Sea Log and Sounding Machine . 123 
mense length of a first rate, and daylight in our favour; 
and not even then, if we had not had knowledge of the 
depth nearly, that being a check or caution not to give too 
much line off the reel, there being no time to gather in 
the slack, which would be the case were we sounding 
in an unknown place, by the old method. The inven- 
tion is the more valuable, as the process is the most sim- 
ple, the whole being understood, by seeing it once in 
use. 
1 therefore consider it a valuable improvement in navi- 
gation; as infrequent, and various cases, soundings could 
not be gained without it. The advantages are many, 
such as in chase, or being chased ; on a lee-shore, or 
doubtful of it ; and to save time in running for the desired 
port.* 
H. J. NEYE, Captain* 
1ST. E. It will be necessary in the practice of the new 
method of sounding, to have line of different sizes, in 
proportion to the depth of water; as by the ship passing 
at the rate of eight or ten knots, it will require the best 
of lines to haul in the lead, and should be made of a 
much superior quality to those at present supplied to the 
navy. 
H. M. S. San Josef, in Torbay, 12th Bee. 1806* 
Sir— I n obedience to your orders, we have been par- 
ticular in attending to the use of Mr. Edward Massey’s: 
Patent Log, and from every opportunity that offered 
during our cruize, we are strictly of opinion, that it has 
the merit of accomplishing the end for which it is in- 
tended. 
* The honourable Navy Board have adopted the sounding machine for the 
use of his majesty’s navy, and have favoured the inventor with an order fof 
five hundred machines, ■* 
