7
B
in 66.6 / Patronage / Hong Kong 530
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S TREASURY,
THE
MEMORIAL
OF
JOHN STRACHAN,
MERCHANT IN EDINBURGH AND LEITH.
SHEWETH,
THAT in the year 1819, your Memorialist was principal owner of the Brig Jane of Leith, and in that year he became acquainted with the late Mr James Weddell, master in the Royal Navy, of whose character as a navigator he had received the highest accounts; and having ascertained that high prices were frequently obtained in London for seal skins, he was induced to fit out from Greenock the above-mentioned brig on a sealing voyage to the South Seas (being the first vessel ever dispatched from Scotland for that purpose), under the command of Mr Weddell.
After the return of the Jane from her first voyage, on which there was a very serious loss, your Memorialist resolved to abandon the trade, greatly to the disappointment of Captain Weddell, who repeatedly asserted, that his want of success was occasioned entirely from not having a small vessel with him as a Tender to the Brig. The strongest representations, accordingly, were made by Captain Weddell, to induce your Memorialist to send out the Jane on a second voyage, which, after considerable hesitation on his part, he agreed to, and the Cutter Beaufoy of London, of 65 tons was purchased, and both vessels were fitted out and sailed from thence, under the command of Captain Weddell.
At that time the late Mr James Mitchell, merchant in London, and Mr Weddell, became interested in both vessels with your memorialist.
The object of these voyages was originally and principally commercial; but the enterprising commander had several times expressed to your Memorialist his wish to give them at the same time a scientific character, by carrying his researches into the then almost unexplored Antarctic Seas, he being strongly impressed with the idea, that he might either discover a Southern Continent in these regions, or islands, at least, where he might prosecute successfully the objects of the voyage. Into these views your Memorialist unfortunately entered, and, as has been already stated, fitted out the vessels in the manner suggested.
The circumstances under which these voyages were performed were of no ordinary character for enterprising and perilous adventure, for, in a brig of only 154 tons burden, with a cutter of 65 tons, and ill prepared for encountering the hazardous navigation of seas rendered almost unapproachable from the fields of ice by which they are surrounded, Captain Weddell succeeded in achieving one of the most extraordinary voyages on record, in which he reached the Latitude of 74° 15′ South, being several degrees higher than had been attained by Captain Cook, or any former navigator. Indeed, when the objects of the voyage, and the size and condition of the vessels, are taken into account, these voyages are without a parallel in the annals of our maritime history.
7
B
in 66.6 / Patronage / Hong Kong 530
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF HER MAJESTY'S TREASURY,
THE
MEMORIAL
OF
JOHN STRACHAN,
MERCHANT IN EDINBURGH AND LEITH.
SHEWETH,
THAT in the year 1819, your Memorialist was principal owner of the Brig Jane of Leith, and in that year he became acquainted with the late Mr James Weddell, master in the Royal Navy, of whose character as a navigator he had received the highest accounts; and having ascertained that high prices were frequently obtained in London for seul skins, he was induced to fit out from Greenock the above-mentioned brig on a sealing voyage to the South Seas (being the first vessel ever dispatched from Scotland for that purpose), under the command of Mr Weddell.
After the return of the Jane from her first voyage, on which there was a very serious loss, your Memorialist resolved to abandon the trade, greatly to the disappointment of Captain Wed- dell, who repeatedly asserted, that his want of success was occasioned entirely from not having a small vessel with him as a Tender to the Brig. The strongest representations, accordingly, were made by Captain Weddell, to induce your Memorialist to send out the Jane on a second voyage, which, after considerable hesitation on his part, he agreed to, and the Cutter Beaufoy of London, of 65 tons was purchased, and both vessels were fitted out and sailed from thence, under the com- mand of Captain Weddell.
At that time the late Mr James Mitchell, merchant in London, and Mr Weddell, became interested in both vessels with your memorialist.
The object of these voyages was originally and principally commercial; but the enterprizing commander had several times expressed to your Memorialist his wish to give them at the same time a scientific character, by carrying his researches into the then almost unexplored Antarctic Seas, he being strongly impressed with the idea, that he might either discover a Southern Conti- nent in these regions, or islands, at least, where he might prosecute successfully the objects of the voyage. Into these views your Memorialist unfortunately entered, and, as has been already stated, fitted out the vessels in the manner suggested.
The circumstances under which these voyages were performed were of no ordinary charac- ter for enterprising and perilous adventure, for, in a brig of only 154 tons burden, with a cutter of 65 tons, and ill prepared for encountering the hazardous navigation of seas rendered almost unapproachable from the fields of ice by which they are surrounded, Captain Weddell succeeded in achieving one of the most extraordinary voyages on record, in which he reached the Latitude of 74° 15′ South, being several degrees higher than had been attained by Captain Cook, or any former navigator. Indeed, when the objects of the voyage, and the size and condition of the vessels, are taken into account, these voyages are without a parallel in the annals of our maritime history.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.