the Journals of the late Reuben Burrow. 201 



problem is considered by Professor Young as Prop. V. pp. 142-3 

 of his Plane and Spherical Trigonometry (1833), who also in- 

 stances the same general limitation ; and in a subsequent part of 

 this work similar observations are made respecting the variation 

 of the compass as are to be found in the preceding extract. 



Notwithstanding these discouragements, Mr. Burrow " con- 

 tinued to make observations for the Longitude and Variation, 

 though with very great difficulty, as scarcely anybody would help 

 to take Altitudes except the Captain, and he had a good deal of 

 trouble about it." 



" November 26, 1782. In the afternoon we got into the Bay 



of St. Salvador Several Catamarans and boats 



came out to see us, but the Portuguese governor ordered that 

 we should not go beyond the White Fort. 



"December 8, 1782. I addressed the following note to the 

 Governor. 



" f Mr. Reuben Burrow, an English Astronomer, on board the 

 General Coote, East Indiaman ; humbly begs leave to represent 

 to His Excellency The Marquis of Valencia, Governor of St. Sal- 

 vador, &c. ; that he should be very happy to have the liberty of 

 making some Astronomical Observations on shore for the pur- 

 pose of determining the Latitude and Longitude, Magnetical 

 Variation, &c, and other similar matters. This Mr. Burrow 

 hopes will be complied with, and the more so, as Observations 

 of this kind are incapable of being applied to any sinister pur- 

 poses, and are allowed and encouraged by every enlightened 

 government as being of general utility. A few days will be suf- 

 ficient, if the weather is favourable, and Mr. Burrow will be very 

 ready to submit his Observations to any inspection His Excel- 

 lency the Governor may think proper after they are made, if 

 required. 



" ' Bay of Bahia, 



8 December 1782.'" 



Whether he was successful or otherwise in this application 

 does not appear, since the Journal here terminates abruptly with 

 several pencil sketches of the appearance of the small islands of 

 Martinvaz and Trinidada ; — on two of the next pages are two 

 series of observations on the Sun's Altitude, Azimuth, &c. ; and 

 the following memorandum on the cover of the volume affords 

 sufficient evidence that he lost no opportunities of making ap- 

 propriate observations, notwithstanding the inefficiency of his 

 pupils and assistants. 



"January 3, 1783. Gave Captain BurUey the Longitude 

 29° 44' West, Latitude 20° 31' South. Variation of Compass 

 2° 3' West ; of the island of Trinidada. The Longitude was de- 

 duced from 15 observations of the Sun and Moon ; the Latitude 



