VOYAGE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 9 



ferent nations, before our time, a careful examination 

 of its bays, and harbours, and headlands ; of the 

 numerous islands it contains, and of the coasts, on 

 both sides, that inclose it ; and an exact account of 

 the tides, and currents, and soundings, through its 

 whole extent, was a task, which, if Sir John Nar- 

 borough, and others, had not totally omitted, they 

 cannot be said to have recorded so fully, as to pre- 

 clude the utility of future investigation. This task 

 has been ably and effectually performed by Byron, 

 Wallis, and Carteret, whose transactions in this 

 Strait, and the chart of it, founded on their observ- 

 ations and discoveries, are a most valuable accession 

 to geography. 



III. 



If the correct information, thus obtained, about 

 every part of this celebrated Strait, should deter fu- 

 ture adventurers from involving themselves in the 

 difficulties and embarrassments of a labyrinth, now 

 known to be so intricate, and the unavoidable source 

 of danger and delay, we have the satisfaction to have 

 discovered, that a safer and more expeditious en- 

 trance into the Pacific Ocean, may be reasonably 

 depended upon. The passage round Cape Horn 

 has been repeatedly tried, both from the east and 

 from the west, and stript of its terrors. We shall, 

 for the future, be less discouraged by the labours 

 and distresses experienced by the squadrons of Lord 

 Anson and Pizarro, when we recollect, that they 

 were obliged to attempt the navigation of those seas 

 at an unfavourable season of the year ; and that there 

 was nothing very formidable met with there, when 

 they were traversed by Captain Cook. 



To this distinguished navigator was reserved the 

 honour of being the first, who, from a series of the 

 most satisfactory observations, beginning at the west 

 entrance of the Strait of Magalhaens, and carried on, 

 with unwearied diligence, round Tierra del Fuego, 



4> 



