PORTER’S JOURNAL, ,79 
the weather we had yet met, had not been so severe as some we 
had encountered on the coast of North America, during our last 
cruize, and fell far short of the descriptions given by the author of 
lord Anson’s voyage. But on the afternoon of the 18th, a gale 
came on, from the westward, which, for its violence, equalled any 
described by that historian. But, as my experience had already 
taught me, that moderate weather was not to be expected in this 
part of the world, at this season of the year, I determined to carry 
all the sail in my power, to endeavour to get to the northward as 
fast as possible ; and with much difficulty, and great risque of 
splitting the sail, succeeded in getting the close-reefed main top¬ 
sail set. With this, and the fore, main, and mizen storm-stay- 
sails, we were enabled to force the ship about two knots, through 
a tremendous head sea, which threatened every moment destruc- 
tion to our bowsprit and masts. The gale, however, increasing, 
we were soon reduced to the main storm-stay-sail, and from that 
to bare poles. About 12 o’clock, the wdnd hauled around to the 
south-west, and blew in dreadful squalls, accompanied with hail; 
and as this enabled us to steer north-west, and (allowing for the 
drift and variation) make a north course good, which I believed 
would take us clear of the west point of Terra del Fuego, I got 
all the yards well secured, by preventer-braces; and, by watch¬ 
ing a favourable opportunity, set the close-reefed fore and main 
top-sails, and reefed fore-sail. The squalls came at intervals of 
from 15 to 20 minutes, with so little warning, and with such tre¬ 
mendous blasts, that it was impossible to shorten sail; for to have 
started the sheets, after they had struck the ship, would have 
been attended with the certain loss of the sail. I, therefore, saw 
no alternative, but running before the wind, while they lasted, and 
as soon as they were over, which was generally in two or three 
minutes, hauled again by the wind. Thus, by the utmost atten¬ 
tion and care, we were enabled to get along, at the rate of be¬ 
tween 5 and 6 miles per hour; and on the 21st, found ourselves, 
by estimation, in the latitude of 57° 30' south ; and the longitude 
©f 77° west. We had now fair prospects of soon getting around. 
I had made large allowances for drift and lee way ; and believed 
ourselves as far to the west as our reckoning gave us, winch 
