512 PASSAGES OYER THE ATLANTIC. 



more especially those given by Captain Maury and Captain Toynbee as to 

 a Westerly track from the Channel leading through steadier winds, and 

 therefore more particularly applicable to the route across the North 

 Atlantic in the Trades, where there is no object in maintaining an Easterly 

 position to avoid being driven to leeward of the Brazilian coast. 



In confirmation of this view, Captain George Cheveley, of Liverpool, 

 remarks that he would recommend to ships clearing the English Channel, 

 */ hound for the West Indies, to make the S.W. quadrant, trice, so as to 

 pass nearly at an equal distance between Madeira and St. Mary's. 

 Captain Cheveley adds, that, by pursuing this track, he invariably held a 

 steadier breeze, and got much quicker into the Trades than when he pro- 

 ceeded farther to the Eastward, and so endeavoured to make more Southing. 

 He is aware that the latter is the general 'practice, of which he entirely 

 disapproves, so far as concerns a West India passage. 



Ships for Jamaica generally pass to the Southward of the Island of 

 Montserrat, and thence proceed for the high rock called Alta Vela, off the 

 Southern point of St. Domingo, whence they take a departure for the 

 Eastern end of Jamaica. When homeward-bound, they pass either 

 through the Windward Channel or the Strait of Florida, as the wind and 

 other circumstances may prevail or dictate. 



Between the months of October and March, Northerly winds prevail 

 over the Mexican Sea and the adjacent regions ; and when Northerly 

 winds prevail in the Strait of Florida, the Windward Channel must, of 

 course, be preferred ; but, at all other times — at least, generally at other 

 times — the quickest, and, therefore, most eligible, passage is through the 

 Channel of Yucatan, and thence, with the Gulf Stream in your favour, 

 through the Strait of Florida. 



Although the Windward Channel appears, by the chart, to be the 

 shorter and readier passage, yet ships are frequently opposed here, both 

 by wind and current, as will appear by the following statement, made by 

 an officer already quoted : — " After the defeat of the French fleet, com- 

 manded by Count de Grasse, in April, 1782, and the British had arrived 

 at Port Royal, in Jamaica, a squadron was detached to gain the Wind- 

 ward Passage, run down the Bahama Old Channel, and cruise to the 

 Eastward of Havana, to prevent a Spanish squadron, in the harbour, 

 from effecting a junction with the French ships that had escaped into 

 Cape Fran9ois {Cape Haytien). For six weeks did the English squadron 

 beat against fresh sea breezes and a lee current ; and, during that time, 

 never advanced farther to the Eastward than off Morant Harbour, though 

 the ships were much strained by carrying a press of sail to attain their 

 object ; bjat, after struggling so long, were compelled to return, baffled, 

 into port. Now, though the first object might have been to meet the 

 Spanish squadron on its way to Cape Francois, if it had sailed, yet, so 

 soon as the effect of a lee current was ascertained, the object of gaining 

 the Windward Passage ought to have been immediately abandoned, 

 when, by bearing away with a favourable current for some distance, and 

 i^efore a fresh Trade Wind, Cape Antonio might have been passed the 

 gfroond day, the squadron have been off' the Dry Tortugas on the third, 

 and by beating along the Florida shore with a weather current, when to 



