V8
tlie preceding d a y ; but, on reviling His former angles, he was convinced
that the deviation had commenced in this; and not at any former
ftatiön ; proving that the component parts of this ifland are ftrong--
ly impregnated with a magnetic quality, a circumftance that had occurred
in other inftances during our former inveftigation, but more
particularly in New Georgia than in thefe northern regions.
From this ifland they fleered over towards the larboard fide of the
found, and foon pafled the northern extremity of the land, mentioned
before as forming its fouth-weft fide ; the extreme point of which terminates
the n . 35 w . direftion of that Ihore, and forms a very confpi-
cuous point, furrounded on all fides with many rocks and iflets. To this
point I gave the name of P o int H unt ; it is fituated in latitude-54°
10V, longitude 229° 48'. From hence the fhores of that land took an
irregular direftion s. 50 w ., for feven miles, to a point which I called
P oint P e a r c e ; the intermediate fpace is bounded by innumerable
rocks and other impediments, forming at firft a wide channel, with the
land to the north-weft of it, but ftecreafing at this point to about a
mile. Its neareft oppofite fide bore n ; 72 w . ; to the weftward of
this point the channel again expanded, and the larboard fhore fell
back confiderably, forming a deep bay, in which Were feveral fmall
openings funning'to the fouth-eaftward. In a direfition w . by s., about
three miles from point Pearce, Mr. Whidbey landed on the fouth point
o f a fmall ifland, lving before the northern fliore of this channel,; where
he obferved the latitude to b e ' 54° 5', fongitude 229° 34P', and from
whence he had a clear and diftinfil view o f the ocean. The weftern
point of the northern fliore lying N. 58 w . , and the weftern point of the
fouthern or larboard fhore s. 78 w; This latter, forming a very confipi-
cuotis projefting land, I named, after Mr. Ibbetfon of the Admiralty,
C ap e Ib bet son ; it is fituated in latitude 540 4', longitude 229° 30',
having betweeh it and the wefternmoft land, on the northern fhore, a
clufter of rocky iflets ; exclufively of which, the channel, out to fea appeared
to be without interruption, though, about the northern fhore,
there were feveral rocks and iflets.
By this unequivocal view- of the ocean, it was pofitively afcertained,
that the land forming the fouth-weft fide of the extenfive channel they
had
had1 purfued, from Nepean’s found to point Hunt, and from thence to
cape Ibbetfon, conftituted either an archipelago; of iflands, or one ifland
upwards o f 20 leagues in length; but as I confidered the former molt likely
to be the café, I named itafter the Right Hon. William Pitt, Pit t ’s A rc
h i p e l a g o . Mr. Whidbey much wifhed to have returned to the
fhips along its fouthern fide; but, as a ftrong s, E. wind prevailed, attended
with a good deal of fea, againft which they were not likely to
make much progrefs in the open ocean ; and their flock of provisions
being reduced to a very low ftate; Mr. Whidbey abandoned that projeft
in order to return by the way he came ; but firft went back into Chatham
found for the purpofe of acquiring fome farther information rcfpecting it.
On repafling the channel juft: mentioned as being a mile in width,- Mr.
Whidbey noticed to the north-eaft of it, on the fhores of Pitt’s archipelago},
two fandy bays, that appeared' likely to afford good-anchorage; but having
other obje&s in view, he did not enter them, but proceeded up the found,
where the afternoon was? employed in fixing the fituation of the feve--
raPiflands, rocks, &c. which it contained; From one o f the former, lying
from point Hunt n. 43-m , a t the diftance - of eight miles, a diftant
view' was again obtained.of the ocean,; makingthe. weftfern fhore o f the
found;-from the paffage th ey Had left leading to fea, an ifland about
four leagues? long. T o this; after Sir Philip Stephens o f the admiralty, I
gave the name o f S t e p h e n s ’ s I s-l a n o ; Its north point lies, from this
ifland, N. 85 w., diftant five miles ;-and the oppofite fide of this channel
leading-out to fea, n. 45-w: From hence they vifited another clufter of
iflands, where the party refled for the night, and which terminated the:
northern extent of their excurfion.
Returning-on the morning of the 12th, Mr. Whidbey paffed clofe by
Point Hunt, and purfued the channel obferved to ftretch to the north-
weft, on the evening o f the 8th ;. where, towards its fouthern part,-feveral
funken rocks were found in mid-channel, and in pafling .through the
clufter o f iflands- mentioned at the fame time, they found them to be
furrounded by rocks; and fhoal-water. From hence- they loft no time in-
making the'beft of their way to; the {hip, through the fame channel by
whichrhey had advanced.
i This