that often prevails to the Westward of Sciliy. 191 
about 11 hours afterwards, changed suddenly to the west- 
ward. The gale continued through the four following days : 
on the 28th, it was generally W by S, and WSW ; on the 
29th, SW by W, or more southerly ; and on the 30th and 
31st, SSW, to SW by S.* 
During this long interval, the ship was generally lying to ; 
and with her head to the NW. On the 1st of February, the 
wind abated, but" still blew from the south-westward ; and the 
ship was kept to the north-west. The stormy weather re- 
turned again the following day, and continued, with little 
intermission, until the 11th; blowing from all the interme- 
diate points, between south and WNW; but chiefly, and most 
violently, from the WSW, and SW. At intervals, on the 8th 
and 9th in particular, the journal remarks, that “ it blew a 
mere hurricane On the 11th, the weather growing more 
moderate, and the wind favourable, the ship proceeded on 
her course, southward ; being then two degrees and a quarter 
of longitude, to the west of Cape Finisterre, by the reckon- 
ing ; but by the time keepers, more than four degrees and a 
half. 
After the above abstract of the proceedings of the ship, I 
shall subjoin the following particulars ; which are the most in 
point, to the purpose of the present discussion. 
On the 27th, at noon, soon after the gale commenced, the 
longitude, by reckoning, agreed within 14 minutes of that 
shewn by the time keepers ; the latter being the most 
westerly. This difference alone might well have arisen from 
* In this, as well as in the former statement of the winds, I have allowed for the 
variation of the compass; that the application of it, to the quarter of the heavens, 
and to the chart annexed, (see Tab. XXI.) may be more easy and clear. 
2 C 2 
