: ^ A V O Y A G T O 
CHAP, ftance, is therefore fufHcient for convenience at leaft, 
if V.;- not for fpeculative accuracy. If we fuppofe this ex- 
tent to be fomething about one thouiand miles each way, 
withoutj however, affe6iing much rigour in the hniitation, 
the claim of New Koilancl to be called a continent^ will 
be indifputable : The greatefl; extent of that vaft coun- 
■ try being, from Eafl: to Weil, about two thoufand four 
hundred Englifli miles, and, from North to South, not 
lefs than two thoufand three hundred.! 
■ ToNewSouth Wales England has the claim which a tacit 
confent has generally made decilive among the European 
States, that of prior difcovery. The whole of that 
Eaftern coaft, except the very Southern point, having 
been untouched by any navigator, till it was explored by 
■ Captain Cook. This confideration, added to the more 
: / favourable accounts given of this Ude of the continent 
: . than of the other, was fufficient to decide the choice of 
* We c!o not here confidcr whether a country be actually united under one 
." government, but whether from its fize it might be fo conveniently. If we mi2;ht 
' • V derive njcro; from vxa^ or tx'iu; to inhabit, the etymological diflin£xion would be 
- ' complete on thefe principles. An ifland being one diftinft habitatisn of men ; and a 
continent land continued from one ftate to another. The former derivation might be 
rendered fpecious by remarking how fingularly Homer and others ufe i-:e-o; with vutu^zs' 
if they had a natural connection. See 11. B. 626. and, Sophoc. Ajax. 601. 
t In or near the latitude of 30° South, New Holland extends full 40 degrees of 
- longitude, which, under that parallel, may be eftimated at 60 Ei.glifii miles to a 
degree. The extent from York Cape to South Cape is full 33 degrees of latitude,, 
^vhichare calculated of courfe at 69^ Engliih miles each, 
- , . ^v', ■ : r ' . 8 - the 
