Eaſt and Weſt in the ſuppoſed Latitude of theſe iſles. I am convinced that there are no other near this ſituation than thoſe I viſited in my outward-bound paſſage; and where I was at this time determined to land a party for the purpoſe of ſalting and drying ſeal-ſkins; intending then to proceed to the Eaſtward as far as Eaſter Iſle, to ſearch for iſles mentioned in the following extract of a letter in the poſſeſſion of Philip Stephens, Eſq., and of whoſe exiſtence I entertain not the leaſt doubt, as in their deſcription they differ much from Eaſter Iſle, which I viſited with Captain Cook, there not being a tree on it.
Extract.
"The Achilles left Calloa the ſeventh of April, and arrived at Cadiz the tenth, by which we learn that the frigate Le Lievre (the Hare) had diſcovered five iſlands in the South ſea, in about 27° of South Latitude; that one of them was conſiderably large, and inhabited by Indians ſomewhat tractable, and governed by a chief. They have hatchets and other utenſils, which they ſay the Engliſh left there three months before the Lievre arrived there."
Extract.
