Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-07
Letter from Falkland Islands.

The following is from a United States
official at Falkland Islands to gentle
man in this city from which we are per-
mitted to make extracts:
PoRT srANLY, FALKLAND IsLANPs,
SOUTH AMERICA, July 4th, 1871. }
My DEAR SIR--Your kind and welcome
letter of date December 18th, 1869, come TO
hand on the Goth of May, 1870, the contents
of which was news no me for which am
thankful to you. The long intervals be-
tween mails from the United States to the
Falkland Islands, often make it five
outside world. In fact, few people are
awawe that such place as the Falkland
Islands is to be found upon the globe.
"These Islands are the last of terra
firma,n directly SOUTH next to the south
pole
The Shetland Islands are south west of
the Falkland Islands, about four days sail,
seldom visited ! walked seven miles
some days ago to make my footprint on
the last foot of land at the southern eN-
tremity of the globe-the end of the world
south.
1t is my purpose to make the other half
of the globe on my return but we know
not what a day may bring forth. L am
now at an advanced age. Inc evening
shades of life are fast closing in upon me.
Yet. my energy seems none the less, anu
NV ambition is to leave after me the ac-
complishment of some useful improve
ment, arduous enterprise, or hazardous
adventure, to encourage progress with
those of my own blood and the balance of
mankind after l shall have passed away.
Ny ambition has even looked beyond the
paltry concerns of life, and | regret that
have accomplished SO little.
| must give you brief account of the
"Folklands.n They are 524 degrees south
and number pol, embracing territory of
Ia, i ,.g,I
niue-tenths of which is covered with
mountains of rock, naked, not a tree or
bush on all this desolate domain, which
never was intended for the abode of man or
beast. We are now July 4th, lS70l in the
shortest days of the year. The line of the
sun, from the rising TO the setting, appears
all day about one hour above the horizon.
You look for the sun at the Falklands, at
this time of the year, in the direction of
Clinch Mountain from Knoxville. 1t
SHOWS every day, and the wind never !
ceases, often very cold. Out of the 365 days
in the year we have not three good days.
The climate brings to the test all my ply
steal constitution, my resolution and pa
thence. Still, with its severity and desola-
ton, it shall not overcome my energy, nor
subdue my spirits. ] will not yield to
anything but the Power that created me.
My compensation is hard and unpleas
ant subject | am thankful to you for the
correct view which you took of it, and |
your efforts, to have justice done in |
Congress in my behalf
Ny health is good but my labor is hard |
for my time of life l am in my 10th year
The high prices of living her. with my
small salary, which l am not officially |
informed has been increased, has compelled |
me to cook and wash most of my clothes |
for myself for the last fourteen months, or |
| should have been much in debt. Still |
will not desert my post nor neglect my |
official duty.
May God bless you and yours.
/ am most truly yours. J. =.