262 



PROSPECTIVE ADVANTAGES. 



ping at Port William, could not fail to prosper, if a free port 

 were offered there to ships of all nations. Homeward-bound 

 ships from our rapidly growing colonies in Australia, as well 

 as those from Mexico, Peru, and Chile, are often in want of a 

 port to which they can resort about the middle of their voy- 

 age. The River Plata is out of the way and dangerous ; Santa 

 Catharina is almost as much out of reach, and deficient in 

 many articles of supply; Rio de Janeiro and Bahia are also 

 out of the line and very expensive, though they are often 

 resorted to ; St. Helena is too far east, scantily supplied, and 

 more expensive than the Brazils. But almost every one of 

 those ships 'sight' the eastern end of the Falklands as they pass 

 by, to correct or verify their longitude, and how very little 

 delay then would they experience, if the course were shaped 

 so as to pass a little nearer Port William, and there heave to 

 under the lee of the land, or let go an anchor, as might be most 

 suitable. Water and fresh provisions might be speedily pro- 

 cured, at a price now moderate, and if a colony were once well 

 organized, in a short time as low as in any part of the world. 

 A few small vessels should be attached to the colony, and two 

 small men of war, one of which should be always about the 

 chief harbour, and the other visiting the various ports of the 

 archipelago. I have alluded more than once to the fact of 

 excellent fresh water being plentiful every where, and I may 

 here add, that if a sailing tank- vessel were kept at Port Wil- 

 liam in readiness to supply ships without delay, that one con- 

 venience only, when generally known, would ensure the visits 

 of almost every Australian and Mexican trader, besides many 

 others. No one making a long voyage hesitates to take in an 

 additional supply of good water during his passage, if he can do 

 so without delay (of consequence) and without danger. It is 

 the natural unwillingness to get in with the land — to be delayed 

 in port — to pay heavy port dues, and to risk losing men — that 

 generally induces seamen in command of vessels to avoid ever}'- 

 port excepting that to which they are bound ; but if you could 

 ensure to a ship loading at Sydney a safe ' half-way house"* at 

 the Falklands, she would hardly prefer carrying a quantity of 



