228 TRAVELS IN 
of thofe that are variable, that diftant voyages are now reduced 
almoft to a certain duration. The old fyftem, ftill, perhaps, too 
rigidly adhered to in the navy, of endeavouring to place the 
fhip's head in the direction of her intended port, is entirely ex- 
ploded by the commanders of ftiips in the employ of the Eaft 
India Company. It may anfwer the purpofe in the Britiih 
Channel, and near land, but is ill fuited for a long voyage, 
through climates where the wind undergoes but little change. 
The fquadron of men of war, v/hich brought away the garrifon, 
on the evacuation of the Cape, were twelve weeks on their pa£- 
fage, whilft the Sir Edward Hughes Indiaman, which left the 
Cape a week later, was three weeks in England fooner, than 
the faid fquadron. A paffage from China, which formerly was 
reckoned from ten to twelve months, is now reduced to four 
months, and has been made in a hundred days. 
This rapidity in fkimming over the ocean, reduced, as nearly 
as the nature of fuch a loco-motion will allow, to a certainty, 
added to the fuperior quality, as v/ell as abundance, of provi- 
fions that are laid in for the voyage, has rendered it a matter 
of perfect indifference to Englifli feamen, in point of health, 
whether the run be made at once, or the voyage be broken for 
the fake of obtaining refrefliments at fome intermediate port. 
This being the cafe, the former method is ufually preferred, and 
much delay, as well as expence, is thereby avoided. 
Since, however, all maritime expeditions and tranfadions are, 
in a very peculiar degree, liable to accident and misfortune, it 
muft always be confidered as a defirable object to have fome 
3 - neigh" 
