A V O Y A G E T O T H E
At four o’clock in the morning of the 24th, the wind veered to
the South Eaft, on which we flood right in for the land, which we
faw at three in the afternoon, bearing from North by Eafl to Weft
by North, at ten miles diftance. We had foundings in feventy
fathom water, over a muddy bottom. At eight in the evening,
the wind changed to the North Eaft again, and we flood off the
land during the night, it being very uncertain how the currents
fet. I ihall refume the fubjedl very, fhortly. Thine, &c.
O ff M o_n_ta_g u_e'r I:s_l and, , W. B.
-27th Auguit. I
L E T T E R XVIII.
DUR ING the 25th and 26th o f Auguft, we had light winds,
and hazy weather. At feven in the evening of the 26th, the
wind fhifted to the Southward, and we were in great hopes of getting
in with the land next day. Towards ten o’clock it came on
to blow very frefh, fo that we hove to till three in the morning
of the 27th, when we made fail, and flood to the Northward. At
noon we faw the land, bearing due North. Our obfervation gave
59 deg- North latitude, being the only good one we had been able
to make for the paft fortnight. Longitude 145 deg. 44 min. Weft.
Finding ourfelves much too far to the Eaftward, to have any hopes
of getting into Prince William’s Sound by the South Weft paffage,
our Captains determined to try for the entrance by Cape Hinchin-
brooke, having a favourable breeze and moderate weather.