Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 2.djvu/294

260 evident to us that should a large naval force ever be assembled or stationed at the Falkland Islands, the head quarters of the squadron would most assuredly be fixed at Port William rather than Port Louis.

The principal objection to placing the seat of government at Port William is the small quantity of land in its vicinity suitable to agricultural purposes; but as the chief advantages to be derived from our keeping possession of these islands are connected with maritime affairs, our opinion of the great superiority of Port William for naval purposes having been forwarded to the home government, the establishment has been since removed from Port Louis to Port William. It is desirable that this change should be extensively known, for merchant vessels, after rounding Cape Horn, very generally sight Cape Pembroke to verify their chronometers, though they seldom attempt to beat up Berkeley Sound, owing to the serious loss of time thus occasioned. Now, however, that by heaving to for two or three hours, under the lee of Cape Pembroke, they may be supplied with water and fresh provisions, many will be glad to avail themselves of so great an advantage, rather than run into any of the South American ports for supplies, where the harbour dues and other charges upon foreign vessels are extremely exorbitant.

The admirable accounts of the Falkland Islands, which have been so recently published by Captain