*792' his Britannic Maieftv’s ambaflador at the court of Madrid. It is Etuated
October. ' • J
I---------' in latitude 46° 9', and in longitude 238" 4', according to our obferva*
.tions.
Sunday 21. All hopes of getting into Columbia river vanilhed on funday morning,
which brought with it a frelh gale from the s.E., and every appearance
of approaching bad weather, which the falling o f the mercury
in the barometer alfo indicated. We therefore weighed and flood
to fea; foon after this fome obfervations for tire chronometer were obtained,
which gave the longitude 236° 4' 30", by which cape Difappoint-
ment appeared to be 3' jn longitude further eaft than I had formerly
efteemed it to b e ; it is however too trifling to demand correction, as
fuch a difference, and even a much greater one, is liable to arife, by
any little alteration in the rate o f the chronometer.
. The forenoon was employed in making the neceflary preparations for
bad weather, which was foon found to be an eflential precaution. An
increafe of the gale, with a very heavy fea, obliged us about two in the
afternoon to clofe-reef the topfails, and to hand the main-fail and mizen
topfail.
Monday 22. Under this fail we flood to the s. w . until two in the morning,
when, the wind in fome degree moderating, we again made for the land,
the gale fubfided, and in the forenoon the wind from the s .e . was light
and variable. i.The weather however was very unfettled, feveral water
fpouts were feen, and fome pafled at no great diftance from the Ihip.
By a very indifferent obfervation, at noon, the latitude was afcertained
to be 46° 4^, and the longitude by the reckoning 234*49'. About two
in the afternoon, a ftrong gale, attendedwith heavy dark gloomy weather,
fuddenly arofe from the N.W., and foon increafed with fuch violence
as obliged us to ft-rike the top-gallant mails, clofe-reef the top-
fails, and to take in the main and the fore and mizen topfails. This
boifterous weather, in addition to the advanced ftate of the feafon, induced
me to abandon every idea of regaining Columbia river; and, under
the conviftion, that from Mr. Broughton and Mr.Whidbey I fhould
receive every information I required, not only of Gray’s harbour but
o f Columbia river, which Mr. Broughton had entered, and who I was
2 aflured
aflured would not quit it without being fatisfied in its examination, I 0£?oW
directed our eourfo to. the fouthward. >— „— '
The gale moderated the next morning, veered to the fouth, and Tuefday 23.
bringing with it more fettled weather, we made all fail. A t noon the
obferved latitude was 44*31', longitude by the chronometer 234“ 12'.
This favorable appearance of the weather was however of fhort duration.
The wind in the afternoon again blew a ftrong gale, which
obliged us to Hand to the s.w., under ftorm ftay-fails until near midnight,
when it veered to the s.w., became more moderate, and we were
enabled' to. ftand to- the s.s.E. The weather however continued very
unfettled, the- fea was very heavy and irregular, and the wind became
variable between ss.w. and s.s.E. On wednefday morning fome water- Wednef. 24.
fpouts again appeared, and towards noon came on a very violent ftorm of
thunder, lightning, and rain ; about which time, very unexpectedly, we
law the land.. I confidered it to be part of the coaft about cape Per-
petua; it bore eaft, and was not more than 6 leagues from us, though,
by our reckoning, it Ihould have been more than twice that diftance..
The wind, with fqualls from- the s-. s.w.,. now blew very hard, with which
in order to regain an offing weflood to the-weft ward; but this was
accomplifhed fo flowly, that at five in- the evening the land was ftill in
fight to the eaftward, diftant about 6 or 7 leagues ; and though the fhip
was already under a fevere prefs of fail, it became neceflary to make
eonfiderable addition, which the fhip being unable to carry, the top-
fails were again clofe-reefed, under which and the two courfes, we flood
to the north-weftward during, the night, which was very ftormy. The •
weather continued unfettled, although the wind became light and variable
between the fouth and' s.w;, attended with heavy rain and unplea—
fant weather, until thurfday afternoon, when the wind fhifted to the Thurfday 25;
n . w-., blew a gentle breeze, and brought with it a clear atmofphere. To
this favorable breeze we fpread all our canvas, and directed our. eourfo
for cape Orford, in order to re-examine its pofition:
At noon the next day, our obferved latitude was 43s 39', longitude Friday 26.
243“ 51'. Towards fun-fet a diftant view of the coaft was gained, bearing
e . s.e ., and by ten at night the wind veered again to the s.e ., which
b y .