Voyages of Delusion: The Quest for the Northwest PassageThe eighteenth century--the Age of Reason--was characterized by determined attempts by philosophers, scientists, and political theorists to dispel myth, superstition, and ignorance. But the Age of Reason also witnessed some of the most irrational and vainglorious attempts by sailors and speculators to find a navigable Northwest Passage that would lead through the icy seas of the Arctic from Hudson Bay to the wealth of the Pacific Ocean. Lured by the promise of fame and riches, men endured paralyzing cold, malnutrition, and terrifying storms. Many lives and fortunes were lost in the quest for the elusive "maritime philosopher's stone." In this gripping work of narrative history, Glyn Williams describes the adventures and mishaps of these misguided expeditions. Vividly written and replete with fascinating characters, Voyages of Delusion is a riveting contribution to the history of North American exploration. |
Contents
TO HUDSON | 1 |
A Passage to California | 46 |
The Controversial Voyage of Christopher | 72 |
The Maritime Philosophers Stone | 125 |
The Disputatious Voyage of William Moor | 152 |
A Parliamentary Inquiry and its Aftermath | 189 |
The Edge of a Frozen Sea | 215 |
THE PACIFIC APPROACH | 237 |
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Common terms and phrases
Admiralty Arctic Arthur Dobbs Baffin Bay Barrington Bering Bering's boats British Buache California Cape Captain chart Chesterfield Inlet Chipewyan Christopher Middleton Churchill coast of America coast of Hudson command Company's continent Cook Cook's Cove crews Delisle discovery expedition Dobbs Galley Dobbs's Drage east Ellis England entrance exploration farther Fonte's French Frozen Strait Furnace geographers harbour Hayes River Hearne Hudson Bay Hudson Strait Hudson's Bay Company instructions Inuit Isham James John journal Juan de Fuca Knight Lake land latitude leagues London Malaspina Maldonado Marble Island Middleton miles naval navigable Nootka North America northwest coast Northwest Passage Norton Ocean PĂ©rouse posts Prince William Sound published Rankin reached Repulse Bay River Russian sailed shore sighted sloop South Sea Spain Spanish Strait of Anian Strait of Juan survey tide trade Vancouver Vancouver's vessels voyage Wager west coast West Passage Whale William winter wrote