From these circumstances we are able to determine, within a very, few miles, the quantity of latitude that this land occupies, which does not much exceed one degree and a quarter.  As to its extent from E. to W. that still remains undecided.  We only know, that no part of it can reach so far to the W. as the meridian of 65 deg., because, in 1773, under that meridian, I searched for it in vain.[121]

[Footnote 121:  If the French observations, as marked upon Captain Cook’s chart, and still more authentically upon that published by their own discoverers, may be depended upon, this land doth not reach so far to the W. as the meridian of 63 deg.; Cape Louis, which is represented as its most westerly point, being laid down by them to the E. of that meridian.—­D.]

The French discoverers, with some reason, imagined Cape St Louis[122] to be the projecting point, of the southern continent.  The English have since proved that no such continent exists, and that the land in question is an island of no great extent;[123] which, from its sterility, I should, with great propriety, call the Island of Desolation, but that I would not rob Monsieur de Kerguelen of the honour of its bearring his name.[124]

[Footnote 122:  The idea of Cape Louis being this projecting point of a southern continent must have soon vanished, as Cape Francois, within a year after, was found, by the same discoverer, to lie above one third of a degree farther N. upon the same land.  But if Kerguelen entertained any such imagination at first, we are sure that afterwards he thought very differently.  This appears from the following explicit declaration of his sentiments, which deserves to be transcribed from his late publication, as it does equal honour to his candour, and Captain Cook’s abilities:—­“La terre que j’ai decouverte est certainement une Isle; puisque le celebre Capitaine Cook a passe au Sud, lors de son premiere voyage, sans rien rencontrer.  Je juge ineme, que cette isle n’est pas bien grande.  Il y a aussi apparence, d’apres le Voyage de Monsieur Cook, que toute cette etendue de Mers Meridionales, est semee d’lsles ou de rochers; mais qu’il n’y a ni continent ni grande terre.”  Kerguelen, p. 92.—­D.]

[Footnote 123:  Kerguelen, as we see in the last note, concurs with Captain Cook as to this.  However, he tells us, that he has reason to believe that it is about 200 leagues in circuit; and that he was acquainted with about fourscore leagues of its coast.  “J’en connois environs quatre-vingt lieues des cotes; et; j’ai lieu de croire, qu’elle a environ deux cents lieues de circuit.” Kerguelen, page32—­D.]