Moderating, set the Topsails with one Reef out; but soon after day light the Gale increased to a Storm, with heavy Squalls, attended with rain. This brought us again under our Courses, and the Main Topsail being Split we unbent it and bent another. At 6 o'Clock the Southermost land in sight bore W. by N., and Cape Saunders bore N. by W., distant 8 Leagues; at Noon it bore N. 20° W., distant 14 Leagues. Lat. obsd. 46° 35′.
Tuesday, 27th.—A very hard gale at S.W. by W., and W.S.W., with heavy squalls attended with Showers of rain, and a large hollow sea, without the least intermission the whole of this 24 Hours. We continued under our Courses from Noon until 7 P.M., when we handed the Mainsail, and lay too under the Foresail with the head to the Southward. Lat. at Noon 46° 54′; Long. made from Cape Saunders 1° 24′ E.
Wednesday, 28th.—Strong Gale at S.W., with a large Sea from the Same quarter. At 7 p.m. made sail under the Courses; at 8 a.m. set the Topsails close reefed. At Noon, being in the Lat. of 47° 43′ S., and Long. E. from Cape Saunders 2° 10′, wore and stood to the Northward.
Thursday, March 1st.—Winds between the S.W. and N.N.W,, a fresh gale. In the P.M. found the Variation to be 16° 34′ E. At 8 Tack'd and Stood to the Southward, with the wind at West, which before the morning veer'd to N.W., accompanied with hazey weather and drizzling rain; at day light loosed a reef out of Each Topsail, and set some of the small sails. At Noon our Lat. by account was 47° 52′ S. and Long. made from Cape Saunders 1° 38′ E.
Friday, 2nd.—Strong Gales from the W., with heavy Squalls, attended with showers of rain. In the P.M. Stood to the Southward till half-past 3, when being in the Latitude 48° 0′ S. and Long. 188° 00′ W., and seeing no Visible signs of Land, we Tack'd and Stood to the Northward, having a very large swell from the S.W. by W. Soon after we tack'd we close reef'd the Topsails, and in the night were obliged to hand them, but at day light set them again. At Noon our Lat. by Observation was 46° 42′ S., Cape Saunders bearing N. 46° W., distant 68 Miles.
Saturday, 3rd.—P.M. Wind and weather as Yesterday. A.M. quite Moderate, yet the S.W. swell continues, which makes me conjecture that there is no land near in that quarter. At Noon our Lat. was 46° 42′ S., being E. of Cape Saunders 1° 30°.
Sunday, 4th.—At 4 p.m. the Wind coming to the Northward we stood to the Westward with all the sail we could make. In the morning got up Topgallant yards, and set the sails; found the Variation to be 16° 16′ E. Saw several Whales, Seals, and one Penguin; this bird was but Small of the sort, but seem'd to be such
