194 Farther observations on the current that often 
All navigators, says he, in their voyage from the Land’s End 
to Dublin, find themselves, more or less, carried to the east- 
ward, whilst running up St. George’s Channel : which is the 
cause of so many vessels finding themselves in Cardigan 
Bay; where, in tempestuous weather, and westerly winds, 
many have been lost. And this he justly supposes to be 
occasioned by a current setting to the north-eastward. 
If the stream, which occasions this disturbance in the rec- 
konings of vessels, here, be a portion of the Scilly current, it 
cannot well happen in any other way, than by the eastern 
part of that current falling on the Irish Coast, to the east of 
Cape Clear; and being thence diverted to the north-east, 
along the south-east coast of Ireland. This may certainly 
happen ; and may form a part of the cause. But I conclude 
that the principal part of the cause, is, a current generated 
on the south-east coast of Ireland, by the prevalency of 
south-west and WSW. winds ; to which, the position of the 
coast, between Cape Clear and Carnsore Point, seems parti- 
cularly adapted. 
This effect, from whatsoever cause it may arise, ought to 
be generally known ; as it may produce great inconvenience 
and distress, to those, who for the first time make use 
of that navigation : and especially to such vessels, as are 
either not calculated, or not in a state, to beat off a leeshore : 
for the recesses of the Cardigan Bay are deep, and without 
shelter. 
It may be conceived that a current, so generated, on the 
south-east coast of Ireland, (and possibly augmented by a 
portion of the stream from the Bay), would shoot off to the 
north-eastward, pointing towards the Bay of Cardigan ; as it 
