had not the moon
suddenly shone out, not a ship of the whole squadron could possibly
have avoided. But the wind, which some hours before blew in squalls
from the S.W. had fortunately shifted to W.N.W. by which we were
enabled to stand to the southward, and to clear ourselves of this
sudden and unexpected danger, and were fortunate enough by noon to
have gained an offing of near twenty leagues.

By the latitude of this land we fell in with, it was agreed to be that
part of Terra del Fuego, near the south-western outlet of the Straits
of Magellan, described in Frezier's chart, and was supposed to be that
point which he calls Cape Noir.[1] It was indeed wonderful that the
current should have driven us to the eastward with so much strength,
for the whole squadron computed that we were ten degrees to the
westward of this land; so that in turning, by our reckoning, about
nineteen degrees of longitude, we had not in reality advanced half
that distance: And now, instead of having our labours and anxieties
relieved by approaching a warmer climate, and more tranquil seas, we
were forced again to steer southwards, and had again to combat those
western blasts which had already so often terrified us; and this
too, when we were greatly enfeebled by our men falling sick and dying
apace, and when our spirits, dejected by long continuance at sea
and by this severe disappointment, were now much less capable of
supporting us through the various difficulties and dangers, which we
could not but look for in this new and arduous undertaking. Added to
all this, we were sore discouraged by the diminution in the strength
of the squadron; for, three days before this, we had lost sight of the
Severn and Pearl in the morning, and, though we spread our ships, and
beat about for them for some time, we never saw them more; whence we
apprehended that they also had fallen in with this land in the night,
and being less favoured by the wind and the moon, might have perished
by running on shore. Full of these desponding thoughts and
gloomy presages, we stood away to the S.W. prepared, by our late
disappointment, how large an allowance soever we made in our westing
for the drift of the current from the westward, that we might still
find it insufficient upon a second trial.

[Footnote 1: Cape Noir, is a small island off the western coast of
Terra del Fuego, is in lat. 54 deg. 28' S. long, 78 deg. 40' W.--E.]

SECTION IX.

_Observations and Directio