Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-07-16
THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION
Discovery of a Continent >!

/ ~
Letters have been received from the
United States Exploring Expedition,
under the command OF Lieut.. Wilkes,
dated Sydney, New South Wales,
which establish beyond oil question, the
existence of great Continent in the An.
tarctic seas. The discovery was made
on the 10Th Of January, 1910. The par
ticulars of this important discovery are
contained in the following extract from
the Sydney Herald Of March 10, 1910
"Discovery ofMe antarctic Continent
Amongst The arrivals to be found in ou'
shipping list of this day, is that Of the
United States ship Vincennes, under the
command Of Charles Wilkes, ESD
The v. has been absent from this pOr
eighty days, most Of which time has
been spent in southern exploration, and
we are happy to have il in our power t.
announce, on the highest authority, tha,
the researches Of the Exploring Squad
ron after a Southern Co ntinem have
been completely successful. The land
was first seen on the morning Of the 18Th
of Jan, in lat Ga deg. 20 south, Ion l54
10 east. The Peacock, (Which ship ar
rived in our harbor on the 22d ultimo
much disabled from her contact with the
ice, we learn obtained soundings in Q
high southern latitude, and established
beyond doubt the existence Of land II,
that direction. The V. more fortunate
in escaping injury, completed the discov-
cry, and ran down the coast from l54
deg. 18 to 81 deg. as east longitude, u
bout 100 miles, within short distance
of the land, often so near, us to get
soundings with few iathoms Of line,
during which time she was constantly
surrounded by ice-islands and bcrgs
and experienced many heavy gales OF
wind, exposing her constantly to ship.
wreck. We also understand that she
has bro't specimens Of rock and earth,
procured from the land, some Of them
weighing upwards Of hundred lbs. II
is questionable whether this discovery
eau be Of essential benefit TO commerce,
but il cannot be otherwise than highly
gratifying to Capt. Wilkes, and the Off
GERS engaged. with him in this most in.
teresting expedition, to have brought to
successful termination the high trust
committed to them by their country and
it is hoped that SO noble a commence
ment in the cause of science and discOv-
cry, will induce the government of the
United States to follow up by other eX-
petitions, that which is now on the point
Of terminating.
We understand that the Vincenncs
will sail on the 10th inst. for New Zen
land where the Porpoise g. Flying Fish
will rejoin her, should they have been
equally fortunate with their two consorts
in escaping from the ice. The Peacock
will follow as soon as her repairs are
completed whence they will all pro-
ceed in furtherancc of the objects Of the
expedition. We will only add, that we
wish them God-spced.
The United States Gazette referring
10 this subject says, "the part Of the
ocean including between the degrees OF
81 and l5l degrees cas-, and south OF Cd,
was not traversed by CoUk nor any other
of the grea, navigator that we remem-
ber, though west Of 60 degrees eust
Longitude, he went TO nearly 10 degrees
of south latitude. But the discoveries
now mentioned seem to be all east OF
this. Capt. Biscoc, at about 45 degrees
east longitude, took northeastern
course from nearly 10 degrees south lat
itude. In 1929, Capt Waddel was con-
sIderably south Of 10 degrees, as indeed
Capt. Cook was in I'LL, but no report
is made OF any thing but islands of ice"
II is n singular circumstance that
on the same day wiz January l9,
l840) this continent was discovered by
the French discovery ships. Astro lnbe
and Zelee, under The command of Com
modore Urvilc-but the Fr, nch ships
were unable to approach the land. save
at a single point-nnd probably saw bu,
few miles Of it This land is doubt.
less uninhabited and destitute Of yegc-
tauon-and the discovery can be but Of
very little value TO commerce.