i88 
Mr. Flinders on certain Differences 
It is apparent that some of the observed variations in the 
above Table are 4 0 less and others 4 0 greater than the truth ; 
and it may be remarked, that when this error is westward, 
the ship’s head was east, or nearly so, and when it was east- 
ward the head was in the opposite direction. When the 
observations agree nearest with what was taken on shore, or 
with what may be deemed the true variation, the ship’s head 
was nearly north or south; and a minute inspection of the 
Table will favour the opinion, that the excess or diminution of 
the variation was generally in proportion as the ship’s head 
inclined on either side from the magnetic meridian. 
After I had well ascertained the certainty of a difference in 
the compasses, arising from an alteration in the point steered, 
I judged it necessary, when I wanted a set of bearings from a 
point where we tacked the ship, to take one set just before and 
another immediately after that operation : some specimens of 
these here follow. 
Head ESE. Head SWb.W. 
1802. April 13th f Le Geographe Rocks, N 55 0 to 7i°E 
n h 32', AM I S point - N 4 W after tacking N 9 0 W 
— [ n point - - S 32 E - - - S 40 E. 
Head SE b. E. Head W. 
April 14th In point rocky, inner part N 39 0 E after tacking, N 30° E 
9 h 29', AM / projecting part N 67 E - - - - N 59 E 
■ — Furthestvisible extremefrom 
deck - - -S51E • - - - S55E. 
Head ENE. Head SW b. S. 
April 15th In, the western part - N 1 5 0 W - - after tackit.g, N 2i°W 
Ji h 50', AM J A peaked hummock - N 19 E - - - N 15 E 
— Furthest extreme from deck S 53 E * - -S61E 
— Centre of a naked sandy patch - E- - - - E 5 N. 
Variation per amplitude April 15, AM, ] 0 
taken with the surveying compass j ^ 
April '5th, } The peaked hummock 
5 h PM f Former extreme, a projection 
— Naked sandy patch, distant 3 A' 
8' E, ship’s 
head being S. 
Head E. 
Head SW b. S. 
N 12° W 
- after tacking, N 1S 0 VV 
S 59 E 
S 64 E 
N .33 E 
N 31 E. 
