Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-26
From the New.York Columbian.
lMpORTANT DISCOVERY.

following very interesting tettel itotv I" :.
Robinson, Esq. The magnitude OF the
discovery will not fail TO arrest tue at
lentiou oil, every one, and the surprize IS
that such an extent Of ocean and SO s'tu-
ated should not before have beeu geue-
rally knogn. II is said, however. to
have been discovered some years since
by some American whalers, and The
knowledge concealed for mercantile pnf-
poses. 400
Valparaiso, January rs, 1920.
Sal avail myself oil an opportunity
TO write by the way Of England, to notify
you OF a recent important discovery Of
land ia the south seas.
In the month of February, Of the cur.
rent year, Captain Smith, master OF the
British merchant brigantine Williams, on
passage from Buenos Ayres TO this port,
round Cape Horn, III TAI. 81 10 se;iss',
discovered land. When he arrived here,
be reported what he had seen, but most
persons we're incredaons. Mortified by
this scepiicism, upon his return passage TO
Moutivedeo, he sailed TO the southwark
to ascertain whether he had been de
ceiyed or moi but meeting bad weather,
aud eucountering ice, he was obliged TO
desist and prosecute his voya age: yet
without abandoning his original intention,
or losing his sanguine belief in the exist
ence Of land in that neighborhood. In
Moutivedeo, he prepared his vessel rather
better than common, aud proceeded sec
ond time. round the cape towards Val
paraiso, and on the 18th Of October was
gratified by a second sight Of the same
land he had seen before. The water was
then high coloured, aud be sounded IN
sixty-fve fathoms, black and white sand
aud shells. The sonndings gradually de-
creased to twenty-five fathoms and less,
but coarser, and OF an oozy, greenish col
our as he approached the shore.
Captain Smith was obliged 10 stand off
and on, by heavy swell until the 18th
uI.imo, when he landed in latitude 81 43
south. and 81 10 west longitude, by OBJ
servatioD aud an excellent ciironometeT.
Here he saw many seals, sea-iions,
whales, and sea-fowls-all perfectly fear
less aud unacqnainted with danger.
This land he calls continent, and gave
it the name of Neu South Britain, upon
which he hoisted the British flag.
On the north coast OF this land there is
a chaid or line Of Islands, from two to ten
miles distant from the main. TO which he
gave the name Of Penguin Islands. Be-
tween these Islands and the main land.
there is kind Of channel, from two 10 ten.
miles wide, with some current-and in
one place an appearance Of breakers.
produced probably by narrow passage
and sunken rocks. The passage there is
not more than mile wide, but captain
Smith did not explore it.
Capt. Smith coasled to the west and
west by south, sometimes inside Of the
Islands, at others between them aud the
main, to the latitude of 63 So south
longitude ga west; the wind then blow
ing from the south west, he took his de
parture and steered from the land north
west by west, when it bore south and
west, as far as could be discerned with
good glasses, with every appearance Of
its extending further. He describes The
whole OF this land, both the main and the
islands, as being very high. even above
the clouds, and the submits as having
been covered with snow. and with gene
rally sterile, barren aspect, but with
some indications Of vegetation, shrubhery,
and wood 10 the vallies and appertures of
the hills and mountains, and likewise with
rivers and creeks. He stretched along
this coast, three hundred miles, with gen
orally cool. pleasant weather, but not
having been properly provided with boats,
he did not attempt 10 Ireland, notwithstand-
ing he saw fine bays aud sandy beeches.
Capt. Smith saw many fish Of all COL
ours and sizes, aud different denomina-
lions. The most remarkable resembled
the cod fish Of Cape Auguily Bank, and
the Isle Juan Fernandez. The whales
were like those Of Hudsoa Bay and Da-
Wis Straits. Besides these, he saw a
species Of white whale aud black fish.
The soundings, or rather the matter
drawn up with the lead at each cast, are
preserved. have seen them, and ike
wise draught Of the land, by good
hand. Capt Sheriff, the commander Of
the Andromaehe, and other British naval
forces 10 these seas, will dispatch a yes
sci 10 a few days to survey this land, aud
report upon 1t.
Thinking this discovery will be inter
esting to you, sir, 10 as much as il may
be the means ofthrowing new light upon
geography, navigation, and theory Of the
earth, take the liberty TO communicate
the information in the hopes that the facts
will be gratifying TO the Lyceum and use
full TO society ia general.
Permit me TO hint, that il is probable
many grea, discoveries are yet &c. be made
inihe hemisphere, and that much has es-