143 
In Lat. 78® 22' N. Long. 9° 8' E. Mean var. was 14° 55 ? 
79 50 ... 10 2 .. 20 38 
80 30 ... 15 4 . 11 56 
On referring to the Appendix, it will 
be seen that the variation, as observed 
in the Sybyll, in Lat. 78° 1T, Long. 6° 55' E. 
amounted to 19° 6'. And by the same 
excellent observations, combined with 
those of Captain Flinders, it is proved 
that the variation depends more on the 
ship's course , than on any thing else. It 
is much to be regretted that Captain 
Phipps did not mention the course his 
ship was under when he made his obser¬ 
vations on the variation. As they stand 
at present, they want the most essentia! 
element. 
8th, Latitude by observation, 79° 
Sea nearly clear of ice. Course 
W. S. W. } S. At seven P. M. we dis¬ 
covered Hackluyt’s Headland, bearing 
E. N. E. distant four or five leagues. 
The weather was hazy, and we had but 
