379 
with Observations on its Importance^ 
effect of a cavern in the mountain, — an occurrence very com- 
mon in mountains of hornblende-slate, of which I am inclined 
to believe the hills of both countries are chiefly composed. 
The climate of New Shetland would seem to be very tempe- 
rate, considering its latitude; and should the expedition now 
sent out bring assurances that the land is capable of support- 
ing population, — an assumption which the appearance of trees 
renders very probable, the place may become a colony of con- 
siderable importance. So little advanced as the season must be 
in October, the atmosphere was by no means cold : it was plea- 
santly temperate, like that felt in the north of Scotland at a 
similar season. Even in June, the very depth of winter, nothing 
like excessive cold was experienced. 
The prompt measures adopted by the Naval Commander on 
the station merit the warmest praise, for having availed himself 
of every means he could attain for arranging the survey. Those 
who are aware of the extent to which the whale-fishery may be 
carried on in this hemisphere, must be immediately struck with 
the immense benefit which the acquisition of New Shetland 
might offer as a British settlement. We have only to call to 
view the chance we stand of being outrivalled by another mari- 
time nation, there being at this time upwards of 200 American 
whale-ships lucratively employed in the Pacific, when Great Bri- 
tain cannot boast of more than 30 or 40. We have only to 
state this fact, to exhibit the advantage of this settlement as 
connected with that branch of trade ; but if we take into view 
the whole mercantile trade with Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, 
and the immensely extensive provinces of the interior, which 
is increasing with strides unknown, and establishing a de- 
mand for articles of British manufacture that must even- 
tually prove the channel for the consumption of British pro- 
duce, and the employment of British capital ; if we consider, 
too, that these places must eventually become established as 
places of barter and entrepot to our India and China trades, 
— then must the importance of the situation, if it can ad- 
mit of a settlement, be strikingly apparent. Comparing this 
spot with the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland, it will be 
seen that these three places form equidistant depots in the 
Southern Hemisphere, respectively situated so as to defend, if 
