bold and unprecedented, that we should scarcely know whether to
applaud it as a brave, or condemn it as a rash one, but for its
success." The squadron with which he sailed for South America
consisted of five vessels, the largest of which, the Pelican, was
only of 100 tons burthen; the next, the Elizabeth, was of 80; the
third, the Swan, a fly-boat, was of 50; the Marygold bark, of 30;
and the Christopher, a pinnace, of 15 tons. The united crews of
these vessels amounted to only 164, gentlemen and sailors.

The gentlemen went with Drake "to learn the art of navigation."
After various adventures along the South American coast, the
little fleet passed through the Straits of Magellan, and entered
the Pacific Ocean. Drake took an immense amount of booty from
the Spanish towns along the coast, and captured the royal
galleon, the Cacafuego, laden with treasure. After trying in
vain to discover a passage home by the North-eastern ocean,
though what is now known as Behring Straits, he took shelter in
Port San Francisco, which he took possession of in the name of
the Queen of England, and called New Albion. He eventually
crossed the Pacific for the Moluccas and Java, from which he
sailed right across the Indian Ocean, and by the Cape of Good
Hope to England, thus making the circumnavigation of the world.
He was absent with his little fleet for about two years and ten
months.

Not less extraordinary was the voyage of Captain Cavendish, who
made the circumnavigation of the globe at his own expense. He
set out from Plymouth in three small vessels on the 21st July,
1586. One vessel was of 120 tons, the second of 60 tons, and the
third of 40 tons--not much bigger than a Thames yacht. The