By these expeditions a large addition was made to the knowledge of the northern extent of America, and Hudson's and Baffin's Bays were discovered.

But the wished-for passage, on that side, into the Pacific Ocean, was still unattained.

Nor were the various attempts of our countrymen, and of the Dutch, to find such a passage, by sailing round the north of Asia, in an eastern direction, attended with better success.

Wood's failure in 1676, appears to have concluded the long list of unfortunate expeditions in that century.

The discovery, if not absolutely despaired of, had been unsuccessful in such a number of instances, that it ceased for many years, to be an object of pursuit.
The question was again revived in the present century.