THERMOMETER in NAVIGATION. 93 



gulf-flream has already been determined for an equal or 

 greater diftance by the iame means. It is therefore very 

 defirable that a veflel fhould be employed to crofs the 

 Atlantic in an eafterly and wefterly direction in various 

 latitudes, between latitude 47 and 60, v\-hen the diredl 

 courfe of this current might be detected, and the torpi- 

 tude of each fide of it fixed as far as could be done by 

 the thermometer. Having run into great length on the 

 probability of a current, it is now neceilary to return to 

 facts more immediately connedted with our fubjedl, the 

 accuracy of the thermometer in afcertaining our fituation 

 at fea. 



On the 2 2d of Auguft late in the evening the water 

 fell in temperature four degrees to 64 ; on the next day 

 at noon having fallen to 62 and fufpecling that we might 

 be in foundings, though no alteration had taken place in 

 the colour of the water, 1 induced the captain to found, 

 but no bottom was found at 140 fathom ; on the 24th 

 it will appear by the chart to have fallen to 58, and on 

 the 25th to ^6, about which time we were undoubtedly 

 on Jaquet, or Falle bank, and on the 26th having fallen 

 to 51 at 8 A. M. and aflumed a green cad. I was de- 

 firous of founding agdin, but in confequence of the ill 

 fuccefs attending our former attempt, and not yet placing 

 any reliance on the thermometer, the captain was unwil- 

 ling to lofe time in founding, fuppofing that we were 

 only approaching Jaquet or Falfe bank, but the next day 

 having fpoke a banker, he informed us that we were 

 on the grand bank, and that Cape Race bore W. N. W. 

 150 miles. Upon founding at noon we ftruck the ground 

 at 37 fathoms, fiere let me remark, that our reckoning 

 as fliewn on the chart has been well kept, and that the 

 thermometer has with great precifion indicated our fitu- 

 ation ; on the 21ft at noon in a fuppofed branch of the 

 gulf ftream 72°. — 22d, approaching Jaquet bank and at 



no 



