A heavy black squall coming on at this time, they all pushed for the land, otherwise I believe we might have prevailed on them to come alongside.

The north-west end of this island is in latitude 2 deg. 21’ south; longitude 147 deg. 28’ east; and the southermost point in sight was in latitude 2 deg. 28’ south, and longitude 147 deg. 33’ east.  A fresh breeze now sprung up, and we wished if possible to clear the islands before night:  all sail was made, and as we ran past this large island, we raised many others; in short, land was seen in every direction; four islands were seen from the mast-head, bearing east-north-east, and two low level islands a-head, between which there appeared an open passage; we steered for it, and at noon passed through it:  its latitude is 2 deg. 10’ south; longitude 147 deg. 26’ east.

At four in the afternoon, the western extremity of a very long island bore west half south, and we steered west-north-west, determined to run no farther during the night than we could see before dark.  The night was very dark, with heavy rain, and a very light air of wind.

At day-light the extremity of a very large island, bore from south-east to south-west by south; at noon the latitude observed was 1 deg. 44’ south, and the extremes of this island, as far as the eye could reach, bore from south 23 deg. 00’ east, to south 50 deg. 00’ west, distant from the nearest shore five leagues.  This island is so very extensive, that I believe it to be the largest of the Admiralty Islands:  I do not think that we saw its western extremity, for as far as we could discern from aloft, trees were to be seen just above the horizon:  the westermost point seen from the ship was in latitude 1 deg. 59’ south, and the longitude of it was 146 deg. 30’ east.

This groupe of islands is very extensive, as well in a north and south direction as east and west.  Having now got to the westward of the Admiralty Islands, I considered myself clear of St. George’s Channel; and I agree perfectly with Captain Carteret, in thinking it a very safe, and (to ships bound northward, which want water,) a very convenient navigation; his chart was of much use to us in coming through, although, had time permitted, considerable additions, and some improvements, might have been made to it.

On the 3d of June, we saw land, about two points before the starboard beam; this proved to be two islands:  at eight o’clock the next morning, we saw another island, bearing south 42 deg. 00’ west; and by intersections taken by the ship’s run, this last island was ten leagues distant; it was high land:  at noon we determined that island in the south-west to be in latitude 1 deg. 36’ south; longitude 145 deg. 35’ east; and those to the northward, I judged to be in latitude 0 deg. 55’ south; longitude 146 deg. 09’ east.  I think it probable that these islands may have been seen before, as in a general chart of these seas which I have seen, there are three islands laid down nearly in this situation.