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FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



John Byron, an illustrious name in the naval 

 annals of Great Britain. What follows is 

 extracted from his instructions, dated June 17^ 

 1764. "And whereas his majesty's islands, 

 called Pepy's Island, Falkland Islands, lying 

 within the said track (i. e. the track between the 

 Cape of Good Hope and the streights of Ma- 

 gellan) notwithstanding their having been first 

 discovered and visited by British navigators, 

 have never yet been so sufficiently surveyed as 

 that an accurate judgment may be formed of 

 their coasts and product. His majesty taking 

 the premises into consideration, and conceiving 

 no juncture so proper for enterprises of this 

 nature as a time of profound peace, which his 

 kingdoms at present happily enjoy, has thought 

 fit that it should now be undertaken." 



On the 23d of January, 1765, Commodore 

 Byron went on shore at these islands, with the 

 captains and principal officers of his squadron, 

 " where the Union Jack being erected on a high 

 staff, and spread, the commodore took posses- 

 sion of the harbour and all the neighbouring 

 islands, for his Majesty King George III., his 

 heirs and successors, by the name of Falkland's 



