'312 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CURRENTS. 



the stream varies both in strength and in direction. Without enquiring 

 into the sufficiency of the cause to produce these effects, or of the correct- 

 nesa of the views promulgated by Major Rennell, the foregoing remarks 

 have been repeated, as originally given ; and here we would add, that they 

 were formed long before any correct knowledge of the Tides or of the 

 Tidal Currents was acquired, and also that a very just estimate of the 

 amount of derangement of the regular Tides, or of the set of the Current 

 across the mouths of the English and St. George's Channels, is formed 

 from his dissertations. The remarkable revolution of the tidal streams at 

 the entrance of the BngHsh Channel, caused by the cross-action of that 

 wave proceeding up the English Channel with that of the wave coming 

 Northward, has been well developed in the observations discussed by 

 Admiral Beecliey, as stated on page 285. 



2.— THE EASTERLY AND SOUTH-EAST DRIFT-CURRENTS 

 TO THE COASTS OF EUROPE AND AFRICA. 



(262.) The Currents on the shores of the North Atlantic Ocean seem to 

 have different tendencies to the South and North of the English Channel. 

 They are certainly very devious and uncertain ; but along the West coast 

 of Ireland and Scotland, as well as in the offing, the general set is to the 

 Northward. Off the Southern part of the Bay of Biscay there is a well- 

 marked Current to the S.E. and SoutJnvard, not only during those periods 

 when the Westerly winds have been prevalent, and causing the Rennell's 

 Current, last described, but it appears to be constantly met with ; and, 

 \herefore, in saihng Southward from British ports, this tendency of the 

 waters should be carefully considered, especially when the shores are 

 neared, for there they run strongest. 



(263.) As stated hereafter, this well-marked Current was considered to 

 be a portion of a stream, which, running to the Southward and Eastward 

 along the African coast to the Bight of Biafra, was the head of the Guinea 

 Current. But in a discussion on the general system of Ocean Currents,* 

 it was shown to be exactly analogous to an Equatorial Counter-Current, 

 setting from East to West, between lats. 5° and 8° or 10° North, across 

 the entire breadth of the Pacific Ocean. In an examination of the then 

 existing data, it was found that this well-known Guinea Current was but 

 an extension of this Goimter-Guxrent, which might then be traced nearly 

 over to the American coast. 



In the much more extensive series of Current observations collected in 

 the Meteorological Office, and arranged by Mr. R. Strachan, the character 

 of this Current is fully established in accordance with the views expressed 



• On Oceanic Currents, Ac, by A. G. Findlay, in the Journal of the Royal Greogra- 

 phical Society, vol. xxiii., 1853, pages 222, 2'jo, &c. 



