Discovery of the Antarctic Continent (1840)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, October 3, 1840. Page 66.

Amongst there arrivals to be found in our shipping list of this day, is that of the United States ship Vincennes, under the command of Charles Wilkes, Esq. The Vincennes has been absent from this port almost eighty days, most opt which time has been spent in southern exploration, and we are happy to have it in our power to announce, on the highest authority, that the researches of the exploring squadron after a southern continent have been completely successful. The land was first seen on the morning of the 19th of January in latitude 66° 20’ south, longitude 154° 18’ east.

The Peacock, (which ship arrived in our harbor on the 22nd ultimo, much disabled from her contact with the ice,) we learn, obtained soundings on a high southern latitude, and established beyond doubt the existence of land in that direction. But the Vincennes, more fortunate in escaping injury, completed the discovery, and run down the coast from 154° 18° to 97° 45” east longitude, about seventeen hundred miles, within a short distance of the land, often so near as to get soundings with a few fathoms of line, during which time she was constantly surrounded by ice islands and bergs, and experiencing many heavy gales of wind, exposing her constantly to shipwreck. We also understand that she has brought several specimens of rock and earth procured from the land, some of them weighing upwards of one hundred pounds. 

It is questionable whether this discovery can be of any essential benefit to commerce; but it cannot be otherwise than highly gratifying to Captain Wilkes and the officers engaged with him in this most interesting expedition, to have brought to a successful termination the high trust committed to them by their country, and it is hoped that so noble a commencement in the cause of science and discovery, will induce the government of the United States to follow up by other expeditions that which is now on the point of termination.

We understand that the Vincennes will sail on Sunday or Monday next for New Zealand, where the Porpoise and Flying Fish will rejoin her should they have been equally fortunate with their two consorts in escaping from the ice. The Peacock will follow as soon as her repairs are completed; whence they will all proceed in furtherance of the objects of the expedition.

We will only add, that we wish them God speed.