NAUTICAL REMARKS. 
6^33 
hard, as usual; so that what distance w’as gained to the westward in the early part of the day 
was lost toward the close of it. In this manner we were driven down upon the coast, and ob- 
liged to stand to the westward, when, had we been a hundred miles further off shore, we should 
have had a fair wind. On the 22d June we had an easterly wind, which veered to S. E., 
and drove us away to the latitude 56o 18' S. and longitude 75 ° W., when we encountered 
S. by E. winds, wliich carried us past Cape Horn on the 30th. Our winds were now fair ; 
but off the Falkland Islands they were variable, until they settled in the E. S. E. quarter. 
With this we advanced to 35" N., when we encountered N. E. and N. W. gales, with heavy 
cross seas, and then several pamperos, which were attended by vivid lightning. We after- 
wards made progress to the northward, and arrived at Rio Janeiro on the 21st July. 
In this passage, which was made in the depth of winter, the greatest cold was 21°. From 
Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands we had thick showers of snow, and had we been 
bound the opposite way, I have no doubt we should have felt the weather severely. The 
barometer, as on the former occasion, proved an invaluable monitor. From the time we 
quitted Massa Fuera until we were off Staten Land, the winds were advantageous for making 
the passage to the Pacific, and so far they favour the opinion of the winter time being the 
most desirable for this purpose. The current in this passage ran to the south-east to the latitude 
46” S., then north two days, and from 48“ to 57° S., between N. W. and S. W., at the rate 
of thirteen miles a day. From 57° S. and long. 68” W., they ran to the N. E., until we had 
passed the Cape, and then westerly and north-westerly to the Falkland Islands. Off the 
River Date they ran to the S. W, and S. On our arrival at Rio Janeiro the whole effect of 
the current from Coquimbo was S. 62" W. eighty-two miles. 
From the experience of these two passages round the Horn, I am of opinion that a ship 
bound to the Pacific should pass inside the Falkland Islands, and round Staten Land, as 
closely as possible ; as she will most likely encounter S. W. winds directly the Pacific is open. 
A north-west wind off the Falklands will, I think, generally veer to W. and S. W. on ap- 
proaching Staten Land. With S. W. winds off Staten Land, nothing is left of course but 
to stand to the southward. I should not, however, recommend keeping this board longer 
than to get an ofifing, except westing was to be made by it ; and if not, I would go about 
directly a mile of longitude was to be gained on the in-shore tack; avoiding, however, a near 
approach to Terra del Fuego, eastward of Cape Horn, on account of the north-east set 
through Strait Le Maire, with southerly winds. I see no good reason for going to a high 
southern latitude, if it can be avoided without loss of longitude. With regard to the fact, 
that gales of wind are stronger near the land, I own I cannot concur in such an opinion. On 
a com})arison of the Blossom’s passage out with that of a brig commanded by a Lieutenant 
Parker, which rounded the Horn at the same time, it appeared that whilst she was e.xpe- 
riencing strong winds and heavy seas, which washed away some of her boats, the Blossom, 
close in with the laud, had fine moderate weather, and no other indication of the gales the 
Hellespont was encountering than by a long southerly swell setting upon the shore ; and that 
the Blossom had the advantage of a westerly current, while the brig was put back twenty 
miles daily by one in the opposite direction. 
4 M 
