179-4. fand prime fea otter Ikins, and fevè'ràl of inferior quality. Moft: Of theft
^Oftobei.^ ^eejj pi-0CUred from thofe people, whofe cohduft had put on fuch a
fufpicious appearance in the opinion of Mr. Whidbey and his party-, in
. his way from Croft found : they had behaved very properly to Mr.
Brown, whofe readinefs to enter into a traffic with them might probably
operate in gaining théir good opinion, for it had. been evident, on
many, occafions, that oiir difiriclination to a commercial intercourfe had
excited the difpleafure of feveral tribes we had .met with ; this opinion
was confirmed, by their ufual formalities On firft vifiting the veffels, which
generally concluded with a defire to open a négociation for the difpolal
of their merchandize.
As the month of oftober advanced, we knew perfeÊHy well, both
from our former and prefent experience, that the fummer ftafon of this
country was feft drawing to a conclufion, and as moft of -our material
bufinefs with the ffiore Was now nearly finiffied, I took the advantage
of rhonday, being a fair day, to receive on board the obfervatory ih-
ftruments and tents. Our fuel and Water was yet, however, to complete,
which would unavoidably detain us three or four days longer, fo that
waiting the ftipulated time, after which the Spanilh packet was not to
be eXpefted, 'could now be of little moment, When compared to the -importance
her arrival might poffibly be of, in expediting our return to
England. This, however, did not happen, nor did any circumftance
worthy of notice take place during this anxious interval. At midnight
on the 16th we put to fea, in company with the Chatham. The Prin-
cilfa, Captain Fidalgo, with Governor Alava on board, was to follow
us the next day. Monterrey was appointed as the next rendezvous,
where thefe officers entertained little doubt of our meeting a reception,
and every refpeft fuitable to our fituation and wiffies. In this opinion
I was induced to concur, from a converfation that had lately paffed
between Sen'Alavà andmyfelf, when I became acquainted that the re-
prefentation I had made to Sen'- Quadra of the treatment we had received
on our former vifit to New Albion, had in confequence of his deceafe been
tranfmitted to the viceroy at Mexico, whofe Very humane and liberal intentions
tendons towards us, had, no doubt, been materially mifunderftood by 0' ^ r_
Sen'- Arrillago. '---- ► ’
Having bad farewell to Nootka, and made fuch remarks on our ordinary
tranfaftions there as appeared to me deferving attention, I lhall now
proceed to Hate the refult of our labours at the obfervatory, and fhew
from what authority I deduced the longitude of the various ftations
in our late furvey, which inTnany inftances differs materially from the
longitude affigned to them by Captain Cook. I have already ftated my
reafons for fubfcribing to our own calculations in preference to thofe
by Captain Cook; and muff again repeat, that I have prefumed
fo to do, under the convi&ion of our having had the means of being
accurate, more fully in our power than fell to the lot of that renowned
and illuftrious navigator.
On feptember 6, in Nootka found the chronometers fhew the following
longitudes; viz.'Arnold’s No. 14, 232"32'50"; Arnold’s No. 176,
232° 49' 5"; and Kendall’s, 2320 32' 50". The true longitude being
2330 31’ 30”, it appeared that Arnold’s No. 14, and Kendalls, were each
of them i° 0' 40",, and Arnold’s No. 176, 44' 25" to the weftward of the
true longitude.
On the 6th of oftober at noon, Arnold’s No. 176 was found by the
mean of twenty-nine days equal altitudes, to be faff of mean time at
Greenwich, - loh 49 45 5^
And to be gaining on mean time per day at the rate of, 41 57
Arnold’s No. 14, faff of mean time on the fame day, 4 57 10 56
And gaining on mean time per day at the rate of, . 23 4
Kendall’s, faff of mean time on ditto, - 9 3° 52 5&
And. gaining on mean time per day, - 3°
By obfervations taken on ffiore with the artificial horizon, between
the 6th of feptember and 11th of oftober, 1794, the chronometers were
found to be gaining on mean time, viz. Arnold’s No. 176, 4t “ 57w; Arnold’s
No. 14, 23" 6 "i and Kendall’s, 28" 29"' per day; by which it appeared,
that when opportunities did not offer of obtaining equal altitudes
for afcertaining the rates of the chronometers, common altitudes
if taken with care, would anfwer the fame purpofe ; this is exemplified by
3 the