etermination of ascertaining their precise situation,
and, in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical Society of
Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used respecting
this expedition: "The corvette Atrevida practised, in their immediate
vicinity, from the twenty-first to the twenty-seventh of January, all
the necessary observations, and measured by chronometers the difference
of longitude between these islands and the port of Soledad in the
Manillas. The islands are three, they are very nearly in the same
meridian; the centre one is rather low, and the other two may be seen
at nine leagues' distance." The observations made on board the Atrevida
give the following results as the precise situation of each island.
The most northern is in latitude 52 degrees 37' 24" S., longitude 47
degrees, 43' 15" W.; the middle one in latitude 53 degrees 2' 40" S.,
longitude 47 degrees 55' 15" W.; and the most southern in latitude 53
degrees 15' 22" S., longitude 47 degrees 57' 15" W.

On the twenty-seventh of January, 1820, Captain James Weddel, of the
British navy, sailed from Staten Land also in search of the Auroras. He
reports that, having made the most diligent search and passed not only
immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atrevida,
but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he
could discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have
induced other navigators to look out for the islands; and, strange to
say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are
supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who
declare positively that they have seen them; and even been close in
with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every exertion
within his power to settle the question so oddly in dispute. {*3}

We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable
weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on
the debated ground, being in latitude 53 degrees 15' S., longitude 47
degrees 58' W.--that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as
the situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign
of land, we continued to the westward of the parallel of fifty-three
degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west. We then
stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty-two degrees south,
when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel by double
alt