18 



who found a current at the rate of one mile per hour, setting nearly 

 along shore on the north coast of Spain. 



With respect to the progress of the current which thus evidently 

 sets along the southern side of the Bay of Biscay, the author has not 

 been able to procure any further evidence directly showing its con- 

 tinuance round the Bay ; but he observes that the soundings evi- 

 dently show that the mud of the Garonne, Charante, Loire, &c., on 

 the west coast of France, is all carried to the northward ; and that 

 the openings of these rivers evidently point in that direction in con- 

 sequence of the current that sets across their mouths. 



With regard to the further progress of the same current to the 

 northward along the coast of France, direct evidence is again ob- 

 tained in the instance of H. M. S. Russel, which was carried seventy 

 miles to the N.W. by an unexpected current in that direction. 



In addition to these facts, which are of comparatively recent oc- 

 currence, the author finds that the generally observed and well- 

 known flow of the tides on the west of Seilly, cannot well be ac- 

 counted for but by the supposition of a current setting in from the 

 southward, which causes the flood tide to run nine hours northward, 

 while the ebb in the opposite direction lasts only three hours. 



Major Rennell has also recourse for evidence to two publications 

 which have but recently come to his knowledge, though printed so 

 long since as 1733 and 1757. In Joshua Kelly's Treatise on Navi- 

 gation, of the former date, an instance is related of a West Indiaman 

 drifted, during two days of dead calm, forty-six miles northward, 

 across the mouth of the British Channel. 



Captain Mead also, in relating the case of the ship Hope of Liver- 

 pool, in 1735, mentions her having been drifted forty-eight miles to 

 the northward of her expected course, by the same current which he 

 represents as an indraught into St. George's Channel ; and says it 

 was well known to the Bristol men in making for their Channel, and 

 that accordingly they made allowance in their bearing of 4 or 5 

 for that indraught. 



The author takes this occasion to notice another current, setting 

 to the north-eastward across St. George's Channel into Cardigan 

 Bay, which sometimes endangers the safety of vessels in their pas- 

 sage from the Land's End to Dublin. 



This may partly arise from the tail of the Scilly current having an 

 easterly set, in consequence of meeting the S.E. coast of Ireland ; 

 but in the author's estimation is more likely to originate from a cause 

 similar to that of the Scilly current itself, in consequence of the 

 south-westerly winds carrying a heavy sea along that coast from 

 Cape Clear to Carnsore Point. 



