1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 73 



** endeavour to stand to the westward." But, in my 

 opinion, different circumstances may at one time 

 render it eligible to pass through the Streight, and to 

 keep to the eastward of Staten Land at another. If 

 the land is fallen in with to the westward of the 

 Streight, and the wind is favourable for going through, 

 I think it would be very injudicious to lose time by 

 going round Staten Land, as I am confident that, by 

 attending to the directions which I have given, the 

 Streight may be passed with the utmost safety and 

 convenience. But if, on the contrary, the land is 

 fallen in with to the eastward of the Streight, and 

 the wind should prove tempestuous or unfavourable, 

 I think it would be best to go round Staten Land. 

 But I cannot in any case concur in recommending 

 the running into the latitude of Ql or 62, before any 

 endeavour is made to stand to the westward. We 

 found neither the current nor the storms which the 

 running so far to the southward is supposed necessary 

 to avoid ; and, indeed, as the winds almost constantly 

 blow from that quarter, it is scarcely possible to pur- 

 sue the advice. The navigator has no choice but to 

 stand to the southward, close upon a wind, and by 

 keeping upon that tack, he will not only make south- 

 ing, but westing ; and, if the wind varies towards the 

 north of the west, his westing will be considerable. 

 It will, indeed, be highly proper to make sure of a 

 westing sufficient to double all the lands, before an 

 attempt is made to stand to the northward, and to 

 this every man's own prudence will of necessity 

 direct him. 



We now began to have strong gales and heavy 

 seas, with irregular intervals of calm and fine 

 weather. 



