THERMOMETRICAL JOURNAL. rg69 
Ty all the time, till the ifland was out of fight; in this 
place they fpoke a large fhip, the Captain of which, had 
no idea of his fituation.; he had not noticed the bottom, 
and was failing in full confidence of being far from dan-- 
ger. On being defired to look over the fide of his fhip,. 
the whole crew was in the utmoft confternation, and hove 
the fhip too, with all her jails fett. He was foon inform- 
ed of his true lonvitude, and took.a new departure. Had 
this Captain kept a thermometrical-journal he would not, 
probably, have been fo deceived, and-had. he at this time 
been in a gale of wind, his error might have been fatal. 
Every body in this city remembers the dreadful cataf- 
trophe of the fhip Faithful Steward, which was loft, on 
this coaft, with near 500 people on: board, about feven 
years fince. The Captain was fo fure of having fufficient 
fea room, that he did not think of founding, the weather 
was not boifterous and had he known his fituation he 
mi2ht have ftood off during the night.. But fearlefs of a 
danger he did not know, he ftood on with full fails, and 
was inan inftant loft: Ithink there were not above twen- 
ty fouls faved. A thermometer regularly ufed would 
have given warning in-time, and probably have faved 
thefe lives. 
The impreffion fuch events have made on my mind, 
has induced me to be thus particular, and I the more rea- 
dily do juftice, to the judicious example given to other 
Captains, by Captain Billings, becaufe I think the obfer- 
‘vations of a mariner, are more likely to be attended to 
by mariners, than any inftruction given by a landfman. 
‘think befides, that the merit of Captain Billings, ought 
to be rewarded, by a publication of his laudable. condua, 
that 
