The official story of taking Possession, as given by Dr. Hawkesworth, is as follows:
"As we were now about to quit the eastern coast of New Holland, which I had coasted from latitude 38° to this place, and which I am confident no European had ever seen before, I once more hoisted English colours, and although I had already taken possession of several particular parts, I now took possession of the whole eastern coast from latitude 38° to this place, lat. 10° 55″ , in right of His Majesty King George the Third, by the name of New South Wales, with all the bays, harbours, rivers and Islands situated upon it; we then fired three vollies of small arms, which were answered by the same number from the ship. Having performed this ceremony upon the Island, which we called Possession Island, we re-embarked in our boat, but a rapid ebb tide setting NE made our return to the vessel very difficult and tedious."
The Admiralty Log contains, like some other later journals, this version:—
"I now once more hoisted English Colours and in the name of His Majy King George the Third took Possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above Latde. down to this place by the name of New South Wales together with all the Bays Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said Coast upon which we fir'd 3 Volleys of Small arms which were answer'd by the like number from the ship."
Although Corner's Log resembles the Admiralty one so nearly, being one among several copies made while Cook was staying to refresh in Java, yet it, curiously enough, calls the land New Wales, which according to me would give the copy some priority to other copies thence.
Corner's Log has this story of the Possession:
"The Eastern Coast from the sea of 38°.1″ down to this place, I am confident was never seen or visited by any European power before us and notwithstanding I had in the name of his Majy taken possession of several places on this coast, I now once more hoisting colours in the name of His Maj. King George the Third took Possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above latde. down to this place by the Name of New Wales, together with all the Bays."
This log, therefore, commits Cook to the distinct affirmation that he was the first European who had either seen or visited any part of that eastern coast. He effectually disposes of the claims of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese navigators.
Before dismissing this log, I would call attention to a notable observation on the margin of one page, which I recognised to be in Cook's own handwriting, and which, though no evidence of the log itself having been composed by the Captain, must be reported as once having been in his hand, at some time or other. Here are the words: