long-boat, they therefore were obliged to put off for the ship, and the next day returned with more stores, which we got on shore as before. Until the 15th, we were employed in getting our stores upon the island, and tents pitched; then we began our attack on the seals, which at that time were very numerous; and in seven weeks from that date, we killed and cured eleven thousand skins, superior in quality to any I ever saw. Having procured these, we thought it most prudent to ship them, as the season of the year made us fearful of heavy rains, that would damage the skins. We then collected them all to the westernmost part of the island, which we found to be the best place for shipping them; which place, if we had known, when we first landed on the island, would have saved us a great deal of trouble and difficulty, which was oftentimes attended with a risk of our lives. Here we could land along side the rocks, as well as at any wharf, and seldom or ever any surf to hinder a boat to land; but when landed, we had to go up a steep bank, by means of a rope ladder, which we found very convenient latterly, in getting at seal, which otherwise could not be got at. We oftentimes went down banks 100 feet perpendicular, by means of it, to kill seal. We completed shipping all the skins, that were cured, in three days; and fortunately, the weather during that time, continued pleasant, and the sea exceeding smooth. Our intention was to prosecute further the sealing business; but all at once the seal entirely quitted the island. We were informed by one of our people, that had been a sealing at the Faulkland islands, at all seasons of the year, that it was peculiar to that animal, at that season of the year, so to do, as they go off in deep water, to shed their fur, and wean their young, the latter part of every spring, and do not return for four or five weeks. This ended all our sealing on this island; yet we shared well for the time, having to the amount of 11,200 dried prime skins, and nearly 1800 pickled; in all near thirteen thousand, in my opinion, superior to any that were ever brought to the China market. From the first of April to the first of August, is the best time for sealing here; for in that time the fur is in perfection, and there is no end to the quantity of seal. If we had been fortunate enough to have got here two months sooner, I have no doubt but in three three months from the time of our landing, we should have procured 20,000 skins. However, this is all I can say in favour of this island, excepting fish, which are round it in great abundance; and I may venture to say, none in the globe can exceed them. The crawfish are likewise in great plenty all along the rocks; and when the spring of the year advanced we got the sea-foul's eggs in great plenty. There is no water on the island, or the least appearance of a spring on any part of it; but from many gullies and water ways, that we saw there, the rains must fall very heavy at some seasons of the year. All round the island, excepting the north part, is a high perpendicular bank, from 60 to 100 feet of rotten rocks and stones; and on the north part, not more than 8 or 10 feet to the beach in some places. The whole face of the island is covered with stones and sand, apparently as if burnt, and run as if melted. I am fully convinced that there is not a more barren spot on the face of the earth. We have seen no kind of vegetation on the island, excepting a few small plants, too inconsiderable for description; and I have no doubt but an eruption has take place at some former period.. The 21st September, having got all the skins, which we had procurred, on board, and finding the seal had entirely quitted the island, we repaired on board, with our baggage and gear. From the 21st to the 28th, we lay off and on the island; sent the boats on shore every day, to catch fish for corning, for the remainder of our passage; as we concluded to go to the Marquesas, rather than to the Sandwich islands, on account of their being much nearer, and in our way to the coast of America. We had it from good authority, that they produced plenty of hogs and vegetables, which would conduce much to the health of our people, besides affording them plenty of water.” AN AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN, BY CAPT, JAMES MAGEE, IN THE SHIP MARGARET, OF BOSTON, IN HIS RUN FROM CANTON TOWARD THE N. W. COAST OF AMERICA. EXTRACTED FROM HIS LOG-BOOK. "TUESDAY, 6th of March, 1793, steering N. E., at 3 o'clock in the morning, we saw land, bearing N. E. by E.; tacked and stood to the N. W. At 5, tacked and stood to the E. At day-light, saw six islands, bearing from S. S. W. to N. by E.; the nearest appeared to be about four leagues distant. At 7, the southernmost island, by our account, we judged to lie in latitude 27°, the northernmost in 28o 4', north. "At 10, A. M. a large island was seen, bearing S. W., to the southward of all which we had seen. At meridian, the extremes of the islands, in sight, bore as follows: That to the southward of us, from S. S. W. W. to S. S. E. † E. ; the ship's distance from the body of the island, five miles. That to the northward of us, and forms the channel we passed through, bore, at the same time, N. W., distant 6 or 7 leagues. Several, which we had seen in the morning, were now out of sight; the most southern island not being in sight, but we supposed it to bear S. S. W., 8 leagues distant; and the most northern, N. by E., 12 or 13 leagues distant. "The meridian altitude gave the latitude 27o 12' N. The longitude, by a good observation of the sun and moon, was 214° 20' W. from Greenwich. "This group of islands lies nearly N. and S., extending about 64 nautical miles. As they are not laid down in any chart in our possession; and as I suppose myself the first discoverer, I give them the name of my ship, MARGARET'S ISLANDS. "Wednesday, 7th of March,* at half past 5, P. M. while standing to the E., a large number of breakers were seen, off the E. end of the fourth island from the southward, which we found it impossible to weather. to weather. Wore ship, and stood to the westward, (the wind being then about E.), to clear these islands. At 6. the northernmost island, in sight bore N. N. W.; This was the same day, according to the civil account; but it is to be noted, that the marine day begins at noon, and the log account is kept in conformity to that custom. N. N. W.; the southernmost, S. E. At half past 6, double-reefed the topsails, and hauled up the courses. At half past 7, hove to. At 11, filled and stood, during the night, first N. E., then S. by E., then N. by W. At 6, the next morning, the northernmost island, seen the preceeding day, bore S. E. § E., 10 or 11 leagues distant. Being now clear of the islands, we let out our reefs, and set our top-gallant-sails, keeping our course to the N. E., as before this discovery. Latitude this meridian, 28° 19' N." A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE AGENCY OF THE HONOURABLE THE night is past, and civil wars o'er blown, Loud cannons from the ships upon the Thames, And to the utmost all themselves employ, These happy tidings soon found out their way, Who join with Britain in the celebration Learned Learned Winthrop then, by general consent, His mind, vast as the heavenly spheres above, Was all bespangled with the stars of love; Of all his acts the primum mobile; Led on by these bright stars' kind influence, Ere long, great Charles was in his counsel sat, His royal mind, intent on his affairs, What news, My lords? How go affairs abroad? Want further help or favour from the throne? At this, arose one of the lords of trade, Let him come in, says Charles, and let us hear Winthrop, brought in before his prince's feet, • Great |