THE VOYAGE OF THE HURON AND THE HUNTRESS 



men on the ocean, under this head, a few days ago, has been copied into a multitude 

 of papers, on account of its internal evidence of truth. Since then we gave an account, 

 of the discovery of a new southern land, in a full belief that it would be found out 

 that 'Jonathan,' as the Edinburg reviewers elegantly call the people of the United 

 States, know of it long ago. Such seems to be the fact, as appears by the following 

 article extracted from the N. York 'Mercantile Adviser,' one of our most respectable 

 newspapers. 



"The discovery — It is a singular fact that the newly discovered land in the Pacific 

 Ocean, south of Cape Horn, has been known to brother Jonathan, at least so long that 

 a voyage to and from the island has actually been completed out of the port of Ston- 

 ington, Connecticut. But less ambitious about the honor than the profit, he was 

 content, from the experience of the first voyage, to move on quietly in the purchase 

 of ships, which he has done to the extent of seven or eight within a few months. 

 About two years ago, a ship was fitted out of this port (New York) on shares, for 

 'an island unknown to anyone except the captain, where seals which had never been 

 disturbed by man, were as tame as kittens, and more plenty than any other place upon 

 the earth.' This was the language used to induce others to take an interest, the pos- 

 sessors of the secret being rich in knowledge and poor in purse. The ship, however, 

 proceeded, but was unfortunately cast away before she reached her destination. 

 "When our brethren of Stonington have made as much as they wish by keeping the 

 secret, we hope they will favor the world with some account of their discovery." 

 [September 30, 1820; page 65] 



All of these sources, the first one published in 1821 in France, the second one written 

 by one of England's foremost Antarctic authorities, and the remainder in contemporary 

 American newspapers, indicate that United States sealers, rather than William Smith, may 

 have been the first to sight and possibly land on the islands of the South Shetland group. 

 However, since no documentary evidence exists to prove these claims, the discovery must 

 be credited to Smith, the Englishman. 



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