the shore is very
rocky and dangerous. As I shall hereafter have occasion to take
farther notice of that coast, I shall not enlarge any farther
respecting it in this place, but shall conclude this account with a
short description of the harbour of St Julian, the general form of
which may be conceived from the annexed sketch. It must however be
noticed, that the bar there marked at the entrance has many holes in
it, and is often shifting. The tide flows here N. and S. and at full
and change rises four fathoms. On our first arrival, an officer was
sent on shore to the salt pond marked D. in the sketch, in order to
procure a quantity of salt for the use of the squadron; for Sir John
Narborough had observed, when he was here, that the salt was very
white and good, and that in February there was enough to have loaded a
thousand ships. But our officer returned with a sample which was very
bad, and said that even of this very little was to be had: I suppose
the weather had been more rainy this year than ordinary, and had
destroyed the salt, or prevented its fermentation.

SECTION VII.

_Departure from the Bay of St Julian, and Passage from thence to the
Straits of Le Maire._

The Tryal being nearly refitted, which was our principal occupation
at this bay, and sole occasion of our stay, the commodore thought
it necessary to fix the plan of his first operations, as we were
now directly bound for the South Seas and the enemy's coasts; and
therefore, on the 24th February, a signal was made for all captains,
and a council of war was held on board the Centurion. There were
present on this occasion the Honourable Edward Legg, Captain Matthew
Mitchell, the Honourable George Murray, Captain David Cheap, and
Colonel Mordaunt Cracherode, commander of the land-forces. At this
council, it was proposed by Commodore Anson, that their first attempt,
after arriving in the South Seas, should be against the town and
harbour of Baldivia, the principal frontier place in the south of
Chili, informing them, as an inducement for this enterprize, that it
formed part of his majesty's instructions to endeavour to secure
some port in the South Seas where the ships of the squadron might be
careened and refitted. The council readily and unanimously agreed
to this proposal; and, in consequence of this resolution, new
instructions were issued to the captains, by which, though still
directed, in case of separation, to make the best of their way to the