Securities against Fire, &fc. 301 



2. Our second incidental remark regards (he Straights of Magel- 

 lan. A practical north west passage from the Atlantic into the Pa- 

 cific being now hopeless ; the improvement of a south west passage 

 is next to be contempiated, through the straights in question, by the 

 means of steam boats. A very excellent map or chart has been fur- 

 nished, in Havvksworth's collection of voyages, Vol. I. ; formed at 

 great leisure and with proper instruments by the British Circumnavi- 

 gators, Com. Byron and Captains Wallis and Carteret, in which this 

 passage is divided into lengths, taken from point to point; (in other 

 words, into reaches). By the aid of steam boats and the document 

 in question, it is to be hoped, that the strong tides, strong currents, 

 and strong swells, belonging to this passage may be overcome; and 

 also, that the gales and bursts of wind, to which the neighborhood of 

 Highlands in close waters is subject, may be rendered harmless. 

 Proper moments for stirring in these waters must be chosen, by the 

 aid of experience ; since the safety of the steam boats themselves or 

 their apparatus, may otherwise be endangered. This matter seems 

 worth the few words bestowed upon it, since, if we except the passa- 

 ges across the Isthmus of Suez and across the Isthmus of Darien or 

 Panama, no other spot on the globe affords a more advantageous 

 short cut, than the straights in question. The saving of time here to 

 be made, and the benefit of avoiding the usual rudeness of a passage 

 round Cape Horn, will not only benefit navigators coming from a dis- 

 tance who wish to pass to and fro between the Atlantic and Pacific ; 

 but also the inhabitants of the east and west sides of the continent 

 of South America.* — But here we finish our eleventh article. 



* See Hawksworth's Collection of Voyages, 1773, vol. 1. p. xvi of the general In- 

 troduction; also at p. 84, where Commodore Byron is spoken of as having passed 

 these straights; and at p. 189 to 198, where Capt. Wallis is noiiced on this occasion; 

 and at p. 309 to p. 416, where Capt. Carteret's account appears. The great chart 

 or map to which I have referred, takes in the particulars furnished hy all these cir- 

 cumnavigators, and Captain Wallis gives materials to make a little pamplet to ac- 

 company it. — Dr. Hawksworth (who was an editor of very inferior merit) is against 

 attempting the passage of these straights; and says, that although it was the opinion 

 of Com. Byron (who spent seven weeks and two days in passing through the straight) 

 that it may be passed in three weeks at the proper season, yet the pa-sage cost Capt. 

 Wallis near four months. But the truth is, that Capt. Wallis had to wait for the re- 

 pairs of two consorts, &c. in the straights; and Com. Byron said, that not only a 

 •ingle vessel, but a large squadron, might pass the straight in less than three weeks. 

 (See as above p. 16 and p. 84 compared.) 



