with Observations on its Importance^ ^c. 369 
jplayed a spirit of enterprise that would do honour to a more 
enlightened navigator. 
Independent of any national consideration, the result of this 
inquiry will clear up an important question in hydrographical 
and geographical science. 
Mr William Smith, master of the brig Williams of Blythe, 
in a voyage from Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso, fancying that 
the passage, round Cape Horn might be weathered better by 
preserving a more than usual southerly course, being on the 
19th of February 1819 in Lat. 62° 40' south, and Long. 60° W. 
imagined he saw land at the distance of 2 leagues ; at that time 
he observed many fields of ice floating about, but so distinctly 
different was the appearance alluded to, that he was convinced 
it must be land. At this time, encountering hard gales of 
wind, accompanied by flying showers of snow, he thought it 
prudent to haul off to the northward during the night. Next 
day (February 20.) he again stood in for his supposed land ; 
at noon his Latitude by observation was 62° 17' S., Long. 
60° 12' W. by an excellent chronometer ; the weather was mo- 
derate, and the atmosphere clear, when he again made the 
land. So fine was it, that he could not mistake the appearance. 
Fearing the return of blowing weather, he was deterred from 
approaching nearer, and being principal owner of the brig, he 
was unwilling to endanger the validity of his policy of insu- 
rance, in case of meeting with any accident in his research. He 
observed, however, to the westward more land, which he ap- 
proached to the distance of 10 miles ; this, as well as the for- 
mer, appeared to be an island ; both at this time offered the 
appearance of snow only in very few places : and were al- 
most wholly bare, barren and rocky. The air felt pleasant 
and temperate, with a fine clear atmosphere, and agreeable sun- 
shine : he observed great abundance of whales and seals. In 
such a responsible situation with regard to his ship and cargo, 
he contented himself with this distant survey, and on his ar- 
fival at Valparaiso, he related every thing that he had seen 
to the English there, who all ridiculed the poor man for his 
fanciful credulity and his deceptive vision ; no one, in fact, 
gave the least credit to his tale, all endeavouring to persuade 
him that what he had seen was no more than ice-islands. Mr 
Smith was not, however, to be thus easily laughed out of his 
