ADDRESS. 33 



them into seas far remote from the ordinary track of the whajer, 

 and their adventures are of the most daring character. In ves- 

 sels so small that they might seem unsafe for our coasting trade, 

 or the navigation of rivers and inlets, they take the seal from the 

 rocky shores of Patagonia, and the islands around Cape Horn, 

 girt with a belt of perpetual foam, and range along the entire 

 western coast of South America. Nor is their enterprise con- 

 fined within these bounds, for they skirt the eastern and western 

 shores of Africa, circle the islands of the Pacific, and, penetrating 

 far into the Southern Ocean, have in some instances completed 

 their cargoes close on the limits of the Antarctic circle ! 



In the course of these researches, many anecdotes came to my 

 knowledge, strongly illustrative of the enterprise and success of 

 our mariners. One, I trust, I may be permitted to mention in 

 this place, since it shows our own national enterprise, and the 

 liberality of Russia, in an enviable light; and exhibits one of 

 those many acts of courtesy and kindly feeling which have been 

 manifested by that great and powerful people. 



The two discovery ships sent out by the late Emperor Alexan- 

 der, to circumnavigate the globe, were becalmed in a thick fog 

 between the South Shetland Islands and Palmer's Land, though 

 much nearer the latter ; and when the mist cleared up, they were 

 astonished at beholding a small vessel of about fifty tons burden, 

 between the two ships, which immediately ran up the American 

 flag. The Russian commander displayed his own colours, and 

 despatched a boat to the stranger vessel, with an invitation to the 

 master to come on board, which was accepted, and in a few mo- 

 ments he stood on the Russian's deck. " What islands are those 

 in sight?" inquired the commodore. "The South Shetlands," 

 replied the captain; "and if you wish to visit any of them in 

 particular, it will afford me pleasure to be your pilot." " I thank 

 you," said the Russian commander; "but previously to being 

 enveloped in the mist, we had a glimpse of them, and were felici- 



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