While we were in the high latitudes, many of our people were attacked with a slight fever, occasioned by colds.  It happily yielded to the simplest remedies; was generally removed in a few days; and, at this time, we had not above one or two on the sick list.

We proceeded N.E. by N. till the 6th, at noon.  Being then in the latitude of 52 deg. 0’ S., longitude 135 deg. 32’ W., and about 200 leagues from our track to Otaheite, in which space it was not probable, all circumstances considered, there is any extensive land, and it being still less probable any lay to the west, from the great mountainous billows we had had, and still continued to have, from that quarter, I therefore steered N.E., with a fresh gale at W.S.W.

At eight o’clock in the morning, on the 7th, being in the latitude of 50 deg. 49’ S., we observed several distances of the sun and moon, which gave the longitude as follows, viz.

By Mr. Wales, 133 deg. 24’ 0” West. 
       Gilbert, 133 10 0
       Clarke, 133 0 0
       Smith, 133 37 25
       Myself, 133 37 0
                                     -------------
       Mean, 133 21 43

By the Watch, 133 44 0 west. 
My reckoning, 133 39 0
-------------
Variation of the compass, 6 2 0 East.
thermometer, 50 0 0

The next morning we observed again, and the results were agreeable to the preceding observations, allowing for the ship’s run.  I must here take notice, that our longitude can never be erroneous, while we have so good a guide as Mr Kendall’s watch.  This day, at noon, we steered E.N.E. 1/2 E., being then in the latitude of 49 deg. 7’ S., longitude 131 deg. 2’ W.

On the 9th, in latitude 48 deg. 17’ S., longitude 127 deg. 10’ W., we steered east, with a fine fresh gale at west, attended with clear pleasant weather, and a great swell from the same direction as the wind.

In the morning of the 10th, having but little wind, we put a boat in the water, in which some of the officers went and shot several birds.  These afforded us a fresh meal; they were of the peterel tribe, and such as are usually seen at any distance from land.  Indeed, neither birds, nor any other thing was to be seen, that could give us the least hopes of finding any; and, therefore, at noon the next day, being then in the latitude of 47 deg. 51’ S., longitude 122 deg. 12’ W., and a little more than 200 leagues from my track to Otaheite in 1769, I altered the course, and steered S.E., with a fresh gale at S.W. by W. In the evening, when our latitude was 48 deg. 22’ S., longitude 121 deg. 29’ W., we found the variation to be 2 deg. 34’ E., which is the least variation we had found without the tropic.  In the evening of the next day, we found it to be 4 deg. 30’ E., our latitude, at that time, was 50 deg. 5’ S., longitude 119 deg. 1/2 W.