24 



PORTER'S JOURNAL. 



west from Paris, answering to 27° 14' west from Greenwich* 

 The sailing directions for the East-India Pilot place it be- 

 tween 0" 55' and r 20' north latitude, and longitude west 

 from London 31° 25'. All these calculations having been 

 made by the run of vessels from St. Helena and Ascension, 

 and not from astronomical observations, I determined to 

 fix the true position of the island, if we should be enabled 

 to find it. 



On the 3d December, Levi Holmes departed this life : 

 he had laboured under a paralytic affection since our de- 

 parture. His remains were committed to the deep, ac- 

 cording to the funeral ceremonies of the church. 



My chief care was now the health of my people ; and all 

 the means that suggested themselves to my mind to effect 

 this great object were adopted. The utmost cleanliness 

 was required from every person on board, and directions 

 were given for mustering the crew every morning at their 

 quarters, where they were strictly examined by their offi- 

 cers. It was recommended to them to bathe at least once 

 a day, and the officers were requested to show them the 

 example. They were required, also, to use every means 

 in their power to provide constant employment for the 

 men under their control during working hours, and amuse- 

 ment for them during the hours of recreation, and to be 

 particularly careful not to harass them by disturbing them 

 unnecessarily during their watch below, as also to guard 

 against any improper or unnecessary exposure to the wea- 

 ther. Economy was recommended to the crew in the use 

 of their supply of fruit, and permission was given to sus- 

 pend it in the rigging, and other airy parts of the ship, in 

 nets made for the purpose, with a promise of the severest 

 punishment to such as should be detected in stealing from 

 others. With those precautions to procure exercise and 

 cleanliness, with proper ventilations and fumigations, a 

 young, active, healthy, and contented crew, a ship in good 

 order for the service we were engaged in, well found with 

 the best provisions, and the purest water, perfectly free 

 from all bad taste and smell, I do not conceive why we 

 should be in greater apprehension of disease originating on 

 board now, than on the coast of North America. We have 

 friendly ports under our lee, where we may stop from time 

 0") time to procure the necessary supplies of refreshments ; 



