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XVI L Observations on a Current that often prevails to the 
Westward of Scilly ; endangering the Safety of Ships that 
approach the British Channel. By James Rennell, Esq. 
F. R. S. 
1 
Read June 6, 1793. 
It is a circumstance well known to seamen, that ships, in 
coming from the Atlantic, and steering a course for the Bri- 
tish channel, in a parallel somewhat to the south of the Scilly 
Islands ; do, notwithstanding, often find themselves to the 
north of those islands : or, in other words, in the mouth of 
the St. George's, or of the Bristol channel. This extraordi- 
nary error has passed for the effects, either of bad steerage, 
bad observations of latitude, or the indraught of the Bristol 
channel : but none of these account for it satisfactorily ; be- 
cause, admitting that at times there may be an indraught, it 
cannot be supposed to extend to Scilly ; and the case has 
happened in weather the most favourable for navigating, and 
for taking observations. The consequences of this deviation 
from the intended track, have very often been fatal : particu- 
larly in the loss of the Nancy packet, in our own times ; and 
that of Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and others of his fleet, at the 
beginning of the present century. Numbers of cases, equally 
melancholy, but of less celebrity, have occurred ; and many 
others, in which the danger has been imminent, but not fatal, 
have scarcely reached the public ear. All of these have been 
