Discovery.

2. The part of Australia now called Victoria was discovered by the eminent explorer, Captain Cook, in H.M.S. "Endeavour." He made the land on the 19th April, 1770, and estimated a prominent point, which he named after Lieutenant Hicks, one of the officers of his vessel who first observed it, to be in lat. 38° south, long. 148° 53 east. Cook, however, did not attempt to land, but passed on to other discoveries. It may be observed that Point Hicks appears to be identical with the present Cape Everard, in Gippsland, situated about midway between Cape Howe and the mouth of the Snowy River.