The Malaspina Expedition, 1789-1794: Journal of the Voyage by Alejandro MalaspinaAmong the voyages of exploration and surveying in the late 18th century, that of Alejandro Malaspina best represents the high ideals and scientific interests of the Enlightenment. In July 1789 he sailed from Cádiz in the purpose-built corvettes, Descubierta and Atrevida. On board the vessels were scientists and artists and an array of the latest surveying and astronomical instruments. The voyage lasted more than five years. On his return Malaspina began work on seven-volume account of the voyage, to dwarf the narratives of his predecessors in the Pacific such as Cook and Bougainville. But he became involved in political intrigue, was imprisoned, and then spent the rest of his life in obscure retirement in Italy. He never resumed work on the great edition, and his journal remained long unpublished. Only now is justice being done to the achievements of what for long was a forgotten voyage. This is the final volume of the series of three which presents Malaspina's journal for the first time in English translation and with commentary. It covers the expedition's return voyage from Manila, its visits to New Zealand, Australia, the Tonga Islands and the Falklands, and its arrival in Cádiz on 21 September 1794. Appendices contain Bustamante's survey of East Falkland Island, his visit to Puerto de la Soledad and his search for Islas Auroras, an account of Malaspina's arrest and the suppression of his report, and details of the two corvettes with lists of their complement and of the scientific instruments and books taken on the expedition. |
Contents
From Manila to Zamboanga | 3 |
At Zamboanga | 13 |
From Zamboanga to the Pacific Ocean | 21 |
Copyright | |
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Acapulco afternoon AGMAB Alejandro Malaspina alférez altered course anchor anchorage Antonio Antonio Pineda astronomical Atrevida Bahía breeze Cabo Cádiz Callao calm Cape capitán de fragata chart chronometers coast continued convoy corvette Atrevida corvette Descubierta corvettes crew December distance Don José east East Falkland edition Espinosa expedición Malaspina expedition's fathoms favourable Felipe Bauzá Fernando Brambila finally frigate full sail Gertrudis Godoy Ha'apai harbour hydrographic Isla islands islets Juan latitude leagues distant light airs Lima London longitude Madrid Manila María marines meridian miles Montevideo morning Museo de América Museo Naval night nightfall noon o'clock observations observatory offshore passage Piloto pinnace Port Jackson Puerto quadrant Ravenet reef Río Santa Sarangani Sarangani Islands seemed ships sight soon Spain Spanish survey tack Talcahuano Teniente de Navío Tongatapu took topsails Valdés Vava'u voyage Vuna weather west of Cádiz