328 Observations on the present Siate 
over the marvellous escape of the coaster, who, in a voyage from 
London to Shields, almost Yattianaviented the island in search 
of his port, the experience of every person acquainted with ma- 
ritime affairs will point out many instances in which ships have 
been preserved rather in sp2te of, than in consequence of, the 
plans of those who commanded them. | But without at all une 
dervaluing the i importance of local information, it may be safely 
affirmed, that even in those quarters where it is almost exclusively 
depended on, many of the shipwrecks which happen might be 
prevented, if the mariner’s acquaintance with the modern im- 
provements in nautical science enabled him to avail himself of 
many opportunities which present themselves for determining 
his situation. If, after an intelligent seaman has been buffeted 
about for ten or twenty days witli an adverse wind and in thick 
weather, the clouds should disperse and the sun and the moon 
should appear, he soon becomes as well assured of his situation 
as if he had just lost sight of a well known coast. How different 
is the situation of an ordinary mariner, who, after once Josing 
confidence in his reckoning, must for the remainder of his voy- 
age remain in doubt and uncertainty ! 
It is of importance in any emergency, that a man should clearly 
understand the nature of the difficulty with which he ha’ to con- 
tend, that he may bring his resources into action with a know- 
ledge of the effect which, if successful, they must produce. With 
what advantages does the mariner approach a situation of dan- 
ger, who knows precisely where to look for it! But how in such 
circumstances must the man be affected who, knowing himself 
in peril, isin doubt what way to run! Of what importance to 
such men is the knowledge of every thing that may contribute to 
inform them of their true situation ! 
Before the discovery of any practicable method of finding the 
longitude at sea by observation, the mariner who estimated his 
longitude as carefully as he could from the common reckoning, did 
all that on the subject could be expected from him; all, indeed, 
that it was possible todo. But, however careful he might be 
in his estimation, or however judicious in making allowances for 
circumstances, the result would often be surprisingly erroneous, 
and the error would frequently lead to disastrous consequences. 
The chance of such mistakes, however, was then properly classed 
among the common sea risks, which, whatever were their mag- 
nitude, were quite unavoidable, Bui there would be no pro- 
priety in so classing them now, when, with very little trouble, 
any mariner of coniuvon capacity may qualify himself for deter- 
mining his situation at sea by celestial chservations, as frequently 
and correctly as in the practice of seamanship need be desired. 
The ordinary dangers of the sea are sufficiently great of them- 
selves, and ought not to be increased by the want of any attain- 
able 
= hes aT ATES 
