Lieutenant Mc.  Cluer is the last person, who can strictly be said to have added to our knowledge of the north coast of Terra Australis, previously to the time in which the voyage of the Investigator was planned; but several navigators had followed captain Cook through Torres’ Strait, and by considerably different routes:  these it will be proper to notice; as their discoveries are intimately connected with the present subject.

BLIGH. 1789.

After the mutineers of the Bounty had forced their commander, lieutenant (now rear-admiral) WILLIAM BLIGH, to embark in the launch, near the island Tofoa; he steered for Coepang, a Dutch settlement, at the south-west end of Timor.  In the way, he made the east coast of New South Wales, in about 121/2 deg. of South latitude; and, sailing northward, passed round Cape York and the Prince of Wales’ Islands.

It was not to be supposed, that captain Bligh, under the circumstances of extreme distress, of fatigue, and difficulty of every kind, could do much for navigation and geography; yet, he took views and made such observations and notes, as enabled him to construct a chart of his track, and of the lands and reefs seen from the launch.  And as captain Bligh passed to the north of the Prince of Wales’ Islands, whereas captain Cook had passed to the south, his interesting narrative, with the accompanying chart, made an useful addition to what little was yet known of Torres’Strait.*

[* Bligh’s “Voyage to the South Seas in H. M. Ship Bounty,” page 218-221.]

EDWARDS. 1791.

CAPTAIN (now admiral) EDWARD EDWARDS of HIS Majesty’s frigate Pandora, on his return from the island Taheity,* made the reefs of Torres’ Strait, on Aug. 25; in about the latitude 10 deg. south, and two degrees of longitude to the east of Cape York.  Steering from thence westward, he fell in with three islands, rather high, which he named MURRAY’S; lying in latitude 9 deg. 57’ south, and longitude 143 deg. 42’ east;** and some canoes, with two masts, were seen running within side of the reef which lay between the islands and the ship.  This reef was of considerable extent; and, during the whole of August 26, captain Edwards ran along it to the southward, without finding any passage through.  On the 27th, the search was continued, without success; but on the 28th, a boat was despatched to examine an opening in the reef; and the ship stood off and on, waiting the result.  At five in the evening, the boat made a signal for a passage being found; but fearing to venture through, so near sunset, without more particular information, captain Edwards called the boat on board.  In the mean time, a current, or tide, set the Pandora upon the reef; and, after beating there till ten o’clock, she went over it into deep water; and sunk in 15 fathoms, at daylight of the 29th.

[* Commonly written Otaheite; but the 0 is either an article or a preposition, and forms no part of the name:  Bougainville writes it Taiti.]