MAR. 1770 SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION SUGGESTED 257 
To search for this continent, then, the best and readiest 
way by which at once its existence or non-existence might 
be proved, appears to me to be this: let the ship or ships 
destined for this service leave England in the spring and 
proceed directly to the Cape of Good Hope, where they 
might refresh their people and take in fresh provisions, 
and thence proceed round Van Diemen’s Land to the coast 
of New Zealand, where they might again refresh in any of 
the numerous harbours at the mouth of Cook’s Straits, where 
they would be sure to meet with plenty of water, wood, and 
fish. Here they should arrive by the month of October, so 
as to have the good season before them to run across to the 
South Sea, which by reason of the prevailing westerly winds 
they would easily be able to do in any latitude. If in 
doing this they should not fall in with a continent, they 
might still be of service in exploring the islands in the 
Pacific Ocean, where they might refresh themselves and pro- 
ceed home by the East Indies. Such a voyage, as a voyage 
of mere curiosity, should be promoted by the Royal Society, 
to whom I doubt not that his Majesty upon proper applica- 
tion would grant a ship, as the subject of such a voyage 
seems at least as interesting to science in general and the 
increase of knowledge as the observation which gave rise to 
the present one. The small expense of such an equipment 
to Government is easily shown. I will venture roundly to 
affirm that the smallest station sloop in his Majesty’s service 
is every year more expensive than such a ship, where every 
rope, every sail, every rope-yarn even is obliged to do its 
duty most thoroughly before it can be dismissed. How 
trifling then must this expense appear, when in return for 
it the nation acquires experienced seamen in those who 
execute it, and the praise which is never denied to countries 
who in this public-spirited manner promote the increase of 
knowledge. 
At the Cape of Good Hope might be procured beef, 
bread, flour, peas, spirits, or indeed any kind of provision at 
reasonable rates. The beef must be bought alive and salted, 
for which purpose it would be proper to take out salt from 
8 
