The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-10
From the Journal of Commerce.
LATEST FROM THE EXPLORING EX-
Petition
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DIsCoYERY.

HIGHLY IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
The Exploring Expedition has covered itself
with glory. Captain Wilkes, in the Yincennes,
has ascertaincd, beyond all question, the exis-
tenee of great Antartic Continent, and has
actually slxirted along its coast throughout more
than Sc degrees of longitude. The particulars
of this important discovery, so far they are
known 20 us, contained in the following ex-
tract from a Sidney New South Wales) paper,
of March 18th, for which we are indebted to
commercial house, who received it from their
Sidney correspondent. The same paper also con-
tains (from the Hobart-town Courier infornaa-
ton OF the same Continent having been seen, on
the same day, Though in different longitude, by
the French Exploring expedition; but the latter
was unable to approach the coast save at sim
gle point, and does not appear to have even seen
more than a few miles of it, whereas the Ameri-
can Expedition and examined it, as before
stated, for distance of more than Sc degrees of
longitude. Probably the same continent was
seen some years ago by Capt Tanning, (see
Fanning's Voyages, page 447) We subjoin the
two extracts above referred to.
From, the Sidney Herald, March 18th.
DISCOVERY OF THE ANTARCTIC
CONTINENT.
Amongst the arrivals to be found in our ship
ping list of this day, is that of the United States
ship Vincennes, under the command of Charles
Wilkes, Esq. The Yincennes has been absent
from this port almost eighty days, most of which
are happy to have it in our power to am
nounce the highest authority, that the re-
searches of the exploring squadron after soath-
ern continent, have been completely successful.
The land first seen on the morning of
the 18th January, in latitude 66 degrees 20 Sc
conds south, longitude 154 degrees, Is seconds,
east
The Peacock, (Which ship arrived in our har-
Dor on the 22d ultimo, much disabled from her
ct Will tbo sca y los obi nod
ings in high southern latitude, and established
beyond doubt the existence Of land in that di-
rection. But the Vincennes, more fortunate in
escaping injury, completed the discovery, and
run down the coast, from sd degrees, 18 seconds,
to 81 degrees, As seconds, east longitude, about
seventeen hundred miles, within short distance
of the land, often so near as to get soupdings
with few fathoms of line, during which time
she was constantly surrounded by ice islands
and bcrgs, and experiencing many heavy gales
of wind, exposing her constantly to shipwreck.
We also understand that she has hrough several
specimens OF rock, and earth procured from the
land, some OF them weighing upwards of ono
hundred pounds.
1t is questionable whether the discovery can
be of any essential service to commerce; but it
cannot be otherwise than gratifying to Captain
Wilkes, and the officers engaged with him in
this most interesting expedition, to have brought
to successful termination the high trust COM
mittes to them by their country, and it is hoped
that SO noble commencement in the cause of
science and discovery, will induce the govern
nest OF the United States to follow up by other
expeditions that which now en- the point of
termination.
We understand that the yincennes will sail
on Sunday or Monday next for New Zealand,
where the Porpoise and Flying Fish will reioin
her should they have been equally fortunate with
their two consorts in escaping from the ice.
The Peacock will follow az soon IA bar r....:..
are completed whence they will all proceed
in furtherance of the objects of the expedition.
We will only add, that we wish them God
speed