every appearance of land at the back of it, but no getting through the ice to it; we were obliged to steer to the N. by E. along the edge of the pack. Another proof of its being land was the fact of the rapid increase of the variation, which on this day was 44° 11′ W. At noon we were in latitude by observation 65° 10′ S., and longitude by account 118° 30′ E."
The vessel had run fifteen miles to the northward since 8 a.m., and was therefore in lat. 65° 25′ S., when they saw the land to the southward. It was named Sabrina Land, after the cutter which accompanied the Eliza Scott throughout this bold and hazardous cruize.
According to Lieutenant Wilkes's chart, the Vincennes must have passed this land, in nearly the same latitude as Balleny did, during the night of the 10th, or the thick snowy weather of the following day, and without seeing it, as no mention is made of it in the narrative. I suppose, therefore, he has placed it on his chart on the authority of Balleny, but under a different name. He has called it "Totten's high land."
I have inserted these several extracts with the view to do justice to the exertions and courage of Captain Balleny and his companions, and to prevent their being deprived of their due share in the honour of a discovery, for the priority of which the Americans and French are contending with each other, and to which, should this land eventually prove to be a continent extending to Kemp and Enderby
