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Why did the Royal Society in 1771 believe that a continent further south than Australia should exist?
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In reading the wikipedia article on Captain Cook's 2nd voyage, I noticed the
comment:
Despite this evidence to the contrary, Alexander Dalrymple and others of the Royal Society still believed that a massive southern continent should exist.
[p. 182 of Hough, Richard (1994). Captain James Cook. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-82556-1]
What was the reason for this belief by the Royal Society? Had there been uncomfirmed sightings previously, or was this belief predicated on theoretical predictions?
Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia. Cook had circumnavigated New Zealand and charted the east coast of Australia on his first voyage, already establishing that the landmass of modern Australia was of continental size. My question is about (contemporary evidence for) the belief in an additional continental mass further south, that would later prove to be modern Antarctica.
science age-of-discovery
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
add a comment |Â
up vote
37
down vote
favorite
In reading the wikipedia article on Captain Cook's 2nd voyage, I noticed the
comment:
Despite this evidence to the contrary, Alexander Dalrymple and others of the Royal Society still believed that a massive southern continent should exist.
[p. 182 of Hough, Richard (1994). Captain James Cook. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-82556-1]
What was the reason for this belief by the Royal Society? Had there been uncomfirmed sightings previously, or was this belief predicated on theoretical predictions?
Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia. Cook had circumnavigated New Zealand and charted the east coast of Australia on his first voyage, already establishing that the landmass of modern Australia was of continental size. My question is about (contemporary evidence for) the belief in an additional continental mass further south, that would later prove to be modern Antarctica.
science age-of-discovery
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
9
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
2
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07
add a comment |Â
up vote
37
down vote
favorite
up vote
37
down vote
favorite
In reading the wikipedia article on Captain Cook's 2nd voyage, I noticed the
comment:
Despite this evidence to the contrary, Alexander Dalrymple and others of the Royal Society still believed that a massive southern continent should exist.
[p. 182 of Hough, Richard (1994). Captain James Cook. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-82556-1]
What was the reason for this belief by the Royal Society? Had there been uncomfirmed sightings previously, or was this belief predicated on theoretical predictions?
Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia. Cook had circumnavigated New Zealand and charted the east coast of Australia on his first voyage, already establishing that the landmass of modern Australia was of continental size. My question is about (contemporary evidence for) the belief in an additional continental mass further south, that would later prove to be modern Antarctica.
science age-of-discovery
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
In reading the wikipedia article on Captain Cook's 2nd voyage, I noticed the
comment:
Despite this evidence to the contrary, Alexander Dalrymple and others of the Royal Society still believed that a massive southern continent should exist.
[p. 182 of Hough, Richard (1994). Captain James Cook. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-82556-1]
What was the reason for this belief by the Royal Society? Had there been uncomfirmed sightings previously, or was this belief predicated on theoretical predictions?
Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia. Cook had circumnavigated New Zealand and charted the east coast of Australia on his first voyage, already establishing that the landmass of modern Australia was of continental size. My question is about (contemporary evidence for) the belief in an additional continental mass further south, that would later prove to be modern Antarctica.
science age-of-discovery
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
edited Aug 28 at 19:44
Kamil Drakari
1032
1032
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
asked Aug 20 at 2:12
Pieter Geerkens
33.3k590159
33.3k590159
9
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
2
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07
add a comment |Â
9
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
2
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07
9
9
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
2
2
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
39
down vote
accepted
The claim was made by Alexander Dalrymple in his book An Account of the Discoveries Made in The South Pacifick Ocean, Previous to 1764 (An ebook version is available from Google Books).
Dalrymple's belief was based primarily on his translations of Spanish documents captured in the Philippines in 1762, in particular, those describing Luis Vaez de Torres' account of a voyage south of New Guinea. He supplemented the information in those translations with records of Dutch explorations.
These described sightings of land which, when plotted on a chart, convinced him that they must be parts of a massive continent in the southern latitudes.
Dalrymple initially published his research in two volumes. The first was primarily his translations of the captured Spanish records (which includes the chart), and the second contained the Dutch voyages. Copies of these volumes can be viewed and/or downloaded as pdf files from archive.org:
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume I - Being Chiefly a LITERAL TRANSLATION from the SPANISH WRITERS
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume II - Containing the DUTCH VOYAGES
EDIT: 27 August 2018
Having read the comments below, I should probably make it clear that Dalrymple's claims were, almost entirely, wrong. Indeed, even by a charitable interpretation, some were overly optimistic at best! Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, they were pretty much the best 'evidence' available to the Royal Society at the time. They also conformed to, and reinforced, a belief in Terra Australis Incognita that dated back to Aristotle.
There was a long-standing antipathy between Dalrymple & Cook. After his first voyage, it was clear that Cook was rather sceptical about the existence of Terra Australis Incognita, and in particular the claims made by Dalrymple. Nevertheless, he remained open to the possibility that the continent remained to be discovered in Southern Latitudes. In the journal of his first voyage, he wrote:
I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the object of many ages and nations should not now be wholly cleared up, which might very easily be done in one voyage without either much trouble much trouble or danger or fear for it.
Captain Cook's journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71
So even after Cook returned from his first voyage, Dalrymple's claims had not been disproved, and remained a tantalising possibility.
Some of the sightings that Dalrymple believed to be part of the great southern continent (and plotted as such on his chart) turned out to just be islands (such as the Island of South Georgia). The South Sandwich Islands were partially explored by Cook during his second voyage. He still thought they could have been 'a point of the continent' and stated:
"That there may be a continent, or large tract of land, near the Pole, I will not deny; on the contrary, I am of the opinion there is; and it is probable that we have seen a part of it."
going on to conclude:
"The greatest part of this Southern Continent (supposing there is one) must lie within the Polar Circle where the sea is so pestered with ice that the land is thereby inaccessible. The risk one runs in exploring a coast in these unknown and icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold to say that no man will ever venture [by sea] farther than I have done, and that the lands which may lie to the south will never be explored. Thick fogs, snowstorms, intense cold and every other thing that can render navigation dangerous one has to encounter, and these difficulties are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly horrid aspect of the country, a country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.
The natural harbours which may be on this coast are in a manner wholly filled up with frozen snow of a vast thickness, but if any should so far be open to admit a ship ... she runs the risk of being there for ever".
The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world, Volume 4
So Dalrymple's claims were finally disproved, and Terra Australis Incognita (what we now know as Antarctica), was shown to be much smaller than most people of the day had believed.
But, of course, that is exactly why Cook's voyages were called 'voyages of exploration'.
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
 |Â
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
39
down vote
accepted
The claim was made by Alexander Dalrymple in his book An Account of the Discoveries Made in The South Pacifick Ocean, Previous to 1764 (An ebook version is available from Google Books).
Dalrymple's belief was based primarily on his translations of Spanish documents captured in the Philippines in 1762, in particular, those describing Luis Vaez de Torres' account of a voyage south of New Guinea. He supplemented the information in those translations with records of Dutch explorations.
These described sightings of land which, when plotted on a chart, convinced him that they must be parts of a massive continent in the southern latitudes.
Dalrymple initially published his research in two volumes. The first was primarily his translations of the captured Spanish records (which includes the chart), and the second contained the Dutch voyages. Copies of these volumes can be viewed and/or downloaded as pdf files from archive.org:
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume I - Being Chiefly a LITERAL TRANSLATION from the SPANISH WRITERS
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume II - Containing the DUTCH VOYAGES
EDIT: 27 August 2018
Having read the comments below, I should probably make it clear that Dalrymple's claims were, almost entirely, wrong. Indeed, even by a charitable interpretation, some were overly optimistic at best! Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, they were pretty much the best 'evidence' available to the Royal Society at the time. They also conformed to, and reinforced, a belief in Terra Australis Incognita that dated back to Aristotle.
There was a long-standing antipathy between Dalrymple & Cook. After his first voyage, it was clear that Cook was rather sceptical about the existence of Terra Australis Incognita, and in particular the claims made by Dalrymple. Nevertheless, he remained open to the possibility that the continent remained to be discovered in Southern Latitudes. In the journal of his first voyage, he wrote:
I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the object of many ages and nations should not now be wholly cleared up, which might very easily be done in one voyage without either much trouble much trouble or danger or fear for it.
Captain Cook's journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71
So even after Cook returned from his first voyage, Dalrymple's claims had not been disproved, and remained a tantalising possibility.
Some of the sightings that Dalrymple believed to be part of the great southern continent (and plotted as such on his chart) turned out to just be islands (such as the Island of South Georgia). The South Sandwich Islands were partially explored by Cook during his second voyage. He still thought they could have been 'a point of the continent' and stated:
"That there may be a continent, or large tract of land, near the Pole, I will not deny; on the contrary, I am of the opinion there is; and it is probable that we have seen a part of it."
going on to conclude:
"The greatest part of this Southern Continent (supposing there is one) must lie within the Polar Circle where the sea is so pestered with ice that the land is thereby inaccessible. The risk one runs in exploring a coast in these unknown and icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold to say that no man will ever venture [by sea] farther than I have done, and that the lands which may lie to the south will never be explored. Thick fogs, snowstorms, intense cold and every other thing that can render navigation dangerous one has to encounter, and these difficulties are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly horrid aspect of the country, a country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.
The natural harbours which may be on this coast are in a manner wholly filled up with frozen snow of a vast thickness, but if any should so far be open to admit a ship ... she runs the risk of being there for ever".
The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world, Volume 4
So Dalrymple's claims were finally disproved, and Terra Australis Incognita (what we now know as Antarctica), was shown to be much smaller than most people of the day had believed.
But, of course, that is exactly why Cook's voyages were called 'voyages of exploration'.
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
39
down vote
accepted
The claim was made by Alexander Dalrymple in his book An Account of the Discoveries Made in The South Pacifick Ocean, Previous to 1764 (An ebook version is available from Google Books).
Dalrymple's belief was based primarily on his translations of Spanish documents captured in the Philippines in 1762, in particular, those describing Luis Vaez de Torres' account of a voyage south of New Guinea. He supplemented the information in those translations with records of Dutch explorations.
These described sightings of land which, when plotted on a chart, convinced him that they must be parts of a massive continent in the southern latitudes.
Dalrymple initially published his research in two volumes. The first was primarily his translations of the captured Spanish records (which includes the chart), and the second contained the Dutch voyages. Copies of these volumes can be viewed and/or downloaded as pdf files from archive.org:
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume I - Being Chiefly a LITERAL TRANSLATION from the SPANISH WRITERS
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume II - Containing the DUTCH VOYAGES
EDIT: 27 August 2018
Having read the comments below, I should probably make it clear that Dalrymple's claims were, almost entirely, wrong. Indeed, even by a charitable interpretation, some were overly optimistic at best! Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, they were pretty much the best 'evidence' available to the Royal Society at the time. They also conformed to, and reinforced, a belief in Terra Australis Incognita that dated back to Aristotle.
There was a long-standing antipathy between Dalrymple & Cook. After his first voyage, it was clear that Cook was rather sceptical about the existence of Terra Australis Incognita, and in particular the claims made by Dalrymple. Nevertheless, he remained open to the possibility that the continent remained to be discovered in Southern Latitudes. In the journal of his first voyage, he wrote:
I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the object of many ages and nations should not now be wholly cleared up, which might very easily be done in one voyage without either much trouble much trouble or danger or fear for it.
Captain Cook's journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71
So even after Cook returned from his first voyage, Dalrymple's claims had not been disproved, and remained a tantalising possibility.
Some of the sightings that Dalrymple believed to be part of the great southern continent (and plotted as such on his chart) turned out to just be islands (such as the Island of South Georgia). The South Sandwich Islands were partially explored by Cook during his second voyage. He still thought they could have been 'a point of the continent' and stated:
"That there may be a continent, or large tract of land, near the Pole, I will not deny; on the contrary, I am of the opinion there is; and it is probable that we have seen a part of it."
going on to conclude:
"The greatest part of this Southern Continent (supposing there is one) must lie within the Polar Circle where the sea is so pestered with ice that the land is thereby inaccessible. The risk one runs in exploring a coast in these unknown and icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold to say that no man will ever venture [by sea] farther than I have done, and that the lands which may lie to the south will never be explored. Thick fogs, snowstorms, intense cold and every other thing that can render navigation dangerous one has to encounter, and these difficulties are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly horrid aspect of the country, a country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.
The natural harbours which may be on this coast are in a manner wholly filled up with frozen snow of a vast thickness, but if any should so far be open to admit a ship ... she runs the risk of being there for ever".
The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world, Volume 4
So Dalrymple's claims were finally disproved, and Terra Australis Incognita (what we now know as Antarctica), was shown to be much smaller than most people of the day had believed.
But, of course, that is exactly why Cook's voyages were called 'voyages of exploration'.
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
39
down vote
accepted
up vote
39
down vote
accepted
The claim was made by Alexander Dalrymple in his book An Account of the Discoveries Made in The South Pacifick Ocean, Previous to 1764 (An ebook version is available from Google Books).
Dalrymple's belief was based primarily on his translations of Spanish documents captured in the Philippines in 1762, in particular, those describing Luis Vaez de Torres' account of a voyage south of New Guinea. He supplemented the information in those translations with records of Dutch explorations.
These described sightings of land which, when plotted on a chart, convinced him that they must be parts of a massive continent in the southern latitudes.
Dalrymple initially published his research in two volumes. The first was primarily his translations of the captured Spanish records (which includes the chart), and the second contained the Dutch voyages. Copies of these volumes can be viewed and/or downloaded as pdf files from archive.org:
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume I - Being Chiefly a LITERAL TRANSLATION from the SPANISH WRITERS
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume II - Containing the DUTCH VOYAGES
EDIT: 27 August 2018
Having read the comments below, I should probably make it clear that Dalrymple's claims were, almost entirely, wrong. Indeed, even by a charitable interpretation, some were overly optimistic at best! Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, they were pretty much the best 'evidence' available to the Royal Society at the time. They also conformed to, and reinforced, a belief in Terra Australis Incognita that dated back to Aristotle.
There was a long-standing antipathy between Dalrymple & Cook. After his first voyage, it was clear that Cook was rather sceptical about the existence of Terra Australis Incognita, and in particular the claims made by Dalrymple. Nevertheless, he remained open to the possibility that the continent remained to be discovered in Southern Latitudes. In the journal of his first voyage, he wrote:
I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the object of many ages and nations should not now be wholly cleared up, which might very easily be done in one voyage without either much trouble much trouble or danger or fear for it.
Captain Cook's journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71
So even after Cook returned from his first voyage, Dalrymple's claims had not been disproved, and remained a tantalising possibility.
Some of the sightings that Dalrymple believed to be part of the great southern continent (and plotted as such on his chart) turned out to just be islands (such as the Island of South Georgia). The South Sandwich Islands were partially explored by Cook during his second voyage. He still thought they could have been 'a point of the continent' and stated:
"That there may be a continent, or large tract of land, near the Pole, I will not deny; on the contrary, I am of the opinion there is; and it is probable that we have seen a part of it."
going on to conclude:
"The greatest part of this Southern Continent (supposing there is one) must lie within the Polar Circle where the sea is so pestered with ice that the land is thereby inaccessible. The risk one runs in exploring a coast in these unknown and icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold to say that no man will ever venture [by sea] farther than I have done, and that the lands which may lie to the south will never be explored. Thick fogs, snowstorms, intense cold and every other thing that can render navigation dangerous one has to encounter, and these difficulties are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly horrid aspect of the country, a country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.
The natural harbours which may be on this coast are in a manner wholly filled up with frozen snow of a vast thickness, but if any should so far be open to admit a ship ... she runs the risk of being there for ever".
The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world, Volume 4
So Dalrymple's claims were finally disproved, and Terra Australis Incognita (what we now know as Antarctica), was shown to be much smaller than most people of the day had believed.
But, of course, that is exactly why Cook's voyages were called 'voyages of exploration'.
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
The claim was made by Alexander Dalrymple in his book An Account of the Discoveries Made in The South Pacifick Ocean, Previous to 1764 (An ebook version is available from Google Books).
Dalrymple's belief was based primarily on his translations of Spanish documents captured in the Philippines in 1762, in particular, those describing Luis Vaez de Torres' account of a voyage south of New Guinea. He supplemented the information in those translations with records of Dutch explorations.
These described sightings of land which, when plotted on a chart, convinced him that they must be parts of a massive continent in the southern latitudes.
Dalrymple initially published his research in two volumes. The first was primarily his translations of the captured Spanish records (which includes the chart), and the second contained the Dutch voyages. Copies of these volumes can be viewed and/or downloaded as pdf files from archive.org:
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume I - Being Chiefly a LITERAL TRANSLATION from the SPANISH WRITERS
- An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean - Volume II - Containing the DUTCH VOYAGES
EDIT: 27 August 2018
Having read the comments below, I should probably make it clear that Dalrymple's claims were, almost entirely, wrong. Indeed, even by a charitable interpretation, some were overly optimistic at best! Nevertheless, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, they were pretty much the best 'evidence' available to the Royal Society at the time. They also conformed to, and reinforced, a belief in Terra Australis Incognita that dated back to Aristotle.
There was a long-standing antipathy between Dalrymple & Cook. After his first voyage, it was clear that Cook was rather sceptical about the existence of Terra Australis Incognita, and in particular the claims made by Dalrymple. Nevertheless, he remained open to the possibility that the continent remained to be discovered in Southern Latitudes. In the journal of his first voyage, he wrote:
I think it would be a great pity that this thing which at times has been the object of many ages and nations should not now be wholly cleared up, which might very easily be done in one voyage without either much trouble much trouble or danger or fear for it.
Captain Cook's journal during his first voyage round the world made in H.M. Bark "Endeavour", 1768-71
So even after Cook returned from his first voyage, Dalrymple's claims had not been disproved, and remained a tantalising possibility.
Some of the sightings that Dalrymple believed to be part of the great southern continent (and plotted as such on his chart) turned out to just be islands (such as the Island of South Georgia). The South Sandwich Islands were partially explored by Cook during his second voyage. He still thought they could have been 'a point of the continent' and stated:
"That there may be a continent, or large tract of land, near the Pole, I will not deny; on the contrary, I am of the opinion there is; and it is probable that we have seen a part of it."
going on to conclude:
"The greatest part of this Southern Continent (supposing there is one) must lie within the Polar Circle where the sea is so pestered with ice that the land is thereby inaccessible. The risk one runs in exploring a coast in these unknown and icy seas, is so very great, that I can be bold to say that no man will ever venture [by sea] farther than I have done, and that the lands which may lie to the south will never be explored. Thick fogs, snowstorms, intense cold and every other thing that can render navigation dangerous one has to encounter, and these difficulties are greatly heightened by the inexpressibly horrid aspect of the country, a country doomed by nature never once to feel the warmth of the sun's rays, but to lie for ever buried under everlasting snow and ice.
The natural harbours which may be on this coast are in a manner wholly filled up with frozen snow of a vast thickness, but if any should so far be open to admit a ship ... she runs the risk of being there for ever".
The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world, Volume 4
So Dalrymple's claims were finally disproved, and Terra Australis Incognita (what we now know as Antarctica), was shown to be much smaller than most people of the day had believed.
But, of course, that is exactly why Cook's voyages were called 'voyages of exploration'.
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
edited Aug 28 at 0:05
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
answered Aug 20 at 2:21
sempaiscuba♦
37.4k4133164
37.4k4133164
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
 |Â
show 4 more comments
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
10
10
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
So they saw Australia and massively overestimated it's size? Or did I get the wrong idea from your answer?
– Sumyrda
Aug 20 at 6:00
1
1
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
Didn't the Dutch discover Australia like over 150 years earlier? In 1606 they navigated the west coast. I'm sure the Dutch and the British talked to each other about such matters, or didn't they?
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 9:30
13
13
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
@Zebrafish: Don't be confused by names - The Terra Australis of the time referred to modern Antarctica, not Australia.
– Pieter Geerkens
Aug 20 at 10:28
3
3
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
@Sumyrda It depends which part of Europe you're thinking of. The whole continent, extending to the Urals, is indeed bigger than Australia. But Australia is a bit more than 50% larger than the EU or what one might call "western and central Europe".
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:27
1
1
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
@Trilarion They are plotted on the chart in the first of the 2 volumes on archive.org linked in the answer.
– sempaiscuba♦
Aug 20 at 16:02
 |Â
show 4 more comments
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9
A little more context might be helpful, here. Antarctica and Australia are pretty big, so it's unclear whether you're asking "Why did the Royal Society believe this thing which turned out to be true all along?" (which feels like an unusual question, especially since you only mention evidence against it) or "Why did they believe this false thing?" (which invites answers along the lines of, "Well, Australia and Antarctica are pretty big).
– David Richerby
Aug 20 at 11:23
2
Ahhh, the title is much better now. Before I thought you were talking about Australia.
– Zebrafish
Aug 20 at 16:12
Now that you are on Wikipedia, the articles Terra Australis and History of Antarctica contain more information on the belief that unknown landmasses should exist in the (extreme) south.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
Aug 20 at 21:07