Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/169

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April.]
OF LA PEROUSE.
159

compreſſibility of water has been demonſtrated, we know the principal cauſe of theſe ſubſtances being ſuſpended at different depths below the ſurface of the water, in proportion to their ſpecific gravity.

21ſt. As ſoon as it was day we directed our courſe, with full ſails, E.N.E.

About half an hour after nine o’clock, we obſerved a rock with a very ſharp point, known by the name of the Mew-Stone. Some other rocks and mountains of moderate height appeared to the eaſtward. The coaſt was indented with ſeveral ſmall bights in the land; ſome pretty high mountains were ſeen at a ſmall diſtance from the ſhore, and we could diſtinguiſh the large trees which covered their ſummits.

We ſoon bore in with a bay open to the ſouth-eaſt. An iſland was viſible to the eaſtward, and nearer us we perceived breakers to N.E.

It was the Commander's intention to caſt anchor in Adventure-bay. As his wound did not yet permit him to leave his cabin, he was obliged to give his orders reſpecting our route, according to obſervations which were reported to him as they were taken. An erroneous obſervation, taken by Citizen Willaumez,[1] having been reported to

  1. When we made the land of the Cape of Van Diemen, Willaumez was directed to take the neceſſary obſervations.
On