result of which gave 207° 56′ W. Long. from the Meridian of Greenwich. From these observations the Long. of the Ship at Noon was 207° 58′, and by the Log 208° 20′, the difference being only 22′; and this Error may as well be in the one as the other. Our Latitude at Noon was 39° 36′ S., the Long. made from Cape Farewell 22° 22′ W.
Wednesday, 18th.—Winds Southerly, a hard gale, with heavy squalls, attended with Showers of rain and a great Sea from the same Quarter. At 3 p.m. Close reeft the Topsails, handed the Main and Mizen Topsail, and got down Top Gallant Yards. At 6 the Gale increased to such a height as to oblige us to take in the Foretopsail and Mainsail, and to run under the Foresail and Mizen all night; Sounding every 2 hours, but found no ground with 120 fathoms. At 6 a.m. set the Mainsail, and soon after the Foretopsail, and before Noon the Maintopsail, both close reeft. At Noon our Latitude by observation was 38° 45′ S., Long. from Cape Farewell 23° 43′ W.; and Course and distance run since Yesterday noon N. 51° W., 82 Miles. Last night we saw a Port Egmont Hen, and this morning 2 More, a Pintado bird, several Albetrosses, and black sheer Waters. The first of these birds are Certain signs of the nearness of land; indeed we cannot be far from it. By our Longitude we are a degree to the Westward of the E. side of Van Diemen's Land, according to Tasman, the first discoverer's, Long. of it, who could not err much in so short a run as from this land to New Zeland; and by our Lat. we could not be above 50 or 55 Leagues to the Northward of the place where he took his departure from.
