Byron's Journal of his Circumnavigation, 1764-1766

Robert E. Gallagher, Robert E. Gallagher

• Publisher: Hakluyt Society
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317170259
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia del siglo XIX

In 1764 the Hon. John Byron was commissioned by the Admiralty to sail to the South Atlantic to search for Pepys's Island and the Southern Continent. He was then to continue into the Pacific itself and look for a possible North-west passage. Although he rediscovered the Falkland Islands, it was after the French had done so under Bougainville, and he made no attempt to search for a North-west passage at all, but sailed straight on round the world, making no discoveries of any importance. The journal which Byron kept during his voyage has been edited and annotated by Dr Gallagher. In his Introduction he describes earlier voyages of a similar nature and sketches the background to this voyage. He assesses Byron's achievement and considers why he disobeyed his orders. Apart from the Journal, the Admiralty's 'secret instructions' to Byron are also printed here, as well as Byron's letter to the Admiralty explaining why he was sailing straight on. There is an appendix by Dr Helen Wallis on the Patagonian giants. This is a new print-on-demand hardback edition of the volume first published in 1964.

THE JOURNAL

THE JOURNAL

Sailed from the Downs His Majestys Ship Dolphin and Tamar Frigate June 21^st 1764.—The Dolphin having got a ground in coming down the River,¹ we put into Plymouth where we docked her but found she had received no damage. Changed some few of our Men there² and sailed again Tuesday July 3^d (our People having first received two Months Advance) with the Wind at NNW.—Wednesday 4^th at Noon off the Lizard with a very little air of Wind. Thursday 5^th a fine breeze at NE having sprung up yesterday afternoon, we found ourselves in the Latitude of 48°48′ N^o Long^de made 1°52′ West, M. Dist 74 M W from the Lizard, and the Lizard N^o 43 E^t. Dist 36 Leagues. Friday 6^th. Having for the most part since yesterday noon had a fine breeze we made the best of it, tho’ the Tamar sailing much heavier than the Dolphin we cannot crowd all that sail we could wish. Have got our Ship into some little order having terribly lumber’d upon first coming out with Beer, Provisions &c^a. Our Course since yesterday S^o 36° W^t. Dist iii Miles. Lat. in 47 17 N^o. Long^de made 3°28′. M. Dist 139 M^s. Lizard N^o 40°13′ E^t. Dist 71 Leagues. Saturday 7^th a Pleasant gale at NE. The Officer of the first Watch last night either saw an extraordinary Phenomenon or it was some Ship on fire at some / distance from us, which continued to blaze near half an hour.³ Our Course since Yesterday Noon S^o 28° W^t. Dist 156 Miles. Lat. in 44°59′ N^o. Long^de made 5°12′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 212 M W^t. Lizard N^o 34°59′ E^t. Dist 122 Leagues.—Sunday July 8^th a brisk Gale with a large Sea, Course S^o 27° W^t. Dist 186 M^s. Lat. 42°13′ N^o. Long^de made 7°06′ W^t.—Mⁿ Dist 297 M W^t. Lizard N^o 32°15′ E^t. Dist 184 Leagues.—Monday July 9^th. A fresh gale with hazey weather & a large Sea, shipp’d a great deal of Water which I am afraid has done some damage to our Slops & Portable Soup, of which we have a great quantity,¹ & no place to stow them but in mine & the Officers Cabbins.—The Tamar sails so heavy that she has hinder’d us much way. Course S° 17^t W^t. Dist 190 M^s. Lat in 39°10′ N^o. Long^de made 8°17′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 352 M^s.—Lizard N^o 28°29′ E^t. Dist 246 Leg^s.—Thursday 10th. A fine Gale, the Wind has not varied three Points these six days. Course S^o 16° W^t. Dist 178 M^s. Lat in 36°18′ N^o. Long^de made 9°19′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 402 M^s. Lizard N^o 26°15′ E^t. Dist 305 Leag^s.—Wednesday 11^th. A fine steady Gale, expect to see Porte Sancto before night. Course S^o 18° W^t. Dist 156 M^s. Lat in 33°52′ N^o. Long^de made 00°17′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 450 M^s. Madeira S^o 49°34′ W^t. Dist 42 Leag^s.—Thursday July 12^th. A steady Gale not seeing the Land as expected imagined ourselves too far to the Eastward, being in the Latitude of the Island we hauled up to the Westward & at Night saw the Desertos. The Island of Madeira in / most Charts is laid down in 17° Long^de, but by all our Reckonings we find it near 19°. Course S^o 54 W^t. Dist 134 M^s. Lat 32°34′ N^o. Long^de 12°23′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 556 M^s. Lizard N^o E^t. Dist 394 Leag^s.—Friday July 13^th. This morning close in with the Desertos, hauled round the outer one, & stood in for the Road of Fonchial, but were much baffled with the Winds coming off from the high land of Madeira,¹ Anchored about 3 PM. the Loo Rock NWBN, the Great Church NNE, Brazen head SE½E in 30 f^m Water, & about ¾ of a Mile from the Shore. The next day I waited upon the Governor who received me with great politeness & saluted me with 11 Guns, which I returned from the Ship.—The day after he returned my visit at the Consul’s House, upon which I saluted him with 11 Guns from the Ship, & he returned the same number from the Fort. His Maj^ts Ship Crown & Ferret Sloop whom I found here likewise saluted the Broad Pendant, which I ought to have mentioned I hoisted the day after I left Plymouth.² Employed our time in watering &c^a.—I procured all the Refreshments I was able for the two Ships Companies, they had fresh Meat every day, & every Man had 20^lb weight of Onions for his Sea Stock.³—Thursday July 19^th. Having finished our business here made the Signal to unmoor; At 6 PM weighed & had but very little wind all night & that / frequently all round the Compass in less than five Minutes. About 7 AM July 20^th got into a fresh Gale at NE which generally blows here every day at this time of the Year, at about 3 Leag^s from the Island, Run off about 2 Leag^s & then brought too for the Tamar, who for some hours after lay becalm’d under the high Land,⁴ but at last got into the breeze when we made Sail again, & at Noon were about 11 Leag^s from the Island. Saturday July 21^st. A fresh Gale about Noon made the Island of Palma, one of the Canaries. The Tamar hinders us much way, she sails so heavy we could rim her out of sight in a few hours. Course S^o 12° W^t. Dist 216 M^s. Lat. in 29°18′ N^o. Long^de made o 55′ W^t from Madeira. M. Dist 47 M^s. Madeira N^o 12° E^t 72 Leagues.¹ Sunday July 22^d. A fresh Gale with a great Sea. Course S^o 32° W^t. Dist 144 M^s. Lat in 26°30′ N^o. Long^de made 1°26′ W^t from Palma. Mⁿ Dist 77 M^s.—Palma N^o 32° E^t. Dist 48 Leag^s.—Monday July 23^d. A large Sea still continues which occasions the Ship to rowl very much. Upon examining into the quantity of Water on board, find it will be necessary to touch at one of the Cape de Verd Islands for a fresh Supply,² without puting the Men to a small Allowance, which I held by no means good when it possibly / can be prevented. Served the Men this day a Quarter of a Pound of Mustard each. Course S^o 12° W^t. Dist 166 M^s. Lat in 23°49′ N^o. Long^de made 2°05 W^t. M. Dist 112 M^s from Palma which bears N^o 21°18′ E^t. Dist 103 Leag^s. Variation allowed 12°00 W^t.—Tuesday July 24^th. Moderate & hazey Course S^o 12° W^t. Dist 130 M^s. Lat in 21°43′ N^o. Long^de made 2°34′ W^t. Mⁿ Dist 139 M^s W^t from Palma which bears N^o 18°26′ E^t. Dist 146 Leag^s.—Wednesday July 25^th. A pleasant Trade. We have remarked that no fish follows our bottom which we suppose is owing to our being sheathed with Copper. Mixed a quantity of Portable Soup with the Pease which our People seem to like much, this is the first time we have tried it. I have a great deal on board & intend to serve it once or twice a week to them, in the same manner which will be as good as a fresh ...