ATLANTIC CURRENTS. 
Dcecllo determined at the Cape was torn’ degrees less than 
coaid have been conjectured from the observations made at 
J he same period along the coasts. In the same manner as 
10 granite of Galicia contains tin disseminated in its mass, 
nat ot Cape Einisterre probably contains micaceous iron, 
n the mountains of the Upper Palatinate there are granitic 
rocks m which crvstals of micaceous iron take the place of 
common mica. 
^ le 8tli, at sunset, we descried from the mast-head an 
-ngusli convoy sailing along the coast, and steering towards 
* 11 or ^ er to avoid it we altered our course dur- 
° ^I't. Prom this moment no light was permitted 
rj. 1 , . le great cabin, to prevent our being seen at a distance. 
^ ,s precaution, which was at the time prescribed in tlie 
S u atmns of the packet-ships of the Spanish navy, was 
^ jemcly irksome to us during the voyages we made in 
i °f the live following years. We were constantly 
'ged to make use of dark-lanterns to examine the tem- 
la ' u *'° °1 tho water, or to read the divisions on the limb of 
t^'i-tronomieul instruments. In the torrid zone, where 
p 1 ^ as j s but a few minutes, our operations ceased 
-liost ^afc six in the evening. This state of things was so 
nucli the more vexatious to me as from the nature of my 
'oustitution .1 never was subject to sea-sickness, and feel an 
vx lenie ardour for study during the whole time I am at sea. 
n the 9th of J unc, in latitude 39 S(/, and longitude 10° 10 1 
cat ot the meridian of the observatory of Paris, we began 
u leel the effects of the great current which from the 
j ? ores Hows towards the straits of Gibraltar and the Canary 
Aiands. This current is commonly attributed to that ten- 
ency towards the cast, which the straits of Gibraltar give 
g” the paters of the Atlantic Ocean. M. do Fleurieu ob- 
wil °? ii la * ^ le Mediterranean, losing by evaporation more 
nolMi laa t ' le lavcl ’ 3 cau supply, causes a movement in tho 
i'clf b r, Ur '"K ocean, and that the influence of the straits is 
me a t the distance of six hundred leagues. Without dero- 
rol . rcs pect I entertain for the opinion of that 
: n latc T navigator, I may bo permitted to consider this 
1 ortant object m a far more general point of view. 
v ..ii , Ul { A\ c h' a ?f our c .ves over the Atlantic, or that deep 
r' • A' llc l “vioe* the western coasts of Europe and Africa 
ie eastern coasts of the new world, we distinguish 
