1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 289 



small degree of probability, which we understood 

 was all that could be expected, of obtaining any ma- 

 terial knowledge respecting its mechanism, by defer- 

 ring the inspection of it. At the same time, it should 

 be remembered, that the watch had already had a 

 sufficient trial, both in the former voyage, and during 

 the three years we had now had it on board, to ascer- 

 tain its utility. On these considerations, we took the 

 opportunity of the first clear day, after our arrival in 

 Awatska Bay, of opening the watch, which was done 

 in the captain's cabin, and in our presence. The 

 watchmaker found no part of the work broken ; but 

 not being able to set it agoing, he proceeded to take 

 off the cock and balance, and cleaned both the pivot- 

 holes, which he found very foul, and the rest of the 

 work rather dirty ; he also took off the dial-plate ; 

 and, between two teeth of the wheel that carries 

 the second-hand, found a piece of dirt, which he 

 imagined to be the principal cause of its stopping. 

 Having afterward put the work together, and oiled 

 it as sparingly as possible, the watch appeared to go 

 free and well. 



Having received orders the next day to go to Bol- 

 cheretsk, the time-keeper was left in the care of Mr. 

 Bayly, to compare it with his watch and clock, in 

 order to get its rate. On my return, I was told it 

 had gone for some days with tolerable regularity, 

 losing only from fifteen to seventeen seconds a-day, 

 when it stopped a second time. It was again opened, 

 and the cause of its stopping appeared to be owing 

 to the man having put some part of the work badly 

 together when he first opened it. Being again ad- 

 justed, it was found to gain above a minute a-day ; 

 and, in the attempt to alter the regulator and balance- 

 spring, he broke the latter. He afterward made a 

 new spring ; but the watch now went so irregularly, 

 that we made no farther use of it. The poor fellow 

 was not less chagrined than we were, at our bad 



VOL. VII. u 



