LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 521 



where the water did not break, and agreeing as it did so nearly with 

 the saiUng directions, Captain Hudson did not hesitate to attempt to 

 proceed through the smoother part. 



I am well aware that many opinions have been, and probably still 

 are entertained, relative to the prudence of venturing with the ship 

 before the channel had been explored and examined by the tender 

 and boats. This is but natural to one unacquainted with the bar of the 

 Columbia river and its dangers. After having paid much attention to 

 this subject, and having been engaged there with the tender and 

 boats in the survey, I feel myself entitled to give an opinion as to the 

 course pursued by Captain Hudson, and think it altogether correct, on 

 every ground of expediency, as well as the only proper one for him to 

 have followed under the circumstances. It will be recollected that 

 he had been detained nearly three months beyond his appointed 

 time, and that he was well aware that this would occasion much in- 

 convenience to the progress of our duties ; his anxiety to prevent any 

 farther delay, even of a few hours, can readily be imagined. The 

 time was, to all appearance, propitious, and hesitation then might have 

 rendered it impossible to have entered for a week. The tender going 

 in ahead would have been little or no security, for she would, un- 

 doubtedly, have pursued the same course, and have been, in all proba- 

 bility, lost ; and thus the Peacock would have been obliged at last to 

 trust to the knowledge of those on board of her. As respects the 

 examination of the bar in boats, this is a thing next to impossible ; for 

 the tides are so strong as to be beyond the power of oars to contend 

 with. To wait until a thorough knowledge could be had of the bar 

 from survey, would have been equally impossible at that time : all 

 were uninformed, or incapable of judging of the accuracy of the 

 directions ; but, so far as appearances went, they seemed to be true, 

 and they are such as I should even now give, so far as compass bear- 

 ings are concerned. But there is one difficulty that will ever exist in 

 passing over the bar, and this, nothing but an intimate acquaintance 

 with the locality will remove. I allude to the cross-tides, which are 

 changing every half-hour. These tides are at times so rapid, that it 

 is impossible to steer a ship by her compass, or maintain her position ; 

 and no saihng directions can possibly embrace the various effects 

 produced by them upon a vessel. A singular fact in illustration of 

 this remark is, that the safest time to cross the bar is when both the 

 tide and wind are adverse ; and this is the only port, within my know- 

 ledge, where this is the case. Captain Hudson, in venturing the 



VOL. IV. 131 



