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[Page 2]
in other parts of the Globe yet discovered, nor does that supposed ballance seem necessary for the mechanism of the Earth. If it is really the case that there is a ballance of land, we must probably find it in the South seas. Consider our hemispheres in a map. In one you find Europe Asia & a large part of Africa between the Nth pole & the line. In the opposite parallel from the line to the sth pole you have only part of South America. Navigators hitherto have gone near the line & by that means have left unobserved a space sufficient for a large continent. Your discovery of N. Zealands being an Island within this space is a most valuable addition to Geography & reduces the supposed continent, to narrower limits. Much however remains, & I cannot but rejoice to find your plan embraces every object yet wanted in Geography. I fancy you are quite right in bearing first for V Diemens land.
The Dutch formerly sail'd from the Cape Southward, & found about the 50th or 55th degree hills covered with snow. This would hardly be approachable, tho it may be worth enquiry (when at the Cape,) what was the appearance of Cape circumcision discov. in 1739 Van Diemens land is in a more moderate latitude & the natives may instruct you whether any chain of Islands gives a probability of a Continent. I say a chain of Islands, for I know of none yet discovered except the Azores but what seem to be continuations from one Continent to another. The Marian, Caribbees, Maldives & Philippines, are all under this predicament, & tho our present Maps give us many Isl'ds in the pacifick [Pacific] ocean, yet some of them are of uncertain existence, & others may serve as I think as the connecting links of some undiscovered continent. At all events, the discovery of those unknown coasts will be