This excerpt describes events in April 1792, in the region of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
(* the ‘f’ used by 18th century writers has here been substituted with an ‘s’)
“Mr. Dalyrymple informs us, that “it is alleged that the Spaniards have recently found an entrance in the latitude of 47' 45′ north, which in 27 days course brought them to the vicinity of Hudson’s bay; this latitude exactly corresponds to the ancient relation of John De Fuca, the Greek Pilot, in 1592.” This inlet could be now only ten miles from us; and another that had been visited by Mr. Meares and other traders on the coast, was not more than 20 leagues distant. We had been extremely fortunate in the favorable winds that had attended us along this coast, and their absence at this juncture made us impatient for their return. Our anxiety was, however, of no long duration; as by three o’clock on Sunday morning the 29th, we were indulged with a pleasant breeze, with which at day-light we weighed and stood along the shore to the N.W. Whilst at anchor we found a constant current, without intermission, setting in the line of the coast to the northward, at an uniform rate of near half a league per hour. Since we had passed cape Orford, we had been regularly thus affected, and carried further to the north by ten or twelve miles per day than we expected.
At four o’clock, a sail was discovered to the westward standing in shore. This was a very great novelty, not having seen any vessel but our consort, for the last eight months. She soon hoisted American colours, and fired a gun to leeward. At six we spoke her. She proved to be the ship Columbia, commanded by Mr. Robert Gray, belonging to Boston, whence she had been absent nineteen months. … I desired he would bring to, and sent Mr. Puget and Mr. Menzies on board to acquire such information as might be serviceable in our future operations.
The most remarkable mountain we had seen on the coast of New Albion, now presented itself. Its summit, covered with eternal snow, was divided into a very elegant double fork, and rose conspicuously from a base of lofty mountains clothed in the same manner, which descended gradually to hills of a moderate height.”
