On the Existence of a S. Continent* 43 
tend northward into a low fouthern latitude, I fhail give my 
reafons for believing there is no Cape, of any fouthern con- 
tinent, to the northward of 40° fouth. - 
Notwithftanding what has been been laid down by fome geo- 
graphers in their maps, and alledged by Mr. Dairymple, with, 
refpecl to Quiros, it is improbable in the highe'l degree, that 
he faw to the fouthward of two iflanls, which lie difcovered in 
latitude 25 or 26, and which I fupppfe may lie between the 
longitude of 1 30? and 14a 0 W. any iigns of a continent, much 
lefs any thing, which, in his opinion, was a known or indu- 
bitable fign of luch land ; for if he had, he would, certainly 
have failed fouthward in fearch of it, and if he had fought, 
fuppofing the iigns to have been indubitable, he muft have 
found : the difcovery of a fouthern continent was the ultimate 
obyeft of Quiros ’s voyage, and no man appeal's to have had it 
more at heart ; fo that if he was in latitude 26.° S. and in lon- 
gitude 146° W. where Mr. Dalrymple has placed the Elands he 
diicovered, it may fairly be inferred that no part of a fouthern 
continent extends to that latitude. 
It will, I think, . appear wi th equal evidence from .the ac- 
counts of Roggewein’s voyage, that between the longitudes of 
130° and 150° W. there is no main land to ths northward of 
33 S. Mr. Pingre, in a treatife concerning the tranfk of Ve- 
nus, which he went out to obferve, has inferted an exiracl of 
Roggewein’s voyage, and a map of the South Seas; and for 
reafons which may befeen at large in his work, fuppofes him; 
after leaving Eafter Ifland, which he places in latitude agf S. 
longitude 123 0 W. tohave fleered S... W. as high as 34° S. 
and afterwards W. N. W , and if iris was- indeed his rout, 
the proof that there is no main land to the northward of 35° S. 
is irrefragable. Mr. Dalrvmple indeed fuppcfes his rout to 
have, been different, and that from Ealier Iile lie fleered N. W. 
taking a courfe afterwards very little different from that of La 
Maire; but I think it highly improbable that a man, who 
at his own requefl was fent to d Lover a fouthern continent, 
lhould take a courfe inr which La Maire had already proved no 
continent could be found it mud however be confeffed, that 
Roggewein's trade cannot certainly be ascertained, becaufein 
the accounts that have beep published of his voyage, neither 
longitudes nor latitudes are. mentioned. As to myfelf I faw 
nothing that I thought a fign oi land, in my rout either to the 
northward* fouthward or well ward, till a few days before I 
made the eali coal! of. New Zealand * I did. indeed frequently 
fee large flocks of birds,, but they were generally fuch as are 
found at a remote diilance from any coall ; and it is alfo 
true that I frequently faw pieces of rock- weed, but I could not 
infer the vicinity of land from thefe, becaufe I have been in- 
formed, upon indubitable authority, that a considerable quan- 
