native of Dartmouth, and the neighhour and friend of the Gilberts and of Ralegh, So that an ardent zeal for northern discovery ws early implanted in his breast. Through the munificence of Mr. Villiam Sanderson, a wealthy London merchant of the Fish- mongers' Company. Davis was enahled to equip two vessels for a northern expedition of discovery--the ,qunsbine of 50, and the Moonsbi.e' of 35 tons. Saillug from l);trtmouth in June, 1585, Davis touched on the coast of Greenland and ac,luired experience in ice navigation. Returning in Seltcmber, lie started on a second voyage in May, 1586, returning in August. Undaunted by fidlure he induced his employers to fit out a third expedition, this time consisting of three vessels--the Eli:,beth, Sunshine, and , small piunace of 20 tons called the Elh'n.

The third was the most important of the three Arctic voyages of John Davis. Beiug very anxious to make it remunerative to his generous and enterprising employer.% he sent the two larger vessels to fish, while he prosecuted his discoveries along the coast of Greenland on board the little twenty-ton pimmce. He sailed northwards, iu an pen sea, until he reached 72' lff' N., where he named a lofty, and now well-known, headland, "Sanderson, his hope of a north-west passage." He reached this point ou the 30th June, 1587, hoping to proceed on a prosperous voyage. But soon afterwards he was lieset in the ice for several days, which diverted him from his course, and he sidled across the strait that bears his name, returning safely to l}artmouth in September, 1587. Davis did a great work in the course of these three voyages. He discovered Davis' ,qtrait; he lighted the way to others who were destined to penetrate farther north and farther west; he set a. bright example of scientific skill, consmnmate seamanship and dauutless gallantry which was followed by rimherons successors; and he firmly believed in the possibility of making the voyage under more rayontable circumstances, as he stated in an interesting letter, which has been preserved, to his old friend Francis Drake.

Ten years before Davis commenced his Arctic voyages, Francis Drake had returned from his Irish sen'ice resolved to put his plans into execution. For his dreams of navigating English ships in the South Sea had become solid and carefully thought out plans. His age iu 1577 was thirty-seven. He had heen at sea nearly all his life. He had received the training of an explorer, aud was a thorough seaman and a scientific pilot. He was a wise and prudent

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