184 Farther observations on the current that often 
wallis's station, at the time that she began to feel the current, 
on the 11th March. It was taken up by a centinel on duty, 
near Cape Ortegal ; and, as was supposed, at the moment of 
its driving into the surf. If this was really the fact, the 
bottle, according to the date of the letter contained in it, 
must have been carried, at the rate of half a mile per hour, in 
the direction of about E. b. S. ~ S.; the distance was about 64 
leagues. 
The report of this circumstance was transmitted by the 
French consul at Corunna, to the Academy of Sciences at 
Paris. 
It may be observed, that the drift of the bottle was much 
to the south of east ; whereas, that of the Cornwallis, was 
east: that is, both pointed towards Cape Ortegal, or its 
vicinity ; as if the main stream of the current, was concen- 
trated there.* 
With respect to the velocity of the current, in the present 
case, all, of course, depends on the time of the arrival of the 
bottle at the shore. It might have been thrown up long 
before it was seen, and washed off again, by the tide, or surge 
of the sea. The direction, the most important point, cannot 
be questioned. 
III. The third fact is very simple, and perfectly conclusive. 
Off Cape Ortegal, at a considerable offing. Admiral Knight 
found the current, at the rate of one mile per hour, setting to 
the E. S. E.; that is, nearly along-shore. 
The reader will immediately perceive that these three 
* It is observed, that, in the mouth of the Strait of Gibraltar, between C. St. 
Vincent and C. Cantin, the currents point in all directions, between SE. and NE. 
towards the entrance of the Strait, which may be considered as the pipe of a funnel. 
