328 I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1793. 



northerly, we crossed it on so very oblique a course, that we continued in it a 

 long time ; and were driven, as it appears, near 30 leagues to the west, by it : 

 for we had soundings in 73 fathoms, in the latitude of Scilly, and afterwards ran 

 150 miles by the log, directly east, before we came the length of the islands. 

 In effect, in running 120 miles, we shallowed the water only g fathoms. We 

 not only were sensible of the current, by the observations of latitude, but by 

 riplings on the surface of the water, and by the direction of the lead line. The 

 consequence of all this was, that we were driven to the north of Scilly ; and were 

 barely able to lay a course through the passage between those islands and the 

 Land's End. Having no time keeper on board, we were unable to ascertain the 

 several points in this part of our track, and therefore can only approximate our 

 longitude, and that but very coarsely. But according to Avhat we learned from 

 our soundings, and from a vessel which had only just entered the current, it may 

 be concluded that the current, at times, extends to 6o leagues west of Scilly ; 

 and also runs close on the west of those islands. However, the breadth of the 

 stream, may probably be little more than 30 leagues ; for we crossed it, as has 

 been said, very obliquely, and perhaps, in the widest part. 



The journal of the Atlas, East India ship, Captain Cooper, in 1787, furnishes 

 much clearer proofs, both of the existence of the current, and of the rate of its 

 motion : for having time-keepers on board, Captain Cooper was frequently 

 enabled to note the difference between the true and the supposed longitude ; and 

 it may be said that this journal, by the means it affords of ascertaining the 

 current is highly valuable ; as containing some very important facts, and which 

 might have been entirely lost to the public, had not Captain Cooper marked 

 them in the most pointed manner. The Atlas sailed with a fair wind, and took 

 her departure from the Isle of Wight, on the ''i5th of January, 1787 ; and on 

 the 27th had advanced 53 leagues to the westward of Ushant; when a violent 

 gale of wind began at south, and, about 1 1 hours afterwards, changed suddenly 

 to the westward. The gale continued through the 4 following days : on the 28th it 

 was generally w. by s., and w.s.w. ; on the 29th, s.w. by w., or more southerly ; 

 and on the 30th and 31st, s.s.w., to s.w. by s. 



During this long interval, the ship was generally lying to ; and with her head 

 to the N.w. On the 1st of February, the wind abated, but still blew from the 

 south-westward ; and the ship was kept to the north-west. The stormy weather 

 returned again the following day, and continued, with little intermission, till the 

 11th; blowing from all the intermediate points, between s. and w.n.w ; but 

 chiefly, and most violently, from the w.s.w., and s.w. At intervals, on the 

 8th and 9th in particular, the journal remarks, that it blew a very hurricane. 

 On the 1 ith, the weather becoming more moderate, and the wind favourable, 

 the ship proceeded on her course, southward ; being then 2*^4- of longitude, to 



