Latitude, observed to the north and south, 34 deg. 15’ 24” Longitude by time keepers, 137 241/2 North extreme near the sandy cliffs, dist. 6 miles, N. 19 E. Low red cliffs, south end dist. 6 or 7 miles, S. 54 E.

At six in the evening, the reddish cliffs were brought to bear N. 44 deg.  E., and a long point, or an island lying off a point, bore S. 43 deg.  W. two leagues.  Our distance from a cliffy islet, close under the shore, was two or three miles, but the breakers from it were only half a mile off, and the depth was 4 fathoms.

THURSDAY 18 MARCH 1802

On the 18th, in the morning, we fetched to windward of the island-like point, to which I gave the name of Point Pearce, in compliment to Mr. Pearce of the Admiralty.  Its latitude is 34 deg. 281/2’ south and longitude 137 deg. 21’ east.  On the south side of this point or island, for I could not fully ascertain its connection, the shore falls back seven or eight miles to the east, and then trends southward.  It is low and very sandy, but rises gradually to a level country of the same description as that near Point Riley.  At sunset the land was seen as far as south-west-by-south; and the wind favouring us a little, we made a stretch for it.  A fire upon the shore served as a mark to steer by; and on approaching it at ten o’clock, the anchor was let go in 6 fathoms, upon a bottom of coarse sand and small stones, the weather being fine, and wind moderate off the land.

The howling of dogs was heard during the night, and at daylight [FRIDAY 19 MARCH 1802] the shore was found to be distant two or three miles, and was woody, rising land, but not of much elevation.  A remarkable point, which I named Corny Point, bearing S 73 deg.  W. three miles, was the furthest land visible to the westward; its latitude, from meridian observations of Jupiter and the moon, is 34 deg. 52’ South, and longitude from the time-keepers 137 deg. 61/2’ east.  Between this point and Point Pearce, twenty-eight miles to the north-north-east, is a large bay, well sheltered from all southern winds, and none others seem to blow with much strength here.  The land trends eastward about seven leagues, from Corny Point to the head of the bay; but what the depth of water may be there, or whether any fresh stream fall into it, I am not able to state; the land, however, was better wooded, and had a more fertile appearance than any before seen in the neighbourhood.  I called this HARDWICKE BAY, in honour of the noble earl of that title.