EENNELL'S CUEEENT. 305 



which time the ship was lying-to, with her head N.W. On the fifth day 

 the wind abated, but was S.W. ; stormy weather then ensued for nine 

 days, the wind blowing from all points between South and S.S.W., but 

 chiefly, and most violently, from W.S.W, and S.W. ; and when the ship 

 then proceeded Southward on her voyage, she was, by reckoning, only 2^° 

 of longitude West of Cape Finisterre; but, by timekeepers, more than 4^°. 



" On the day the gale commenced, the reckoning was within fourteen 

 minutes of that by the timekeepers ; the latter being more Westerly, owing 

 to the current. On the third day after, the difference was about twenty- 

 four minutes, when the ship was 75 miles S.W. from Scilly, in soundings 

 of 76 fathoms. The ship, in longitude 8° 28', had entered into the stream; 

 and, her course being opposite to that of the Hector, it facilitated her pro- 

 gress, and carried her clear of the S.W. coast of Ireland. 



" After this, in the course of fifty-one hours, the ship had set two whole 

 degrees to the Westward of her reckoning ; and in the forty-five hours fol- 

 lowing, she had a further set of twenty-three minutes; so that, in four days 

 only, she had been carried by the Current no less than 2° 23' ; and, since 

 the gale began, 2° 32' of longitude, or 93 nautic miles. 



" It consequently appears that the Atlas experienced a Westerly Current, 

 from about 72 miles W.S.W. of Scilly, to near 4° of longitude West of the 

 meridian of Cape Clear, where its efect was impercepti ble. It may, there- 

 fore, be inferred, that the stream goes otf to the N.W. in the parallel of 

 51° ; between long. 14° and 15°, and the S.W. coast of Ireland. 



" No Northern set is indicated in the journal of the Atlas. This would 

 have been remarkable, had the weather permitted nice attention to the 

 reckoning ; but it is to be remarked, that observations on the latitude were 

 not regularly made ; and, besides, that the great distance of 36 miles was 

 allowed for only twenty hours' drift to the N.W., when the ship was 

 lying-to. 



" From the nature of this Current it must be obvious that its velocity 

 will always be proportionate with the strength and direction of the wind, 

 by which its direction wiU always be regulated, and that the middle of the 

 stream will preserve its original course in a greater degree than its borders. 

 The direction of this appears to be N.W. by W. ; the Eastern border more 

 North ; and the Western more West ; so that the Northerly current is 

 fitronger close to the West of Scilly than more to the Westward. 



" From the foregoing observations may be deduced the following in- 

 ferences : — 



" 1st. That ships, which cross the Current obliquely, steering a true 

 E. by S. course or more Southerly, will continue longer in it, and be more 

 affected by it, than those which steer more directly across it. In crossing 

 it with light winds, the effect will be the same. Allowance must be made 

 for the more Northerly direction of the Eastern edge of the Current. 



" 2nd. That, after the continuance of Westerly gales, even should a good 

 observation of latitude be made, it would be imprudent to run Eastward 

 from the Atlantic during a long night. For a ship might remain in the 

 Current so long as to be drifted from a parallel, deemed a very safe one, to 

 that of the Eocks of Scilly. It is, therefore, recommended that vessels, at 



N. A. 0. 40 



