HISTORY OF DISCOVERY. 57 



good fortune the results achieved by the intrepidity and 

 fortitude of the skilful commander and his crews, and 

 an unpleasant impression is made when the celebrated 

 Captain, subsequently Admiral, Dumont D'Urville dis- 

 credits Weddell's account, apparently because he was 

 not successful in following his course himself. 



For many years, in the region of the South Shetlands 

 and the Dirk Gerritz Archipelago, seals continued to 

 be eagerly hunted and exterminated. In the twenties, 

 however, a scientific expedition appeared in these waters 

 without any intention of adding- to existing maps and 

 charts by the discoveries of which they were in search. 

 The Chanticleer, an English frigate commanded by Cap- 

 tain Foster, came to these islands, not for the purpose 

 of searching for new Antarctic lands, but because they 

 offered the best opportunity as being the southernmost 

 land then known for completing the investigations begun 

 in 1822 and 1823 by the eminent navigator and physicist, 

 Edward Sabine. His observations on the pendulum 

 and on magnetic variations had been carried on over 

 the whole area of the Atlantic Ocean, with the exception 

 of the higher southern latitudes, and it was intended, 

 by completing the former, to secure data for arriving 

 at an accurate knowledge of the form of the globe. 

 Foster left Staten Land on the 21st of December, 1828, 

 and on the 3rd of January, 1829, arrived in sight of 

 Smith Island, the most westerly of the South Shetlands. 

 Without, however, making any delay he steered due 

 south through Bransfield Straits to the Trinity and 

 Palmer Land groups, uselessly re-naming them Clarence 

 Land, and landing to take possession at Cape Possession, 

 a promontory on the probably very small Hoseason Is- 

 land, which he took to be part of an extensive coast. 

 The situation of the cape he determined to be latitude 

 62, 26' S. and longitude 64° 6' W. As early as the 

 second day after, the Chanticleer made for the interior of 



