January 1.
At daylight on the 1st of January Schouten Island, on the east coast of Van Diemen's Land, was seen; before dark Cape Pillar made its appearance.
January 2.
And at two o'clock the next afternoon the Mermaid was anchored off Hobart Town.
On our arrival I learnt that a part of my object had been already accomplished by a Mr.Florance, who had just returned from a partial survey of Macquarie Harbour; but upon examining his chart I found it to be merely a delineation of its coastline; without noticing the depth of water or any of the numerous shoals which crowd the entrance of this extraordinary harbour.
January 10.
As the most essential part therefore remained still to be performed, we left Hobart Town on the 10th of January, and passed through D'Entrecasteaux Channel; which is by the colonists at the Derwent improperly called The Storm Bay Passage.

By eight p.m.we were abreast of the South Cape, when the wind veered round to the North-West, and compelled us to stand to the southward.
January 12.
At daylight on the 12th we were abreast of the range of hills, one of which Captain Flinders had named Mount Dewitt; and our course was held parallel to the shore with a fresh breeze from South-South-East and fine weather.

Soon after noon we passed Point Hibbs; and at four o'clock hauled round the point of land which forms the western head of the outer road of Macquarie Harbour, which I named Cape Sorell, in compliment to the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land.

Between this Cape and Point Hibbs the coast is very rocky, and ought not to be approached.

Off the Cape, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, is a detached rock on which the sea continually breaks.
It was dark before we reached an anchorage off the bar of the harbour; having had to work against a strong South-South-East wind blowing directly out.