latitude of this island is 4 deg. 9’ S., longitude 151 deg. 20’ E.; and it is five-and-twenty leagues distant from Cape George.  As I coasted not New Britain, but the northermost coast of the strait, I passed through the passage that is formed by that coast, and the corresponding side of the Duke of York’s Island, which is about eight leagues broad, and may be considered as the first narrow of the strait, and then steering N.W. by W. all night, we found at day-break that we had lost sight of the southermost island, or New Britain, and having now ascertained the supposed bay to be a strait, I called it St George’s Channel, and to the northern island I gave the name of Nova Hibernia, or New Ireland.  The weather being hazy, with a strong gale and sudden gusts, I continued to steer, along the, coast of New Ireland at about the distance of six leagues from the shore, till I came off the west end of it, and then, altering our course, I steered W.N.W.  I could plainly perceive, that we were set along the shore by a strong westerly current.  At noon, we found, by observation, that we were much to the northward of the log; but as it was impossible the current could set due north, as that would be right against the land, I was obliged, for the correction of my account, to allow no less than four-and-twenty miles W.N.W. which is nearly as the land lies along the shore.  At this time we had about half a point east variation; and at night we discovered a fine large island, forming a strait or passage with New Ireland.  As it was very dark and squally, with rain, we brought-to, not knowing to what danger the navigation of this strait might expose us.  The night was tempestuous, with much thunder and lightning, but about two in the morning the weather cleared; the gusts settled into a little breeze, and the moon shone very bright.  At this time therefore we made sail again, and found a strong current setting us to the westward, through the passage of the second narrow, which is about five leagues wide.  The island, which has a pleasant appearance, and is very populous, I called Sandwich Island, in honour of the earl, then first lord of the admiralty:  It is larger than the Duke of York’s Island, and there seems to be some good bays and harbours upon the coast.  On the north part of it there is a remarkable peak, like a sugar-loaf; and opposite to it, upon the coast of New Ireland, there is just such another:  They are distant about five leagues, in the direction of S. by E. 1/2 E. and N. by W. 1/2 W. All the while we lay-to off this island, we heard an incessant noise in the night, like the beating of a drum:  And being becalmed just as we got through the strait, ten canoes put off from New Ireland, with about one hundred and fifty men on board, and rowed towards the ship; they came near enough to exchange some trifles with us, which were conveyed at the end of a long stick, but none of them would venture on board.  They seemed to prefer such iron as we gave them to