[Original Journal, Pages 258-260.] [July, 1792.] as close to them as inclination may direct. Immediately above this station the channel contracts to a short half mile, by the projecting land that forms the north sides of these two bays, and by an island on the eastern shore (navigable round for boats only) which projects so far as to reduce the channel to nearly one half its width. The tide, setting to the southward through this confined passage, rushes with such immense impetuosity as to produce the appearance of falls considerably high; though not the least obstruction of either rocks or sands, so far as we had an opportunity of examining it, appeared to exist. The returning tide to the north, though very rapid, does not run with such violence; this was estimated to move at the rate of about four or five miles; the other, at seven or eight miles per hour. They seemed regular in their quarterly change, but the visible rise and fall by the shore in this situation was so inconsiderable as to allow us merely to distinguish the ebb from the flood tide. In the evening of the 14th our boats returned, having found the channel from these narrow parts gradually increasing its width to a mile, and half a league, and to communicate with Johnstone's straits in nearly the same N. N. W. direction, about four leagues further, without any visible obstruction or impediment to the navigation. The eastern shore, like that to the northward, was much broken; the western shore continued firm, and afforded some small bays in which there was good anchorage. As they proceeded, not any inhabitants were seen, but, on returning, they met twenty canoes filled with Indians, who, at first, were a little distant, but at length approached our party with confidence, and with every appearance of civility and friendship. The These were observed to be more variously painted than any of the natives our gentlemen had before seen. faces of some were made entirely white, some red, black, or lead color; whilst others were adorned with several colors; and the generality had their hair decorated with the down of young sea-fowl. In these respects they evidently approached nearer to the character of the people of Nootka, than of any From the mezzotint by C. Turner after the painting by John Hoppner. Photograph copyrighted by Walker & Cockrell. Rights secured for this work in England and America. [July, 1792.] [Original Journal, Pages 260-261.] other we had yet seen, either in the entrance of the strait of De Fuca, or in the gulf of Georgia. The winds being too light and variable to command the ship against the influence of such rapid tides, we were under the necessity of waiting for the ebb in the afternoon of the following day, Sunday the 15th, when, with pleasant weather and a fresh breeze at N. W. we weighed about three o'clock, turned through the narrows, and, having gained about three leagues by the time it was nearly dark, we anchored on the western shore in a small bay, on a bottom of sand and mud, in 30 fathoms water, to wait the favorable return of tide. On Monday morning the 16th, with the assistance of a fresh N. W. wind, and the stream of ebb, we shortly reached Johnstone's straits; passing a point which, after our little consort, I named POINT CHATHAM, situated in latitude 53° 19′, John Pitt, Second Earl of Chatham.—The important place of first Lord of the Admiralty was held by the Earl of Chatham from 1788 until 1794, when he was succeeded by Earl Spencer. This covered nearly the whole period of Vancouver's voyage. The armed tender that sailed as consort of the Discovery sloop bore his name. The name of this consort was given by Lieutenant Broughton to the island he discovered near New Zealand, and now we see it again bestowed to the point opposite the southern end of Thurlow's Island. The earl had signed the papers of the expedition, and the bestowal of the name Chatham was as much in compliment to him as to the little vessel. It was said in his time that William Pitt, the younger, was not only a chip off the old block; he was the whole block itself. No such fine compliment was ever paid to his older brother John, who inherited the title as second Earl of Chatham. Wraxall said he resembled his father in face and person and in nothing else. His manners were such as to forbid approach and prohibit familiarity. John Pitt was born on September 10, 1756, and succeeded to his father's title in 1778. He entered the army and in 1778 was appointed a lieutenant in the Thirty-ninth Foot. He served in the siege of Gibraltar in 1779– 1783. It was in the cabinet of his younger brother that he served as first Lord of the Admiralty. He was admitted to the Privy Council on April 3, 1789, and was created a Knight of the Garter on December 15, 1790. On retiring from the position of first Lord of the Admiralty he remained in the cabinet as Lord Privy Seal and was transferred from that to the presidency of the council, which he held until his brother resigned as premier in July, 1801. [Original Journal, Page 261.] [July, 1792.] longitude 235° 45'. This point is rendered conspicuous by the confluence of three channels, two of which take their respective directions to the westward and south-eastwards towards the ocean, as also by a small bay on each side; by three rocky islets close to the south, and by some rocks, over which the sea breaks to the north. Immediately on our entering these straits, we were affected by more swell than we had experienced in this inland navigation, indicating that the ocean, in a westerly direction was not quite so remote as, by Mr. Johnstone, it had been estimated. In the bay, to the north-westward of point Chatham, was situated an Indian village, from whence some of the natives He continued in the army all this time, receiving numerous promotions. In command of a brigade under the Duke of York on October 2, 1799, he relieved General Coote when hard pressed by the French in the battle of Bergen. He was wounded at the battle of Beverwyk. On returning home he was made master-general of ordnance on June 27, 1801, which position he held until February 8, 1806. He became lieutenant-general in 1802, governor of Plymouth on March 30, 1805, and governor of Jersey on September 22, 1807. He owed much of this advancement to the favor of George III, but on his own account, he was ambitious for military glory. He was greviously disappointed when, instead of himself, Wellington was sent to the peninsula in 1808. To soothe him he was given command of the land forces in the expedition to Walcheren, for the reduction or capture of Flushing and Antwerp. Successful at first, he did not press his advantage, and the expedition was a failure. He claimed in defence that he had not been properly supported by the naval forces under Admiral Strachan. This gave rise to the following: "Great Chatham, with his sabre drawn Friends of the admiral retorted against Chatham's charges and called him "the late" Earl of Chatham. An investigation produced revelations that deeply compromised the earl's reputation. Notwithstanding all this he continued to receive further promotions. He was made a general in the army on January 1, 1812, and in 1820, on the death of the Duke of Kent, he was made governor of Gibraltar, which post he held until his death. He died at London on September 24, 1835. The portrait for this work is from the mezzotint by C. Turner, after the painting by John Hoppner of the Royal Academy. |