James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 239

No probability of a Southern Continent

However Mr Dabrymple & some Geographers have laid down Roggewearns track very different from Mr Pingser (?) from Easter Pole. they have laid down his track to the NW Jaffeswards (?) very little different from that of La Maise & this I think is (Note in margin - See Roggewearns now is framed (?) on my chest) not probable that a man who at his own request was sent to discover the Southern Continent should take the same rout (?) thro' (?) these seas as others had done before who had the same thing in view, by so doing the aspect be morally certain of not finding whatever in search of & of course must fail as they had done, be this as it may it is a point that cannot be cleared (?) up from the published accounts of the Voyage which so far from taking proper notice of their longitude have not even mentioned the latitude of several of the Islands they discovered so that I find it impossible to lay down Roggewearn's rout (?) with the least degree of accuracy (a feather drawn in ink to end the paragraph)
But to return (?) to our own Voyage which must be allowed to have set aside the most if not all the Arguments & proofs that have been advanced by different authors to prove that there must be a Southern Continent (indecipherable) can (?) to the Northward of 10o S for what may lay to the Southward of that latitude I know not. Certain it is that we saw one Visible visions (?) of land, according to my Opinion, neither in our rout (?) to the Northward, Southward or Westward until a few days before we arrived at (?) the coast of New Zealand It is true we have often seen large flocks of Birds but they were generally such as where (?) always seen at a very great distance from land we likewise saw frequently peices (?) of Sea or Rock Weed, but how far is one to know (?) how far this may drive (?) to sea, from told & that from undoubted Authority that these is yearly known up upon the Coast of Ireland (Written above - and Scotland) a sort of Beams (?) called oxsyer (?) which are known to grow no where but in the West Indies & yet these places are not less than 1200 leagues assunder, was such things found floating upon the water in the So Seas one would hardly be perswaided that one was even out of sight of Land so apt are we to Catch at every thing that may at least float (?) out to us the favourable object we are in (indecipherable) of & yet experience shows that we may be as far from it as ever (a feather drawn in ink to end the paragraph)
This I have given my Opinion freely & without prejudice not with any view to discourage any future attempts being made towards discovering the Southern Continent on the Contrary, and I think this Voyage will evidently make it appear that there is left but a small space to the Northern (Drawing of a circle inserted) of 40o where the grand object can lay I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the Object of many agreed (?) Nations should not now be wholy be (indecipherable) up which might very Easily be done in one Voyage without either much trouble or danger, or fear, of miscarrying as