Besides the bearings above given, there was a rocky islet four miles distant in the S. 78 deg.  W.; part of a ledge of low rocks which extended towards the north end of Thistle’s Island, and may possibly be connected with the rock set from thence.  This ledge is marked dangerous, in the particular chart.

Having satisfactorily ascertained the going of the time keepers, we tacked and stretched back for the coast on the east side of the gulph; but did not get sight of it before dark.  At six on the following morning [SATURDAY 20 MARCH 1802],

Corny Point, dist. 5 or 6 leagues, bore N. 631/2 deg.  E.
A cliffy head, distant 10 miles, S. 85 E.
Furthest extreme, a cliffy point, S. 21 E.
Wedge Island, eastern bluff, S. 49 W.
Thistle’s Island, highest part, West.

An amplitude taken when the ship’s head was south-by-east, gave variation 1 deg. 25’ east, and azimuths at south-south-east, 1 deg. 10’:  the mean, reduced to the meridian, is 2 deg. 13’ east, or a few minutes more than had been found on the west side of the gulph, and half a degree less than off Point Pearce.

The tide appeared to set us along the shore to the southward, although, from what was observed at Thistle’s Island, it should have been the time of flood.  With its assistance, and the wind having become less unfavourable, we were enabled to make a course for the furthest land.  This proved to be a cape, composed of three cliffy points, near the northern part of which lay a cluster of black rocks.  The southernmost cliff bore at noon E. 41/2 deg.  S. six or seven miles, and beyond it there was no main coast visible; but three small islands, with several rocks and a reef, were seen to lie as far as five miles to the southward, out from the cape.

Although the continuation of the main coast was not to be distinguished beyond the cape, yet there was land in sight at the distance of seven or eight leagues, from about south to S. 181/2 deg.  W. Whether this land were an island or a part of the continent, and the wide opening to the eastward a strait or a new inlet, was uncertain; but in either case, the investigation of the gulph was terminated; and in honour of the respectable nobleman who presided at the Board of Admiralty when the voyage was planned and ship put into commission, I named it SPENCER’S GULPH.  The cliffy-pointed cape which forms the east side of the entrance, and lies in 35 deg. 18’ south and 136 deg. 55’ east, was named CAPE SPENCER; and the three isles lying off it, with their rocks, Althorp Isles.