PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
n 
sea, I saw no prospect of saving the ship, but by carrying a heafty 
press of sail to keep off the lee^ shore, until the wind changed* 
We kept the lead constantly going, and found our soundings very 
regular at 45 fathoms, rocky and coral bottom. After standing to 
the W.N.W. about an hour, the water began to grow very 
smooth, which could only be occasioned by a sudden change of 
the current; and whales appeared along side the ship: this gave 
me hopes of being to the eastward of St. Vincent, and in the 
Streights of Le Maire ; a sharp look-out was kept for the land, 
and at half past seven, to our unspeakable joy, the land was dis¬ 
covered a-head, and on both bows, distant about a mile. No doubts 
now remained, as to our being in the streights ; I therefore direct¬ 
ed the helm to be put a-weather, and made all sail to the south¬ 
ward, keeping the coast of Terra del Fuego close a-board, and 
as we undoubtedly had the first of the tide, we were swept 
through with great rapidity, and at 9 o’clock we were clear of 
the streights. 
The extreme haziness of the weather prevented my making 
many observations on the appearance of the land; it, however, 
had not that dreary aspect I was prepared to expect s the hills 
appeared clothed with verdure, and the coast seemed indented 
with deep bays, which, from the accounts of former navigators, I 
have no doubt, are well calculated to afford shelter to vessels 
navigating those seas, and engaged in the whale fishery. Indeed? 
it was the source of much regret to me, and to all on board, that 
the state of the weather prevented our having a better view of a 
coast, that has excited so much the attention of mankind, from 
the description given by the most celebrated navigators; and had 
circumstances permitted, I should have anchored in the bay of 
Good Success, so minutely described by the celebrated Cook. 
The land we first made and attempted to weather, was Cape 
San Diego, on the coast of Staten Land: the appearance was 
dreary beyond description ; perhaps, however, the critical situa¬ 
tion of the ship, the foaming of the breakers, the violence of the 
wind, and the extreme haziness of the weather, may (all Com¬ 
bined) have served to render the appearance more dreadful; 
but from the impression made by its appearance then, and from 
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