*795-
Jtine.
Monday 1 .
Tuefday 2.
lTiu rfda y4 .
Friday 5.
fqualls of wind from the weft and north-weftern points, which frequently
reduced us to our courfes; as we proceeded towards the north-eaft,' the
latitude by an indifferent obfervation appeared to be 550 28', and the
longitude at noon brought forward by Arnold’s chronometer No. 14, was-
according to the dead reckoning, 299° g'.
On the lft ofjune about fix in the morning, I ordered the foretopfail
to be taken in, for the purpofe of allowing the Chatham to come up with
us, as fhe was at this time far aftern. A t day-light the next morning fhe
was in fight from the maintop, but not from the deck.
Our latitude by the dead reckoning fince the preceding day being
46” 16', and the longitude brought forward by Arnold’s chronometer No.
14, gjo° 8', it was reafonable to conclude, as we had a freth breeze from
the weft and fouth-weft, that we were approaching very rapidly towards
Ilia Grande; and as I was very felicitous to examine the fpace allotted
to this ifland, I continued our courfe to the northward, that we
might fall into its parallel feme leagues to the weftward of the fpot af-
figned to i t ; but in the afternoon we were again vifited by a very furious
ftorm at firft from the'N.w. but foon afterwards from the s .w .
which obliged us to fleer to the eaftward, under the forefail and clofe-
reefed maintopfail on the cap, in order that we might keep a-head of the
fea which ran exceflively high, and broke with great violence. .Under
this reduced canvas, we outfailed the Chatham fo much as to Iofe fight of
her. The fouth-weft gale continued to blow very hard until the morning
of the 5th, when it moderated, and was attended by clear, though le-
verely cold weather. We now flood to the northward, and had the
pleafure of rejoining the Chatham. At noon our obferved latitude was
45° 3°> longitude 312° 55'; in this fituation I efteemed it to be a very
fortunate circumftance that the weather was fine, and that the horizon
was remarkably clear in all direftions, excepting between the N.w. and
n In . e . ; fo that had any land been above our horizon within the distance
of from 10 to 20 leagues, it could not poffibly have efcaped our
notice. Between the limits above-mentioned, which were occupied by
a haze, we could alfo have difcemed land at the diftance of 5 or 6 leagues,
and as it was in this direction that we were fleering, we mult have fallen in
with
with it had any land there exifted. From noon our courfe was directed >795-
about N. by e., which by eight in the evening brought us to the latitude of . <
450 4', longitude 3 130 3'. The weather continued to be tolerably clear
until the clofe of the day, but no land was within our view, nor had we
the leaft reafon, from any of the ufual indications, to fuppofe ourfelves
in its vicinity, excepting from the number of birds that were about the
fhip.
According to Mr. Arrowfmith’s comprehenfive chart, (in which the Ilia
Grande is placed agreeably to the afligned fituation of it by Mr. Dalrym-
ple,) the track of Dr. Halley is laid down about a degree to the weftward
of our path, crofting the fame parallel in the longitude of about 311° 55';
from which circumftance it is probable, that thofe on board that veflel faw
a confiderable diftance to the weftward of them. Since therefore we met
with no drift wood, nor other circumftance to indicate our vicinity to land;
(and had any been near to us in a weftwardly direction, fuch indications
molt likely would, from the generally prevailing winds, have been prefented
to us), I was led to conclude, that if M. La Roche did difcover any ifland
under the parallel of 45° fouth, that fuch land muft have been to the eaftward
of our track. Under this perfuafion, about eight in the evening, as
the weather had the appearance of being fine, and the wind moderate, I
fleered a more eaftwardly courfe, with an intention, fhould the winds
prove favorable, to: continue about this parallel until we fhould pafs the
meridian of South Georgia; from the fhores of which ifland, it is with
great' reafon fuppofed, La Roche fleered to the north; and in that
route fell in with Ilia Grande. It is therefore malt likely, that if any
fuch land- has exiftence, it will be found not very far remote from the
fituatipn afligned to it by Captain Co ok; a fa£t I was very defirous of
eftablifhing. |
On faturday morning, although the weather was gloomy, with the Saturday 6 .
wind from the north, yet it admitted of our feeing diftinftly all around
us for feveral leagues; we continued to ftand to the eaftward until four in
the afternoon, when in latitude 45° 6' fouth, longitude 314° 50', the at-
mofphere was fuffieiently clear to have feeff any land above our horizon
at the diftance of 6 or 8. leagues, but nothing of the kind was within, the
limits