ADMIRAL JOHN KNIGHT.

From an engraving by Ridley after the painting by Smart.

Rischgitz, London.

[July, 1792.]

[Original Journal, Pages 283-285.]

lately surveyed, are formed by high stupendous mountains rising almost perpendicularly from the water's edge. The dissolving snow on their summits produced many cataracts that fell with great impetuosity down their barren rugged sides. The fresh water that thus descended gave a pale white hue to the channel, rendering its contents intirely fresh at the head, and drinkable for twenty miles below it. This dreary region was not, however, destitute of inhabitants, as a village was discovered a few miles from its upper extremity, which seemed constructed like that described in Desolation sound, for defence; the inhabitants were civil and friendly. Near this place Mr. Broughton joined the Chatham on the morning of the 23d, and proceeded in her towards the branch above mentioned, leading to the northward. This in the evening he reached, and anchored for the night in 75 fathoms water. The next morning its course was pursued about three leagues towards the N. E. where this direction terminated in latitude 50° 51', longitude 233° 49′, from whence it irregularly stretched to the N. W. and westward. Inhabitants were still found on these inhospitable shores, who brought fish and skins of the sea-otter to sell, demanding in return blue great coats. A passage through this channel was accomplished on the 25th, notwithstanding the wind was very fickle and blew hard in squalls, attended with much lightning, thunder, and rain: the night was nearly calm, gloomy, and dark; and not being able to gain soundings, although within thirty yards of the rocky shores, they were driven about as the current of the tides directed, and happily escaped, though surrounded on all sides by innumerable rocks and rocky islets. On the 26th, the boundary of the continent was determined to a point, which, from its appearance and situation, obtained the name of DEEP SEA BLUFF, in latitude 50° 52′, longitude 232° 29′. This station Mr. Broughton judged to be as far to the westward as the

Admiral on November 9, 1805, and Admiral on December 4, 1813. He was made a Knight-Commander of the Bath on January 2, 1815. He died on June 16, 1831.

[Original Journal, Page 285]

[July, 1792.]

appointed rendezvous; and for the purpose of repairing thither, directed his course to the south-westward, through a channel that bore every appearance of leading to the sea, as had been understood from the natives. With the assistance of a fresh gale from the N. E. he shortly arrived at its southern entrance, which presented the opening I had seen on the day we arrived at this station. Across it his course was directed to the southward, leaving between his present track and the route he had pursued to the northward, an extensive cluster of islands, rocky islets, and rocks. These, in commemoration of his discovery, I distinguished by the name of BROUGHTON'S ARCHIPELAGO.

William Robert Broughton. An experience of Broughton while midshipman on the Falcon has already been related in the sketch of Sir John Knight, with whom he was made a prisoner in the American Revolution. His commission as lieutenant is signed by Chatham, Arden, Hood, and A. Gardner. On December 28, 1790, he was given the following document, signed by Richard Hopkins, Arden, and Hood of the Board of Admiralty:

"Whereas we think fit that you shall command His Majesty's Armed Tender the Chatham at Deptford, you are hereby required and directed to repair forthwith on board the said Tender and take upon you the charge and command of her accordingly, her officers and company being hereby strictly required to observe and follow your orders; and you are strictly required to observe and execute the General Printed Instructions and such orders and directions as you shall at any time receive from us or any other your superior officer of His Majesty's Service. For which this shall be your Warrant."

After the expedition had explored Puget Sound and vicinity, Broughton, in the Chatham, explored the Columbia River, discovered and named by the American, Robert Gray, earlier in the same year, 1792. On reaching Monterey, Vancouver decided to send Broughton to England with dispatches. Señor Quadra agreed to help him on his way. He made the trip from San Blas to Vera Cruz overland and sailed thence to England. He was then made commander of the Providence and sent back into the North Pacific. Finding Vancouver gone, he crossed the ocean and explored the Asiatic coast. In 1804 he published the results of his work, a summary of which is given in the title as follows: "Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, in which the coast of Asia from the latitude of 35° N. to the latitude of 52° N., the island of Insu (commonly known under the name of the land of Jesso), the north, south, and east coasts of Japan, the Lieuxchieux and the adjacent isles, as well as the coast of Corea, have been examined and surveyed, performed in H. M. sloop Providence and her tender in the years 1795-6-7-8."

[July, 1792.]

[Original Journal, Page 285.]

Whilst at this station, I had an opportunity of observing the latitude by five meridional altitudes of the sun to be 50°

In recognition of this important work and while it was in progress, on January 28, 1797, he was advanced to the rank of Captain. On May 16, 1797, the Providence was wrecked on a coral reef off the coast of Formosa. The crew was saved and the work was continued in the tender. In May, 1798, he was discharged at Trincomalee for passage to England, where he arrived in February, 1799.

In 1809 he commanded the Illustrious under Lord Gambier. In 1810 in the same ship he went out to the East Indies and was present at the reduction of the Mauritius in December of that year. He was in charge of the squadron that assembled at Malacca on June 11, 1811, to move against Java. Broughton is thought to have been too cautious. It was the beginning of August before troops were landed, and on August 9 Rear-Admiral Stopford arrived to take command of the squadron. Broughton did not like this and applied for a court-martial on the rear-admiral "for behaving in a cruel, oppressive, and fraudulent manner, unbecoming the character of an officer, in depriving me of the command of the squadron."

At the same time Lord Minto wrote in his private letters, "The little commodore's brief hour of authority came to an end, to the great relief of all in the fleet and army.”

The Admiralty did not grant Broughton's request for a court-martial. He returned to England in 1812. He was made a Commander of the Bath. The last years of his life were spent at Florence, Italy, where he died suddenly on March 12, 1821. The following entry is made in the Burial Register of the Old British Burial Ground, Leghorn, "Captain Broughton of the R.N. died in Florence on the 13th of March, 1821, and was buried on the 14th next following in the English Burial Ground at Leghorn by me Thomas Hall."

Over that grave has been erected a tombstone, a photograph of which was secured through the British Vice-Consul. Under the sculptured tiller and anchor crossed is the following comprehensive inscription:

"Sacred to the memory of William Robert Broughton, Esq., Captain in the Royal Navy of England and Colonel of Marines. His professional career was honorable to himself and beneficial to his country, in two voyages of discovery he traversed the Pacific Ocean with the perseverance, intrepidity, and skill of a British seaman. On the intricate coast of Java, as commander in chief of the English squadron he steered the fleet to victory and secured that valuable island to his sovereign. After having braved and overcome danger for forty-seven years in the service of his country, on the 12th of March 1821 in the 59th year of his age, he died suddenly at Florence in the bosom of his family, to whom he was endeared by those qualities which ameliorate the evils and enliven the joys of domestic life. It is now the consolation, as it was the happiness of his afflicted widow and children, that to