50.east.Lieutenant Shortland thinks it probable that the reef seen on the preceding day may be connected with this island, as it trended in a right direction for it; but it must, in that case, be of very great extent.

The island was still in sight on the morning of the 22d.
24 July 1788 On Thursday July 24th, they had an accurate observation of the sun and moon to determine the longitude, and found the effect of a current to have been so great as to set the ship two degrees of longitude to the eastward of the dead reckoning.

The longitude of Sir Charles Middleton's Island must therefore be corrected by that observation, and placed considerably further to the east.

The latitude may be depended upon, as the bearing was observed when the sun was on the meridian.
27 July 1788 Many land birds being seen on the 27th and 28th, when the ship was by reckoning and observation near the north-west end of New Caledonia, Lieutenant Shortland very reasonably concluded that he must have passed very close to that land, though it did not happen to be discerned: probably it is low at that extremity.
31 July 1788 At noon, on Thursday the 31st, land was discovered, bearing from north half west to east-north-east, and distant about five or six leagues.

As the ship was now in latitude 10 deg..