THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



439 



I have here propofed two fhips, not only for the greater '7"9- 



r • c i i • • i i ' ,' . . _ f r -\, December. 



iecunty of the expedition, but becaufe I think fingle ihips ■. -.- ._■ 

 ought never to be fent out on difcoveries. For where rifks 

 are to be run, and doubtful and hazardous experiments 

 tried, it cannot be expected that fingle fhips fhotild venture 

 fo far, as where there is fome fecurity provided againfl an 

 untoward accident. 



The veffels being now ready for fea, will fail with the fir ft 

 South Wefterly monfoon, which generally fets in about the 

 beginning of April. With this wind they will fleer to the 

 Northward, along the coaft of China, beginning a more ac- 

 curate furvey from the mouth of the river Kyana, or the 

 Nankin River, in latitude 30 , which I believe is the utmoft 

 limit of this coaft hitherto vifited by European fhips. As 

 the extent of that deep gulf called Whang Hay, or the 

 Yellow Sea, is at prefent unknown, it muft be left to the 

 difcretion of the Commander, to proceed up it as far as he 

 may judge prudent ; but he muft be cautious not to entangle 

 himfelf too far in it, left he mould want time for the profe- 

 cution of the remaining part of his enterprize. The 

 fame difcretion muft be ufed, when he arrives in the Straits 

 of Tefibi, with refpccl: to the iftands of Jefo, which, if the 

 wind and weather be favourable, he will not lofe the oppor- 

 tunity of exploring. 



Having proceeded to the latitude of 51 40', where he wilt 

 make the Southernmoft point of the iftand of Sagaleen, 

 beyond which the fea of Okotfk is fufriciently known, he 

 will fteer to the Southward, probably in the beginning of 

 June, and endeavour to< fall in with the Southernmoft of 

 the Kurile iiiands. Ouroop or Nadefchda, according to the 

 accounts or the Ruffians, will furnifh the fhips with a good 

 2 harbour* 



