that often prevails to the Westzvard of Scilly. 189 
In crossing the eastern part of the Atlantic, in the Hector 
East India ship, in, 1778, we encountered, between the pa- 
rallels of 42 and 49, very strong westerly gales ; but particu- 
larly between the 16th and 24th of January, when, at inter- 
vals, it blew with uncommon violence. It varied two, or 
more, points, both to the north and south of west, but blew 
longest from the northern points ; and it extended, as I after- 
wards learnt, from the coast of Nova Scotia, to that of Spain. 
We arrived within 60 or 70 leagues of the meridian of 
Scilly, on the 30th of January, keeping between the parallels 
of 49 and 50 ; and about this time we began to feel a current, 
which set the ship to the north of her intended parallel, by 
near half a degree, in the interval between two observations 
of latitude ; that is, in two days. And the wind, ever after- 
wards, inclining to the south, would not permit us to regain 
the parallel ; for, although the northern set was trifling, 
from the 31st until we arrived very near Scilly; yet the 
wind, being both scant and light, we could never overcome 
the tendency of the current. Add to this, that the direction 
of the current, being much more westerly than northerly, we 
crossed it on so very oblique a course, that we continued in it 
a long time ; and were driven, as it appears, near 30 leagues 
to the west, by it : for we had soundings in 73 fathoms, in 
the latitude of Scilly, and afterwards ran 150 miles, by the 
log, directly east, before we came the length of the islands. 
In effect, in running 120 miles, we shallowed the water, only 
nine fathoms. 
We not only were sensible of the current, by the observa- 
tions of latitude, but by riplings on the surface of the water* 
and by the direction of the lead line. The consequence of all 
MDCCXCIII, 2C 
