ilth "SPANISH MAIN."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sm,—In your review of Mr. Russell's "Dampier," in the 'Spectator of July 20th, you say that that worthy "sailed the Spanish Main, and well-nigh all other seas." May I point out that the belief that the "Spanish Main" is a sea, is a purely landsman's idea, much promulgated by literary gentlemen ? The Spanish Main, amongst seamen, has always meant the mainland in the Caribbean Gulf, belonging to Spain once, and now to her former colonies. -Up to my last visit to the West Indies (1866), the term was applied to the Venezuelan and Central American coasts.
It will cause regret to many of your readers to know that the New Britain named by Dampier, a designation consecrated by long usage on charts, has recently been transmogrified by the Germans—in defiance of the well-established rules of seaman- like and hydrographical courtesy—into Neu Pommem or Neu Hannover, or some such name.—I am, Sir, &c.,
ONE WHO HAS TWICE BEEN THROUGH DAMPIER'S STRAITS.
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