1
1786. the fignal for danger, our whale-boat was lioifted out, and fent
^January, a_j16aj tQ foun(].
About half paft nine Mr. Macleod hoifted a flag at the top of
the high land, which was a fignal for a harbour: on this, both
veffels flood in for the found, and Captain Portland fired a gun as
a fignal for his boat to return.
Mr. Macleod informed us, that he had feen a fmall reef of rocks
which occafioned him to fire the mufquet; and that the harbour
afforded an excellent place for watering- At eleven o’clock both
Ihips came to anchor in Port Egmont, in ieventeen fathom water
over a fandy bottom.
I have endeavoured to mention every circumftance, however
trivial; and I hope fo ftrift an attention to minutiae will not only
pleafe thee, but in fome meafure" atone for the defects that continually
occur in the courfe of my narration. Thou mayeft expedt
fome account of this place, &c. in my next. Thine, &c.
F alkland’s Islands,
7th January. 1
W . B.
L E T T E R XI.
HA V IN G handed the fails, and put every thing to rights, we
moored with the ftream-anchor and tow-line ; but the next
day, (the 6th) finding the wind blow frelh, and a heavy fwell, we
took
took the ftream-anchor up, and moored with both bowers. The 1786.
principal object we had in view, was to water the fhips; for this JanlMr)'-
we were fituated very conveniently, as I have before obferved.
We had alfo found during our cruize, that the Queen was not fuf-
ficiently deep in the water; fo that fome hands were employed in
fetching ftones to put in the hold, by way of ballaft. Thele.employments
were fet about without delay, and both would haye
been compleated in three or four days at fartheft, had we not been,
frequently interrupted by blowing fqually weather: however, by
the 14th, both thefe objefts Were entirely compleated, befides frefh
flowing the hold. During this time all the people had been on
fhore to recreate themfelves, land air being reckoned exceeding
falutary and wholefome for failors.
On the 14th, the people were employed in fettingup the rigging
fore and aft, and other neceffary bufinefs. On the 15th, an Eng-
lifti Hoop came to anchor in the harbour, and her boat going on
board the King George, we learnt that fhe belonged to a Ihip commanded
by a Captain Huffey, called the United States, but Britifli
property, which lay in Huffey Harbour, States-Bay, Swan-Ifland,
in company with a lhip from America. The United States was
the property of Mrs. Hayley, relift of the late George Hayley, Efqj
and After to the celebrated Mr. Wilkes.
Thefe veffels had been at Falkland’s Blands occafionally for more
than a year, and had wintered in Huffey Harbour before-mentioned
; fo that they were perfeftly acquainted with the tides, the
currents, and in fhort every circumftance neceffary for the fafely
navigating a lhip in any o f the various roads, bays, and founds, fo
numerous here.
During