Wales on fhore; and yet the variation thus found is greater
by 5° than we found it to be at fea ; for the azimuths
taken on board, the evening beforé we came into the bay,'
gave no more than i6° 18' Weft variation, and the evening
after we came out, 170 33' Weft.
I fliall now give fome account of-the variation, as obferved
in our rim' from the Ifland o f Fernando De Noronho to Fàyal.
The Ieaft variation we found was ! » W., which was the day
after we left Fernando De Noronho, and in the latitude of 33'
S. longitude 32° 16' W. The next day, being nearly in the
fame longitude, and in the latitude of r° 23' N,, it was i° 2-3'
Weft; and we did not-find it increafe till we got into the latitude
of j ° N., longitude 31° W. After this, our compafifes gave
different variation, viz. From 30 37' to 50 i t ' W., till we arrived
in the latitude of a(r 4.4' North, longitude 410 Weft, when
we found 6° Weft. It then increafed gradually, fo that in the
latitude of 350 N., longitude 40° W-, it was 10° 24' W.; in.the
latitude of 38° ta' N., longitude 3 2°4W., it was 14° 47'; and
in fight of Fayal 1 Wi 18,r W., as 'mentioned abbveX
Wednet. 19. , „ Having left the bay, at four in the morning o f the 19th, I
fleered for the weft end of St. George’s Iftand. As foon as we
had pafled it, I fleered E. 4 s. for the Ifland of Tercera ; and
after having run thirteen leagues, we were not more than one
league from the Weft end. I now edged away for the North
fide, with a view of ranging the coaft to the eaflern point, in
order to afcertain the length of the ifland ; but the weather
coming on very thick and hazy, and night approaching, I
gave up the defign, and proceeded with all expedition f o r
England.
Friday 14,
On
On the 29th, we made the land near Plymouth. The next w n
morning, we anchored at Spithead ; and the fame day, I i_— — >
landed at Portfmouth, and fet out for London, in company Sunday^o.9’
with-MefTrs. Wales, Forflers, and Hodges.
Having been abfent from England three years and
eighteen days,- in which time, and under all changes of climate,
I loft but four men, and only one of them by ficknefs,
it may not be amifs, at the conclufion of this journal, to enumerate
the feveral caufes, to which, under the care of providence,
I conceive this uncommon good ftate of health,
experienced by my people, was owing.
In the Introdudlion, mention has been made of the extraordinary
attention paid by the Admiralty, in caufing fuch
articles to be put on board, as either from experience or
fuggeftion it was judged, would tend to preferve the health
of the feamen. I fhall not trefpafs upon the reader’s time
in mentioning them all, but confine myfelf to fuch as were
found the moft ufeful.
We were furnifhed with a quantity of malt, of which was
made Sweet Wort. To fuch of the men, as fhewed the leaft
fymptoms of the fcurvy; and alfo to fuch as were thought to
be threatened with that diforder, this was given, from one
to two or three pints a day each man ; or in fuch proportion
as the furgeon found neceflary, which fometimes amounted
to three quarts. This is, without doubt, one of the beft anti-
fcorbutic fea-medicines yet difcovered ; and, if ufed in time,
will, with proper attention to other things, I am perfuaded,
prevent the fcurvy from making any great progrefs ft>r a
confiderable while. But I am not altogether of opinion that it
will cure it at fea.
Vol. II.
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P p Sour