made in the highest southern latitudes, as to the real position of the magnetic pole, although we were here about six hundred miles from it, and will therefore not have been made in vain: they differ, however, more than I expected from those obtained by Lieutenant Wilkes the preceding summer, making due allowance for the difference of our geographical positions; thus, in lat. 67° 4′, long. 147° 30′ E., his observed dip amounted to 87° 30′; whilst ours, in nearly the same meridian, 147° 15′ E., and in latitude 64° 56′, was only 85° 3′, being at least a degree of difference greater than our distance apart would justify. In his letter to me it had been first written 86° 30′, and then altered to 87° 30′, so that I may be mistaken which he meant it to be, especially as 86° 30′ would be a very near accordance with our observations. I have not been able to ascertain the dip observed by the French Expedition at this spot.
One only object now remained for us to accomplish before seeking a milder and more congenial climate: on our voyage between Kerguelen Island and Van Diemen's Land, we had crossed the line of no variation in latitude 46° S., and longitude 134° 30′ E.[1]; it appeared to me desirable to ascertain its situation in as high a latitude as circumstances admitted, and to recross it in our way to Hobart Town in an intermediate latitude, and by thus determining its place at three distinct and nearly
