THE WELCOME. 93 



the Griper. Lying north-east during the after- 1824. 

 noon, we slowly neared the Southampton shore, Sept. 

 and at eight P.M. the wind having freshened 

 considerably from n.n.w. tacked and stood oiF 

 again. We had at this time fifty fathoms, — 

 twelve miles from the shore, and I determined 

 on standing off under easy sail for the night, 

 but lying west (true) directly off the land, we 

 began to shoal gradually, and at one A.M. on 

 the 11th, had only thirty-nine fathoms. We 

 in consequence stood for the shore, and again 

 deepened to fifty. The night was cloudy and 

 the temperature 28°, but the moon was occa- 

 sionally seen, and was of great assistance, the 

 compasses having again changed their errors. 



Such indeed was the uncertain dependence 

 which could be placed on the compasses, that 

 they were but seldom used, and we depended 

 entirely on celestial bearings, whenever they 

 could be obtained. For this purpose a board 

 had been some time since constructed, having 

 a moveable tin compass on its centre, round 

 which were marked the hours of the day. 



The south point of this compass was di- 

 rected to the hour at which the body seen 

 would come to the meridian, and by pointing 

 the hour at which it was observed towards it, 

 the ship's course at the moment was easily 



