From this to the 23d, we had little variety, the wind frefli and
variable, with cloudy weather. Our latitude at noon on the 22d,
was 29 deg. 10 min. North ; and the longitude being the mean of
feveral fets of lunar obfervations, 158 deg. 27 min. Weft.
On the 24th and 2 5th, we had frequent fqualls, attended with
rain; the wind ftlifting from Eaft South Eaft to South South
Weft; the weather thick and foggy.
The 26th was moderate. Our latitude at noon was 34 deg. 59
min. North; and our longitude 159 deg. 30 min. Weft. Contrary
to our expectation, the fog cleared up on the 27th, and we
had clear, moderate weather, with a fine Southerly breeze, which
continued till the 29th, in the evening, when a frelh gale of wind
came on from the Weftward, with frequent Ihowers of rain, and
■ thick foggy weather. We have conftantly remarked, that,South
Wefterly winds, in thefe latitudes, viz. from 30 to 60 deg. North,
never fail to bring thick fogs along with them.
In the morning of the 3 1 ft, the weather grew moderate. Our
latitude at noon was 39 deg. 23 min. North; and the longitude
134 deg. 23 min. Weft. During the afternoon, we had light
variable airs, and cloudy weather. Towards the evening we few
feveral puffins, and a young leal came along-fide, which clearly
indicated, that land could not be far off:'indeed When we failed
laft to the Northward, and nearly in the'feme fituation, we were
. convinced, from limilar circumftances, that there muft be land not
many leagues from us ; but it was our misfortune, both at that
time, and the prefent, to have fuch thick, foggy weather, that had
we failed within ten miles of high land, we Ihould have paffed it
unfeen. 2
From
From the il l to the 4th of April, we had little variety; the wind
generally blew frelh from South South Eaft to South Weft; the
weather wet and hazy. Our latitude at noon, on the 3d, was 44
deg. 4 min. North; and the longitude 151 deg. 59 min. Weft.
The nights being very dark, we generally lay to, and made fail in
the morning at day-break.
On the 7th, at noon, our latitude was 47 deg. 21 min. North;
and the longitude 148 deg. 39 min. Weft; we few feveral gulls,
divers, and various other Ipecies of birds ; fea-weeds alfo frequently
paffed us.
In the afternoon of the 8th, we had a fea-Iion playing about
the veffel. From the 5th to the 9th, the wind was light, and chiefly
to the Northward ; but in the morning of the 9th, it Ihifted
to South Weft, with moderate weather, fqualls of hail and fleet
fometimes intervening. Our latitude at noon, on the 12th, was 52
deg. 46 min. North ; and the longitude, being the mean of fame
.lunar obfervations, 145 deg. 43 min. Weft.
From this to the 16th, we had little variety; frelh variable winds
and frequent fqualls o f Ihow and fleet intervening. We here found
the variation o f the ■ compals 19 deg. Eafterly, The weather was
feverely cold,, the thermometer on the 16th being at 25 deg. which
is two and half lower than it ever was during Captain Cook’s laft
Voyage, though he failed as far as 72 deg. North latitude.
On the 16th, at noon, our latitude was 58 deg. .9 min. North;
and the longitude. J49 deg. 23 min. Weft. From this to the 18 th,
the weather was fo thick and hazy, that we were not able to get
an obfervation ; and as it was impoffible to fee land at any distance,