( 4rU ) 
XJfefulnefs' of *my Invention, which I perfwade my 
felt will be found to be of lingular Advantage to the- 
Trade and Navigation of my Country. 
The following are the Subftance of two Affidavit 7 , 0 
taken under the Seal of the Royal Court at Guernfey / 
by fome expect Seamen, who have, had Trial of my 
In it ru merit, vi&i 
“ Know all Men by these Presents, that 
on the 30th of November 1720, there perfonally 
“ appeared before William. Le Mar chant ,-Efq, (Judge 
“ Delegare in the Illand of Guernfey, 6cc.) Meliieurs* 
ic Jean Andros, and Elea&ar Le M archant (Jurats of 
s< the Royal Court of the laid Illand;) 
“ William Abler , aged about 40 Years, who com- 
“ manded feveral Privateers i:i the late War, (and 
“ particularly that call’d La Ch a fie, of about 150 
Tuns, 16 Guns, and 140 Men) and is now Mailer 
“ of the Ship call’d the Eagle , of which Velfel he is- 
“ the only Proprietor, who voluntarily makes Oath, 
“ that on Sunday the 9th of O Bober 17 20, he parted- 
“ from Southampton with feVeral Gentlemen Paflen- 
gets on board for Guernfey y that he had fix’d at the 
‘ £ Stern of his Ship a new Invention call’d the Ma— 
<£ vine- Surveyor, projected, to the belt of his Know- 
“ lege, by Mr. Henry de Saumarez , a Gentleman of- 
P the Ifland of Guernfey , for corre&ing the Log , < 3 Cc. 
“ That after they had left the Needles , they had a- 
“ flifF Gale of Wind, attended with a rolling Sea r 
“ notvvithflanding which, the Machine work’d as re- 
* gularly as if it had been fmooth Water, the little 
“ Bell of it flriking to every Mile the Ship run with 
“ great ExaCtnefs. And thfs Deponent further de- 
“ darts, that having thoroughly view’d and examined 
u the Experiment of this new Invention, he finds it 
« to be not only practicable, but preferable to the 
“ common 
