i'Z PORTER'S JOURiSAL, 



Indeed, ample as has been the information he has given on 

 every other subject that has come under his notice, I am 

 almost induced to believe, that many of his observations 

 on this matter have been suppressed by his editor ; and, 

 that the remark is the effect of national prejudice, vrhich 

 ever has, and ever vi^ill exist. The passage round Cape 

 Horn, from the eastv^ard, I assert, from my own experience, 

 is the most dangerous, most difficult, and attended with 

 more hardships, than that of the same distance, in any 

 other part of the world ; and none should attempt it, with- 

 out using every precaution to guard against accident, that 

 prudence or foresight can suggest. And to this end, I would 

 advise them, when they arrive in the latitude of *40' south, 

 to prepare their ships for the tempestuous weather of Cape 

 Horn ; by secwing their masts by preventer-shrouds ; send- 

 ing down all their light spars, studding-sail booms, &lc, ; un* 

 reaving their small rigging ; unbending their light sails ^ 

 and reducing, as much as possible, the weight, in order that 

 tiiey may be enabled to carry a heavy press of canvas. They 

 should abandon all thoughts of using their light sails, until 

 they arrive in the same, latitude in the Pacific. Indeed, it 

 would be adviseable to provide themselves with a set of 

 small topsails and yards to suit them, as it will be rarely 

 (if ever) they will be enabled to carry whole topsails, and 

 seldom their courses. Their storm-stajsails should be 

 constantly bent ; and if they have guns, no more of them 

 should be kept on deck, than what wouid be necessary to 

 keep the ship easy. From the latitude 40° south, in tl^e 

 Atlantic, to the Streights of Le Maire, the winds vary from 

 northwest to southeast, by the west ; in order, therefore, to 

 take advantage of the slants which they offer, it is advisea- 

 ble to keep about the edge of soundings, and run with the 

 wind free on that tack which most favours the course ; this 

 will prevent the ship from making lee-way, and the cer- 

 tainty of a change will soon enable you to recover the di- 

 rect track. By pursuing this plan, you will be enabled by 

 the soundings to correct your reckoning, as they are mark- 

 ed on the charts with sufficient accuracy. Pass the Falk- 

 land Islands in about the longitude of 65° west ; and, if the 

 wind should enable you, by all means go through the 

 Streights of Le Maire, which is a passage perfectly free 

 from all danger. Should the winds be ahead, however^ 



