Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and the Magellan Strait, within latitudes convenient for navigation, . .
.
3
The leader was instructed to claim the Falklands formally for
Britain, seek out any other promising islands in the southern At-
lantic, explore New Albion, on the west coast of North America, re-
new Francis Drake's claim thereto and travel into the North Pacific in
seach of the Straits of Anian. If he found no prospect of return via a
north-west passage, he was to make for home via the Dutch East In-
dies or China and the Cape of Good Hope. The vessels made available
by the Admiralty for this extended voyage were two well-fitted frig-
ates. The
Dolphin,
in particular, was protected against the ravages of
worm by having her hull sheathed in copper plates.
*
The man appointed to lead this expedition was none other than
the Honourable John Byron, erstwhile midshipman of the
Wager
who, if his own account is to be believed, had experienced an amaz-
ing number of exciting and amorous adventures during his return
to England after being shipwrecked on the coast of Chile. This rum-
bustious captain, known to his men as 'Foul-Weather Jack', had en-
joyed an eventful naval career and received steady promotion. Now
he was elevated to the rank of commodore and in June he hoisted
his broad pennant in the
Dolphin.
As the only surviving officer of An-
son's expedition, Byron was the obvious choice to lead a new Pacific
venture. But he knew full well how hazardous that venture was. So
did his superiors. That was why they had authorised Byron to keep
his plans secret from his officers and men until the last possible mo-
ment and then to offer them the choice of continuing with the voy-
age on double pay or being shipped home on the first available ves-
sel. The inducement worked. When, somewhere in the South Atlant-
ic, Byron called his ships' crews together and presented them with
the facts, only one man opted to return to England.
