five tons, which they entrusted to the command of John Davis, an expert and courageous seaman. He sailed from Dartmouth on the 7th of June, 1585, and by the middle of July was on the western side of Greenland, where the coast presented such a bleak and gloomy aspect, that Davis gave it the name of the Land of Desolation. Here he found a great quantity of drift-wood, and picked up a tree sixty feet in length. From this coast he stood to the north-west, where he saw land in latitude 64° 15′; the air being temperate, and the sea free from ice. This proved to be a group of islands among which were numerous good harbours. To that in which Davis cast anchor he gave the name of Gilbert's Sound, in honour of his patron, Mr. Adrian Gilbert, the brother of the unfortunate sir Humphrey.
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- The History of Maritime and Inland Discovery , pp. 152 - 168Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1830