we could see several leagues round us, and found that the Adventure was not within the limits of our horizon.  At this time we were about two or three leagues to the eastward of the situation we were in when we last saw her; and were standing to the westward with a very strong gale at N.N.W., accompanied with a great sea from the same direction.  This, together, with an increase of wind, obliged us to lie-to till eight o’clock the next morning, during which time we saw nothing of the Adventure, notwithstanding the weather was pretty clear, and we had kept firing guns, and burning false fires, all night.  I therefore gave over looking for her, made sail, and steered S.E., with a very fresh gale at W. by N., accompanied with a high sea from the same direction.

While we were beating about here; we frequently saw penguins and divers, which made us conjecture the land was not far off; but in what direction it was not possible for us to tell.  As we advanced to the south, we lost the penguins, and most of the divers; and, as usual, met with abundance of albatrosses, blue peterels, sheer-waters, &c.

The 11th, at noon, and in the latitude of 51 deg. 15’ S., longitude 67 deg. 20’ E., we again met with penguins:  and saw an egg bird, which we also look upon to be a sign of the vicinity of land.  I continued to steer to the S.E., with a fresh gale in the north-west quarter, attended with a long hollow swell, and frequent showers of rain, hail, and snow.  The 12th, in the morning, being in the latitude of 52 deg. 32’ S., longitude 69 deg. 47’ E., the variation was 31 deg. 38’ W. In the evening, in the latitude of 53 deg. 7’ S., longitude 70 deg. 50’ E., it was 32 deg. 33’; and, the next morning, in the latitude of 53 deg. 37’ S., longitude 72 deg. 10’, it was 33 deg. 8’ W. Thus far we had continually a great number of penguins about the ship, which seemed to be different from those we had seen near the ice; being smaller, with reddish bills and brownish heads.  The meeting with so many of these birds, gave us some hopes of finding land, and occasioned various conjectures about its situation.  The great westerly swell, which still continued, made it improbable that land of any considerable extent lay to the west.  Nor was it very probable that any lay to the north; as we were only about 160 leagues to the south of Tasman’s track in 1642; and I conjectured that Captain Furneaux would explore this place; which accordingly happened.  In the evening we saw a Port Egmont hen, which flew away in the direction of N.E. by E., and the next morning a seal was seen; but no penguins.  In the evening, being in the latitude of 55 deg. 49’ S., longitude 75 deg. 52’ E., the variation was 34 deg. 48’ W., and, in the evening of the 15th, in latitude 57 deg. 2’ S., longitude 79 deg. 56’ E., it was 38 deg.  W. Five seals were seen this day, and a few penguins; which occasioned us to sound, without finding any bottom, with a line of 150 fathoms.