At five in the morning of the 7th, the rocky point bore N. E. 1/2 N. six or seven miles, and the furthest visible part of the beach W. 1/2 S. The southern wind had died away in the night; and a breeze springing up at N. E. by E., we steered before it along the same low, sandy shore as seen in the evening.  The hills which arose at three or four leagues behind the beach, appeared to retire further back as we advanced westward; they would, however, be visible to a ship in fine weather, long before the front land could be seen.

The observed latitude at noon was 38 deg. 17’ south, and by two sets of distances of the sun east of the moon, reduced up from the morning, the longitude was 147 deg. 37’ east.* The beach was six or seven miles distant, but after obtaining the noon’s observation, we closed more in; and at two or three miles off, found a sandy bottom with 11 fathoms fathoms of line.  Our course along the shore from two to four o’clock, was S. W. 3/4 S., with a current in our favour.  The beach then trended more to the west; but the breeze having veered to E. by N. and become strong, with much sea, it was considered too dangerous to follow it any longer.  At five, the western and most considerable of two shallow-looking openings bore north-west, seven or eight miles; and at sunset, some high and remarkable land was perceived bearing S. W. by W., which proved to be the same discovered by Mr. Bass, and now bearing the name of Wilson’s Promontory.  It appeared, from a partial view given by a break in the clouds, as if cut in two, and the parts had been removed to some distance from each other:  the gap was probably Sealers Cove.

[* It was 147 deg. 10’; but as I afterwards found that observations of the sun to the east gave 27’ less, by this small five inch sextant, and those to the west 27’ greater than the mean of both, that correction is here applied; but not any which might be required from errors in the solar or lunar tables.]

The state of the weather, and the land to leeward, made it necessary to haul up south-eastward, close upon a wind.  At day-break of the 8th, neither Wilson’s Promontory nor any other land to the northward could be seen; but between the bearings of N. 84 deg. and S. 63 deg.  E., six or eight miles distant, there was land rather high and irregular, with a cliffy shore; and a separate cluster of rocky islets bore south to S. 16 deg.  W., from three to five miles.  We passed close to these last, at six o’clock, and perceived that the tide, which before had set to leeward, was then turned to the east:  the moon had just before passed the meridian.

This small cluster consists of a steep island, near one mile in length, of two smaller round islets, and two or three rocks; one of which obtained the name of Judgment Rock, from its resemblance to an elevated seat.  The higher and more considerable land to the eastward was seen, as we advanced, to divide itself also into several parts.  This group is principally composed of three islands; and between the largest on the east and two others on the west, there appeared to be a deep channel.  The other parts are rocks, which lie scattered mostly off the north-western island.  These two clusters were called KENT’S GROUPS, in honour of my friend captain William Kent, then commander of the Supply.