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On the 1 8th, the wind favourable; we believe 

 the winds have carried us a little too far to the fouth- 

 ward, and we are failing weft-north- weft, in order 

 to recover our latitude. For ten or twelve days 

 paft we have never feen the fun, and on that 

 account have not been able to take an obfervation. 

 This happens pretty often, and is what occafions 

 the greater!: danger of this navigation. Towards 

 eight o'clock in the morning, we perceive a fmall 

 velfel, which feems to make towards us, we ftand 

 towards her, and when we are come near enough, 

 afked her, in what latitude we are? This was an 

 Englifhman, the captain of which anfwered in his 

 own language ; we imagined, he faid, we were in 45 

 deg. We had, however, no reafon to rely too much 

 upon his account, as he might poftibly be in the 

 fame miftake with ourfelves. We take heart not- 

 withstanding, and as the wind continues favourable, 

 we flatter ourfelves if it ftands, with the hopes of 

 pafiing the gulph in two days. 



Towards four o'clock in the evening the wind 

 fell, which amazed us all ; this was, notwithstand- 

 ing, what preferved us. At n o'clock at night, 

 the horizon appeared very black a-head of us, tho' 

 every where elfe the heavens were extremely ferene. 

 The failors of the watch did not hefitate to fay, that it 

 was the land we law, the officer of the watch laugh- 

 ed at them, but on feeing that they perfifted in 

 their opinion, he began to think they might pofli- 

 bly be in the right. Luckily for us, there was fo 

 little wind, that it was with difficulty the fhip would 

 lleer ; fo that he hoped day-light would appear be- 

 fore we approached too near the land. At mianight 

 the watch was changed ; the failors, who fucceed- 

 ed thofe on the former watch, were immediately of 

 their opinion ; but their officer undertook to prove 



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