neceffity of touching at the Portuguese fettlement of Brazil; as we may rely, that every particular of the ftrength, condition, and defigns of our equipment, would be fpeedily communicated by the priests to the Spaniards, at least as far as the Portuguese can penetrate them. The discovery of fome place more to the fouthward, where ships might refresh themselves with the neceffary fea-ftock for their voyage round Cape Horn, would be an expedient that would relieve us from these embarrassments, and would be worthy the attention of the public. These islands are fituated in long. 60° W. and lat. 52° S. From the reprefentation of them by Commodore Byron to the Earl of Egmont, then Firft Lord of the Admiralty, poffeffion was taken of them in 1764; and a fettlement made at a harbour, to which the name of Port Egmont was given. They are about two degrees in length, and about eighty leagues to the eastward of Cape Blanco, on the coaft of Patagonia. They are hilly, and interfperfed with woods, in general very barren, and have feveral good harbours. The British totally withdrew from this settlement on May 22, 1774.

Note 3.-A Lift of the Squadron fent to the Eaft Indies in 1769, under the Command of Commodore Sir John Lindsay.

Note 4.-A Lift of the Squadron, under the Command of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, on Channel Ser

vice in 1769.

Note 5.-Lofs of the Swift Sloop: by a Gentleman on Board.

The Swift failed from Port Egmont, in Falkland's ifland, on a cruize, the 7th of March laft; and had a violent gale of wind for fome days, which drove her over to the coaft of Patagonia. As the crew were fickly, and wanted refreshments, they refolved to go into

Port

Port Defire, finding themfelves within a few leagues of it. On attempting to work in, the ftruck on a rock, where the beat for an hour and a half before they could get her off. They then, (the wind juft at that time coming to the eastward), ran up the river. When about half a mile up, fhe ftruck on another rock; and as it was at this time ebb tide, all efforts to get her off proved ineffectual. She hung upon this rock by the fore-foot, (her ftern being amazingly depreffed,) about three hours; fhe then flipt off, overfet, and funk in eight fathom water.

This happened at fix in the evening. Some of the crew got on the rock, others fwam for the fhore, and fome for the boats; fo that they were all faved with great difficulty, except three men. The hardships they met with afterwards, can be better conceived than described; having nothing to lie upon in that tempeftuous climate except a few fails, which were accidentally faved, and no other shelter than rocks and stones; for there is not a tree nor a bush in the whole country. They lived upon fea lions, and fometimes on fea fowl, when they could get them; for they liked them rather better than the former, notwithstanding they were extremely fifhy. They had nothing to drink but dirty brackish water, except when Providence was fo kind as to fend a fhower of rain; at which time, every one drank heartily out of the cavities of the rocks, but could not lay by a store of it, for want of veffels to keep it in.

Two days after the lofs of the fhip, the mafter and fix men failed in the cutter for Port Egmont, in order, if poffible, to bring the Favourite to their relief. This was, perhaps, the most dangerous undertaking that ever was known. However, they fucceeded, and returned with the Favourite about a month afterwards.

Every one, except four or five, had loft all hopes and given her up, a fortnight before she appeared in fight; and we were beginning to prepare for a march to Buenos Ayres. But by what we have fince learned, it would have been impoffible for any of us to have got there: for the distance, (as we could not have gone in a ftraight line, on account of the large rivers that are in the way), is near two thousand miles; not to mention the want of provifions and water, the lying on the cold ground without any covering, and the dangers we had to dread from the native favages, which, we have fince been informed, are very numerous for feveral hundred leagues to the fouthward of Buenos Ayres.

We faw no inhabitants during our stay at Port Defire, nor were we able to kill any guanacoes, although they were very plenty, but extremely fhy. Captain Farmer and Mr. Thomfon, our furgeon, went in a small boat about fifty leagues up the river, in hopes of making fome difcoveries, and getting fome guanacoes; but were obliged to return on the fifth day, as they could get nothing to eat or drink. In fhort, it is the moft barren, defolate country, I fuppofe, in the world. We were extremely happy when we were re

(A 2)

lieved

lieved from it; and ftill more fo, when the Spaniards came to drive us away from Falkland islands.

Note 6.-A List of the Spanish Force fent against Falkland Islands in 1770.

Captain Hunt, Commander of the Tamar frigate, to Mr. Stephens, dated in Plymouth Sound, June 3, 1770.

SIR,

I beg you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, that, being on a cruize off Falkland's islands the 28th of last November, I fell in with a Spanish schooner, taking a furvey of them, and on examination found him belonging to a Spanish fettlement on the eaft part, called Port Solidad, in poffeffion of the French in 1767, and by them called Port Louis. Agreeable to my orders, I warned him to quit the islands; in confequence of which he failed, but in a few days after joined me again, in a harbour on the island the fettlement is on, with an officer of infantry on board him, and two letters from the Governor of the fettlement ; which letters, and my anfwer, I must beg leave to tranfmit to you, with one (and my answer to) that I received the 20th of last February, from the commanding officer of two Spanish frigates, the San Cathalina of thirty-fix guns, Don Fernando Rubalcava, and Andalufia of thirty guns, Don Domingo Pertez, both from Buenos Ayres, with troops in for the fettlement, who put into Port Egmont under a pretence of wanting water, which I fupplied them with; and after a ftay of eight days they failed for Port Solidad, where I find the St. Rofa, the annual fhip, was arrived. I must beg leave to obferve, that during the ftay of the Spanish frigates at Port Egmont, they behaved extremely polite and civil, never attempting to go afhore, though I paid the Captains and officers the compliment. I have a Frenchman on board, a deferter from the Spanish settlement, whom I was obliged to take off an ifland, or he must have perished.

I am, &c.

ANTHONY HUNT.

Don

Don Philip Ruiz Puenta to Captain Hunt, dated at the island Maluina, November 30, 1769.

SIR,

The master of the goleta, in which the bearer, Lieutenant of foot Mario Plata of this garrifon, continues the execution of his commiffion, gave me the firft intelligence of your arrival and continuance in this ftrait; which gratifies my defire of paying my refpects to you, as I now do by the faid officer and this letter, offering you all the good offices dependent on me, and agreeable to the harmony and agreement between the two nations.

After thus much, I cannot refrain from declaring to yon my great aftonishment, at hearing from the faid pilot, that the interruption of his voyage, and his putting into this port, are owing to your having forced him to it; and if fo, which I much question, I make no doubt, but that pilot gave fome caufe for fuch treatment; for I can hardly think, that an officer of your rank, commanding a fhip of war of fo civilized a nation, should be fo much wanting in attention, and respect due to the King my Master's flag, especially within his dominions.

The faid pilot, and likewife his men, related to me feveral other particulars, and confirmed on the honour of the said officer, who is furnished with inftructions for his conduct; and I flatter myself, you will confider and regard him as a fubject of the King whom he ferves; and further, that you will make no difficulty of correfponding with him in writing, and of sending me fuch an answer to this, as you fhall judge proper.

God fend you a long and happy life.

I am, &c.

PHILIP RUIZ PUENTA,

The following note was inclofed in the preceding letter.

SIR, The bearer brings with him a prefent, in token of my regard for you and your officers; if far beneath your merit, or what I could have wifhed it, our fituation on both fides muft plead my excufe, God preferve you. So prays, &c.

Nov. 30, 1769.

RUIZ PUENTA.

Don Philip Ruiz Puenta to Capt. Hunt, dated at the island Maluina, November 30, 1769.

SIR, The pilot of the goleta, in which the officer who brings this letter goes to execute a commiffion, as you may fee in the inftructions and paffport with which he is furnished, lately gave me the first information of your being in these parts, which belong to the King my

(A 3)

master;

mafter; this gives me an acceptable opportunity of manifefting my regard for you, and I heartily make you a tender of every good office in my power, fuitable to the friendship and harmony fubfifting between our nations. Suppofing, as I really do fuppofe, your being on these coasts to be purely accidental, and that on the first formal warning given you by the faid officer to depart, you will totally lay afide all thoughts of any farther ftay or failing in these parts; there is no need of enlarging on the matter, as you very well know the contrary to be an abfolute violation of good treaties, and a breach of good faith.

I fhall covet fresh occafions of fhewing you perfonally my good difpofitions, and in the mean time hope you will favour me with a written anfwer, as likewife the above-mentioned officer whom I have commiffioned to wait on you. I pray God happy life.

I remain, &c.

grant you a long and

PHILIP RUIZ PUENTA.

(A note inclofed, verbatim the fame with that in the former.)

Captain Hunt to Don Philip Ruiz Puenta, dated at Port Egmont, December 10, 1769.

SIR,

I have received your letter by the officer, acquainting me, that these islands, and coaft thereof, belong to the King of Spain, your mafter.

In return, I am to acquaint you, that the faid iflands belong to his Britannic Majefty, my mafter, by right of difcovery, as well as fettlement; and that the fubjects of no other power whatever can have any right to be fettled in the faid iflands, without leave from his Britannic Majefty, or taking the oaths of allegiance, and fubmitting themfelves to his government, as fubjects to the crown of Great Britain.

I do therefore, in his Majefty's name, and by his orders, warn you to leave the faid iflands; and in order that you may be the better enabled to remove your effects, you may remain fix months from the date hereof; at the expiration of which you are expected to depart accordingly.

I a am, &c.

ANTHONY HUNT.

A Proteft from Don Mario Plata, dated December 10, 1769.

I whofe name is hereunto fubfcribed, Lieutenant of foot, being commiffioned by my Governor to visit all the harbours of these the Maluina islands, as appertaining to the King of Spain, my mafter; and having (in confequence of Don Antonio Hunt, Commander of the Tamar frigate's caufing Don Anguel Santes, Captain of his Majefty's

goleta