Two hours after, we made the land, extending from N.E. by N. to E. by S. about six leagues distant.  On this discovery, we wore and brought-to, with the ship’s head to the south; and having sounded, found seventy-five fathoms water, the bottom stone and shells.  The land now before us could be no other than the west coast of Terra del Fuego, and near the west entrance to the Straits of Magalhaens.

As this was the first run that had been made directly across this ocean, in a high southern latitude,[2] I have been a little particular in noting every circumstance that appeared in the least material:  and, after all, I must observe, that I never made a passage any where of such length, or even much shorter, where so few interesting circumstances occurred.  For, if I except the variation of the compass, I know of nothing else worth notice.  The weather had been neither unusually stormy nor cold.  Before we arrived in the latitude of 50 deg., the mercury in the thermometer fell gradually from sixty to fifty; and after we arrived in the latitude of 55 deg., it was generally between forty-seven and forty-five; once or twice it fell to forty-three.  These observations were made at noon.

I have now done with the southern Pacific Ocean; and flatter myself that no one will think that I have left it unexplored; or that more could have been done, in one voyage, towards obtaining that end, than has been done in this.

Soon after we left New Zealand, Mr Wales contrived, and fixed up, an instrument, which very accurately measured the angle the ship rolled, when sailing large and in a great sea; and that in which she lay down, when sailing upon a wind.  The greatest angle he observed her to roll was 38 deg..  This was on the 6th of this month, when the sea was not unusually high; so that it cannot be reckoned the greatest roll she had made.  The most he observed her to heel or lie down, when sailing upon a wind, was 18 deg.; and this was under double-reefed top-sails and courses.

On the 18th, at three in the morning, we sounded again, and found one hundred and ten fathoms, the same bottom as before.  We now made sail with a fresh gale at N.W., and steered S.E. by E. along the coast.  It extended from Cape Deseada, which bore north 7 deg. east, to E S.E.; a pretty high ragged isle, which lies near a league from the main, and S., 18 deg.  E. six leagues E. from Cape Deseada, bore N. 49 deg.  E. distant four leagues; and it obtained the name of Landfall.  At four o’clock, we were north and south of the high land of Cape Deseada, distant about nine leagues; so that we saw none of the low rocks said to lie off it.  The latitude of this Cape is about 53 deg.  S., longitude 74 deg. 40’ west.