icp Mr. Rennell's Observations on a Current 
this was, that we were driven to the north of Scilly ; and 
were barely able to lay a course through The passage between 
those islands and the Land's End. 
Having no time keeper on board, we were unable to ascer- 
tain the several points, in this part of our track, and there- 
fore can only approximate our longitude ; and that but very 
coarsely. But according to what we learnt from our sound- 
ings, and from a vessel which had only just entered the cur- 
rent, it may be concluded, that the current, at times, extends 
to 60 leagues, west of Scilly ; and also runs close on the west 
of those islands. However, the breadth of the stream, may 
probably be little more than 30 leagues ; for we crossed it, as 
has been said, very obliquely ; and perhaps, in the widest 
part. 
The journal of the Atlas East India ship, Captain Cooper, 
in 1787, furnishes much clearer proofs, both of the existence 
of the current, and of the rate of its motion : for having time 
keepers on board. Captain Cooper was frequently enabled to 
note the difference between the true, and the supposed, 
longitude; and it may be said, that this journal, by the means 
it affords of ascertaining the current, is highly valuable ; as 
containing some very important facts, and which might have 
been entirely lost to the public, had not Captain Cooper 
marked them, in the most pointed manner. 
I shall proceed to state, in abstract, the most important of 
the facts recorded in the journal. 
The Atlas sailed with a fair wind, and took her depar- 
ture from the Isle of Wight, on the 25th of January, 1787 ; 
and on the 27th had advanced 55 leagues to the westward of 
Ushant ; when a violent gale of wind began at south, and. 
