prevent the separation of our ships; for, had
he been solely intent on getting round Cape Horn in the shortest time,
the most proper method for this purpose would have been, to order each
ship to make the best of her way to the rendezvous, without waiting
for the rest.

From the time of leaving Port St Julian to the 4th March, we had
little wind with thick hazy weather and some rain, and our soundings
were generally from forty to fifty fathoms, with a bottom of black
and gray sand, sometimes mixed with pebble stones. On the 4th March
we were in sight of Cape Virgin Mary, and not more than six or seven
leagues distant, the northern boundary of the eastern entrance of
the Straits of Magellan, in lat 52 deg. 21' S. long. 71 deg. 44' W. from
London.[1] It seemed a low flat land, ending in a point.[2] Off this
cape the depth of water was from thirty-five to forty-eight fathoms.
The afternoon of this day was bright and clear, with small breezes
of wind, inclining to a calm; and most of the captains took the
opportunity of this fine weather to visit the commodore. While all
were on board the Centurion, they were greatly alarmed by a sudden
flame bursting out in the Gloucester, followed by a cloud of
smoke; but were soon relieved of their apprehensions, by receiving
information that the blast had been occasioned by a spark of fire from
the forge lighting on some gun-powder, and other combustibles, which
an officer was preparing for use, in case of falling in with the
Spanish squadron, and which had exploded without any damage to the
ship.

[Footnote 1: The longitude of Cape Virgin Mary, is only 67 deg. 42' W.
from Greenwich.--E.]

[Footnote 2: By the draught in the original, omitted here for
substantial reasons already repeatedly stated, the coast at this
southern extremity of Patagonia is represented as a high bluff flat on
the top, and ending abruptly at this cape.--E.]

We here found, what was constantly the case in these high southern
latitudes, that fair weather was always of exceedingly short
continuance, and that when remarkably fine it was a certain presage of
a succeeding storm: For the calm and sunshine of this afternoon ended
in a most turbulent night; the wind freshening from the S.W. as the
night came on; and increasing continually in violence till nine next
morning. It then blew so hard that we were forced to bring to with the
squadron, and to continue under a reefed mizen till eleven at night,
having in tha