370 Account of the Discovery of New South Shetland^ 
own observation ; he is a native of Blythe in Northumber- 
land, had been brought up in the Greenland whale-fishery ; and 
had learned to distinguish land from icebergs ; though it must be 
confessed that the most experienced eye is often deceived by 
the striking similarity. If I mistake not, I informed you thus 
far of the discovery, in a letter I wrote you soon after my arrival 
in this country. What I then learned of it was from a young 
man, who took his passage during this voyage. Mr Smith on 
his return to the River Plate in June following, was determin- 
ed, if possible, to verify what he had seen : he steered in the 
latitude of 62° 12' S., but when he reached the longitude of 
67° W. he became so beset with loose pack* ice, that he was 
alarmed for the safety of his ship and cargo ; in a few hours 
he got clear, and stood off on his course, considering that all 
attempts in his situation, with the very short days and in the 
depth of winter, would be extremely indiscreet. 
On his arrival at Monte Video, he was again ridiculed for his 
credulity : his confidence in the observations he had made was 
certainly shaken ; but he could never be led entirely to re- 
nounce his former conclusions. On this occasion, Mr Smith con- 
ducted himself in a manner becoming an Englishman : His ac- 
count reached the ears of some American merchants, who endea- 
voured to obtain from him the true situation of the land ; they 
offered to charter his ship on a voyage of discovery, and to employ 
it in whaling, making that the apparent object of the enter- 
prize. Copies of articles were drawm up. The Americans 
now endeavoured to ascertain from him the longitude and lati- 
tude of the land ; but he, to his credit, refused to disclose it to 
any but a British born subject : he honourably offered to conduct 
the vessel there, and, if no land existed, to receive no freight ; 
but that was not the object of the other party : Thus defeated 
in their manoeuvre, the Americans withdrew their contract, and 
the honest Englishman determined to run the chance of waiting 
many months for employment of his vessel. At length, having 
, obtained freight a second time to Chili, he set off on his voyage, 
and on the 15th of* October last, at 6 P. M. being then about the 
same latitude and longitude as before, he discovered the same 
land, bearing S. E. by E. 3 leagues. The weather was hazy : 
he bore up for it, and approached within 4 miles of it, when he 
