[s. E. DAWSON] THE VOYAGES OF THE CABOTS 163 



mathematical methods are out of place in inquiries such as this in 

 which no solid mathematical datum is available. Mr. Harrisse has proved 

 by his formulée that to sail from latitude 53° on the coast of Ire- 

 land, and to miss Cape Eace, would require an angular deviation 

 of twenty-nine degrees. On the other hand, I have taken an Ad- 

 miralty chart (as any one may do for himself) and drawn upon it a 

 straight course between the two points, and I tind by measurement that 

 an angle of deviation from a true west line of only twelve and three- 

 quarter degrees would have enabled Cabot to clear Cape Race. One point 

 and a half is nearly seventeen degrees, so that my first calculation allowed 

 plenty of room. The voyage of Columbus is not here in dispute, but that 

 he did actually drop south from Gomera to Watling's island is ascertain- 

 able by the latitudes on the map, and the amount of westerly variation 

 experienced is proved by his own recorded observations. It necessarily 

 diftered at difterent points, but the average quantity was probably one 

 point as stated; and now that, in order to explain my meaning, I have 

 drawn a course on the map, I hope that no one will waste his time to point 

 out the absurdity of any one supposing that Cabot sailed on a straight 

 line to graze Cape Race. We may all be sure that his real course was a 

 devious one. We may also be sure that in sailing west he did his best to 

 follow his compass, and if by head winds he was forced to make long 

 stretches to the north or south, that he always returned to his compass 

 course — more essential to him, if there could be degrees in necessity, than 

 to Columbus, because he passed through a wide extent of fog-infested 

 ocean. All the natural forces still dominant upon the ocean — the cur- 

 rents and the magnetic variation then existed and were tending to make 

 his course swerve southwards. These other physical causes will be con- 

 sidered elsewhere. 



10. — The World Mdp of Jaon de La Cosa. 



On reference to my preceding papers it will clearly appear that the 

 central point of my argument is La Cosa's map. Who he was, and what 

 the map is, has been told in the previous papers at wearisome length. 

 Mr. Prowse, junior,*^ with a true appreciation of its importance, attacked 

 the date of the map. Bishop Howley, in his long argument, scarcely 

 mentions it, and Judge Prowse calls it " a rude sketch," " the most archaic 

 " production that can be imagined, without a single name on it which is 

 " not conjured out of the old Spanish pilot's inventive brain," *- forgetting 

 that, at page 13 of his " History," he had called La Cosa " a distinguished 

 *' Biscayan navigator and geographer." Archbishop O'Brien speaks of 

 the map as the '• offspring of Cosa's imagination," and selecting a part of 

 it, turns it up at right angles and sets it as he thinks that part should 

 have been drawn. Those who know the map best admit that it " is not 



