Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/692

 568 BIBLIOGRAPHY Bibllo- Sir Franois Drake, said to be the fiist Commaader that aaird roond the graphy. Globe (Magellaniia being killed by tfae Indians at Mindaiiao Uland), hept the ^**~* coast of Peru and Mexico, and sailed west for India, in the north-eaat Trade wind. Sir Thomas Cavendish the same. Captain Swaan, one of the Buccaneers of America, with whom Captain Dampler sail'd the first time round the Globe, kept in the north-east Trade wind from California to India, and was killed at Mindanao, as MageUanus was. Captain Rogers in the IXike and Dutchess, witfa the Acapuloo ship, kept likewise in the north-east Trade wind. It is here to be observed that fnMn the eoast of Pern West» to the East Indies, is upwards of 2,500 leagues, which tu the southward of the Line is undiscovered to any European (Captain Welbe excepted), who, in the eoorae of his voyage round the world with Captain Dampier, in the year 1703, 1704, 1705, 1706, having many extraordinary opportunities of satisfying and informing himself what discoveries had been made, by order of the Viceroys of Pern, for 150 years past : was thereby well assured, that the islaads, named by the said Captain Welbe St. George's Islands and New Wales, and some other islands thereabouts, which abound wi^ mines of gold and silver, belong to no European Prince or State, and are therefore free for the first Discoverer to take possession of, which mines the undertaker doubts not to prove, will enrich the British Nation upwards of 50,000,000 sterling, if taken possession of, and colonies settled, which is not half what the king- dom of Peru has produced to the Spaniards since their first settlement there nnder Francisco Pizaro, the first Viceroy. It is therefore pr<^sed that a Joint Stock, not exceeding 2,500^000^ be raised to fit out ships, and settle colonies forthwith, that the improvement and advantages of such valuable discoveries may not be lost. And in order thereto, the said Captain Welbe is now ready to grant permits to such persons who are willing to be proprietors and adventurers in this said under- taking. On grant of which permits the proprietors are to pay in Is. on every share, viz., 10s. for 1,000L to enable the undertaker to apply for and obtain a patent, and defray other charges ; and no more is to be paid in until at a general meeting of, and by the proprietors, directors,, and treasurers be chosen ; and then no more on each share than what the directors, at such meeting, shall agree on, and find necessary for carrying on effectually so Taluable and advantagious a trade. N.B. — The proposer has no sinister ends, nor self-interest, in view, and expects no pay, nor any reward, but such part of the neat produce of profits, as the directors themselves shall think fit, and agree, to allow him. Among the Sloane MSS. in the British Museum is an earlier proposal by Captain Welbe to the British Government for a full discovery of the Terra Australis. Burney, voL iv, p. 517, gives the following account of it : — In 1713, John Welbe, a person who had been in the South Sea with Captain Dampier, offered a plan to the British Ministry for a voyage to make a full discovery of Terra Australis. Welbe was an ingenious but Digitized by Google