534 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



were landed, in order to correct them by the known longitude 

 of the island ; the sails were unbent, the topmasts struck, for a 

 thorough examination of the rigging. The Discovery went by 

 accident upon a rock, and was for a while in great danger. On 



THE SHIP DISCOVERY ON A ROCK. 



Sunday, the 1st of January, 1792, every one had as much fresh 

 pork and plum-pudding as he could eat, and a double allowance 

 of grog was served in which to drink the time-honored toast. 

 The formula, however, was slightly altered to suit the state of 

 the case : the gunner of the Discovery being the only married 

 man of the party, the toast given was Sweethearts and 

 Wife ! 



On the 24th of January, the two ships turned their head to 

 the northward, now for the first time commencing the voyage 

 in view of which the expedition had been equipped. They ran 

 the two thousand five hundred miles that lay between them and 

 the Sandwich Islands in the space of five weeks, and anchored 

 off Owhyhee on the 1st of March. They touched the American 

 coast, or that part of it known as New Albion, in 39° north 

 latitude, which Vancouver now explored and surveyed. In 

 August he entered Nootka, where, in accordance with his in- 

 structions, he was to receive from the Spanish authorities the 

 formal cession of the colony they had established. He found 

 his Catholic Majesty's brig Active already there, commanded 

 by Senor Don Juan Francisco de la Rodega y Quadra. The 

 two commanders agreed to honor each other by a mutual saluto 



