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PHIPPS’S JOURNAL. 541
faGtory proof of the very early exiftence of that decided fuperiority in naval affairs,
which has carried the power of this country to the height it has now attained.
This great point of geography, perhaps the moft important in its confequences to a
commercial nation and maritime power, but the only one which had never yet been the
object of royal attention, was fuffered to remain without further inveftigation, from the
year 1615 till 1773, when the Earl of Sandwich, in confequence of an application which
had been made to him by the Royal Society, laid before his Majefty, about the begin-
ning of February, a propofal for an expedition to try how far navigation was practicable
towards the North Pole; which his Majefty was pleafed to direct fhould be immediately
undertaken, with every encouragement that could countenance fuch an enterprize, and
every afliftance that could contribute to iis fuccels.
As foon as I heard of the defign I offered myfelf, and had the honour of being en-
trufted with the conduét of this undertaking. ‘The nature of the voyage requiring par-
ticular care in the choice and equipment of the fhips, the Racehorfe and Carcafs bombs
were fixed upon as the ftrongeit, and therefore propereft for the purpofe. ‘he pro-
bability that fuch an expedition could not be carried on without meeting with much ice,
made {ome additional ftrength neceflary; they were therefore immediately taken into
dock, and fitted in the moft complete manner for the fervice. ‘The complement for the
Racehorfe was fixed at ninety men, and the ordinary eftablifhment departed from, by
appointing an additional number of officers, and entering effective men inftead of the
ufual number of boys.
I was allowed to recommend the officers; and was very happy to find, during the
courfe of the voyage, by the great afliftance I received on many occafions from their
abilities and experience, that I had not been miftaken in the characters of thofe upon
whom fo much depended in the performance of this fervice. "Two mafters of Green-
landmen were employed as pilots for each fhip. The Racehorfe was alfo furnifhed
with the new chain-pumps made by Mr. Cole, according to Captain Bentinck’s improve-
ments, which were found to an{wer perfeétly well. We alfo made ufe of Dr. Irving’s
apparatus for diftilling frefh water from the fea, with the greateft fuccefs. Some {mall
but ufeful alterations were made in the fpecies of provifions ufually fupplied in the navy;
an additional quantity of fpirits was allowed for each fhip, to be iffued at the difcretion
of the commanders, when extraordinary fatigue or feverity of weather might make it
expedient. A quantity of wine was alfo allotted for the ufe of the fick. Additional
cloathing, adapted to the rigour of climate, which from the relations of former naviga-
tors we were taught to expe, was ordered to be put on board, to be given to the fea-
men when we arrived in the high latitudes. It was forefeen that one or both of the
fhips might be facrificed in the profecution of this undertaking; the boats for each fhip
were therefore calculated, in number and fize, to be fit, on any emergency, to tranfport
the whole crew. In fhort, every thing which could tend to promote the fuccefs of the
undertaking, or contribute to the fecurity, health, and convenience of the fhips’ compa-
nies, was granted.
The Board of Longitude agreed with Mr. Ifrael Lyons to embark in this voyage, to
make aftronomical obfervations. His reputation for mathematical knowledge was too
well eftablifhed to receive any addition from the few opportunities which a voyage in
fuch unfavourable climates could afford. ‘The fame Board fupplied him with fuch in-
ftruments as they imagined might be ufeful for making obfervations and experiments,
The Royal Society favoured me with fuch information as they judged might ferve to
dire&t my enquiries, whenever the circum{tances of the voyage fhould afford me leifure
and opportunity for making obferyations. Befides thefe learned bodies, I was obliged
to:
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