during a Voyage from St Helena to England. 251 



We bad the great pleasure, this day, of seeing once more 

 the north pole star, a little above the horizon. 



May 18. N. Lat. 6° 49', E. Long. 20° f . 



The night was fine. During the twenty-four hours before 

 noon, we do not appear to have been in any current, yet, from 

 the rippling of the surface last night, just before sunset, we 

 were supposed to be in one ; but this test seems to me a falla- 

 cious one. 



May 19. N. Lat. 7° 27, W. Long. 21° 46'. 



The night was fine. During the twenty-four hours pre- 

 ceding noon, we have been carried sixteen miles south, and 

 six west. The remarkable change in the temperature of the 

 water indicated a southerly current. From the temperature 

 of the water at six o'clock last night, I infer that we were not 

 then in the current. Hence we may conclude, that its course 

 is not rapid. May not this current be connected with the 

 Gulf Stream reflected from the African coast ? 



May 20. N. Lat. 8° 10', W. Long. 23° 17'. 



Air. Water. Hygr. Wind and Weather. 



7 h a. m. 78" 77 J 3° NE. by N. moderate, pretty clear. 



10 79 78 4 Do. da do. 



12 79 78.5 -4 Do. do. do. 



3 p. if. 78 78 3 Do. do. slightly overcast. 



« 77 7« 3 N. by E. do. pretty clear. 



The night was fine. During the twenty-four hours pre- 



