After such an explanation as this, the reader must not expect to find me much farther to the south.  It was, however, not for want of inclination, but for other reasons.  It would have been rashness in me to have risqued all that had been done during the voyage, in discovering and exploring a coast, which, when discovered and explored, would have answered no end whatever, or have been of the least use, either to navigation or geography, or indeed to any other science.  Bouvet’s discovery was yet before us, the existence of which was to be cleared up; and, besides all this, we were not now in a condition to undertake great things; nor indeed was there time, had we been ever so well provided.

These reasons induced me to alter the course to the east, with a very strong gale at north, attended with an exceedingly heavy fall of snow.  The quantity which lodged on our sails was so great, that we were frequently obliged to throw the ship up in the wind to shake it out of them, otherwise neither they nor the ship could have supported the weight.  In the evening it ceased to snow; the weather cleared up, the wind backed to the west, and we spent the night in making two short boards, under close-reefed top-sails and fore-sail.

At day-break on the 7th, we resumed our course to the east, with a very fresh gale at S.W. by W., attended by a high sea from the same direction.  In the afternoon, being in the latitude of 58 deg. 24’ S., longitude 16 deg. 19’ west, the variation was 1 deg. 52’ east.  Only three ice-islands seen this day.  At eight o’clock, shortened sail, and hauled the wind to the S.E. for the night, in which we had several showers of snow and sleet.

On the 8th at day-light, we resumed our east course with a gentle breeze and fair weather.  After sun-rise, being then in the latitude of 58 deg. 30’ S., longitude 15 deg. 14’ west, the variation, by the mean results of two compasses, was 2 deg. 43’ east.  These observations were more to be depended on than those made the night before, there being much less sea now than then.  In the afternoon, we passed three ice-islands.  This night was spent as the preceding.

At six next morning, being in the latitude of 58 deg. 27’ S., longitude 13 deg. 4’ W., the variation was 26’ E.; and in the afternoon, being in the same latitude, and about a quarter of a degree more to the east, it was 2’ west.  Therefore this last situation must be in or near the Line, in which the compass has no variation.  We had a calm the most part of the day.  The weather fair and clear, excepting now and then a snow-shower.  The mercury in the thermometer at noon rose to 40; whereas, for several days before, it had been no higher than 36 or 38.  We had several ice-islands in sight, but no one thing that could induce us to think that any land was in our neighbourhood.  At eight in the evening a breeze sprung up at S.E., with which we stood to N.E.