The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands / The Voyage of the Brig Williams, 1819-1820 and The Journal of Midshipman C.W. Poynter

The story of the discovery of the South Shetland Islands.

Charles Poynter was one of the midshipmen who sailed with Edward Bransfield to survey the discovery.

His account of the expedition, which forms the principal part of this volume, came to light recently in New Zealand, and appears to be the only first-hand account of the voyage to have survived.

The introduction contains some remarks on the South Shetland Islands, followed by chapters giving a brief look at the history of the Spanish in South America and the British presence in the area, together with the speculation leading to the search for Antarctica and chapters on early-19th-century navigation and hydrographic surveying.

There were a number of second-hand accounts of William Smith's earlier voyages and Bransfield's expedition which appeared in reports, journals, and books at the time.

These are included with brief accounts of other voyages to the South Shetland Islands which took place while Bransfield was in the area, to complete the picture.

There are also three charts and a number of views which are reproduced together with modern photographs of the area.