218 LETTER OF THE ADMIRAL'S SECRETARY. 
that I have felt when visiting some spot held 
sacred either from history or from being the 
scene of some Biblical relation ; it is a secret 
kind of satisfaction. Having a fair wind, we 
hoped about noon to be on shore ; but whilst 
we were yet twenty miles from the island, 
the wind came directly foul, and fell light, 
so that we hardly held our own, owing to 
the heavy swell, and all day we remained 
endeavouring to work up. What a little 
spot it appears on the vast Pacific ! a mere 
rock, apparently incapable to resist the 
mighty waves of so vast an ocean. Easily 
indeed would a ship not knowing its exact 
position miss it. The mutineers might well 
deem themselves secure on so small an island, 
so remotely situated at that time. Also 
these seas were but little frequented; but 
even now, to give you an idea of their vast 
extent, notwithstanding the thousands of 
ships that are trading on them, we have only 
seen one ship at sea, and our track measures 
4,500 miles. When we get close to the land, 
or some well-known port, we see a few. 
During the night we got a slant of wind, and 
at 6, Sunday morning the 8th, we were close 
