March. the evening of Thursday the 3d of March, when a 1768. breeze fpringing up, we got under fail. While we were on shore at Green Point, we had an opportunity of making many celeftial obfervations, by which, we determined Table Bay to lie in latitude 34° 2' S., longitude, from Greenwich, 18° 8' E. The variation of the needle, at this place, was 19° 30′ W. Thurfd. 3. On the 7th, being in latitude 29° 33′ S., longi- Monday 7. tude, by account, 347° 38', the fhip was eight miles to the Northward of her dead reckoning. On the 13th, having failed weftward 360 de- Sunday 13. grees from the meridian of London, we had loft a day; I therefore called the latter part of this day Monday, March 14. At fix o'clock in the evening, of Wednesday Wednes. 16. the 16th, we saw the Island of St. Helena, at the distance of about fourteen leagues; and at one the next morning, brought to. At break of day, we Thurfd. 17. made fail for the island, and at nine, anchored in the bay. The fort faluted us with thirteen guns, and we returned the fame number. We found riding here the Northumberland Indiaman, Captain Milford, who faluted us with eleven guns, and we returned nine. We got out all the boats as foon as poffible, and fent the empty cafks to be filled with water; at the fame time several of the people were employed to gather purslain, which grows here in great plenty. About two o'clock, I went on fhore myself, and was faluted by the fort with thirteen guns, which I returned. The governor and the principal gentlemen of the island A a 3 March. 1768. inland did me the honour to meet me at the waterfide, and having conducted me to the fort, told me, that it was expected I fhould make it my home during my stay. Thurid. 17. Friday 18. Monday 21. Wednef. 23. By noon the next day, our water was completed, and the ship was made ready for fea; foon after, she was unmoored, to take advantage of the first breeze, and at five in the afternoon, I returned on board. Upon my leaving the fhore, I was faluted with thirteen guns, and foon after, upon getting under way, I was faluted with thirteen more, both which I returned; the Northumberland Indiaman then faluted me with thirteen guns, fo did the Ofterley, which arrived here the evening before I made fail, and I returned the compliment with the fame number. On the 21ft, in the evening, we saw several men Tuesday 22. of war birds; and at midnight, heard many birds about the fhip. At five o'clock in the morning of the 23d, we faw the Ifland of Afcenfion; and at eight, discovered a fhip to the Eastward, who brought to, and hoifted a jack at her main-topmaft-head, upon which we fhewed our colours, and fhe then ftood in for the land again. We ran down close along the north-caft fide of the island, and looked into the bay, but feeing no fhip there, and it blowing a ftiff gale, I made the best of my Monday 28. Wednes, 13. way. On Monday the 28th, we croffed the equator, and got again into North latitude. April. On Wednesday, the 13th of April, we paffed a Sunday 17 great quantity of gulph weed; and on the 17th, . we we paffed a great deal more. On the 19th, we saw two flocks of birds, and obferving the water to be discoloured, we thought the ground might be reached, but, upon founding, could find no bottom. 1768. April. Tuesday 19. At five o'clock in the morning of Sunday the Sunday 24. 24th, we faw the peak of the Ifland of Pico bearing N. N. E. at the distance of about eighteen leagues. We found, by obfervation, that Fyal lies in latitude 38° 20′ N., longitude 28° 30′ W.. from London. Wednef. II. No incident worth recording happened till about May. noon on the 11th of May, when, being in latitude 48° 44′ N., longitude 7° 16′ W. we saw a ship in chace of a floop, at which the fired feveral guns. We bore away, and at three, fired a gun at the chace, and brought her to; the ship to windward, being near the chace, immediately sent a boat on board her, and foon after, Captain Hammond, of his Majesty's floop the Savage, came on board of me, and told me, that the veffel he had chaced, when he first faw her, was in company with an Irish wherry, and that as soon as they discovered him to be a man of war, they took different ways; the wherry hauled the wind, and the other veffel bore away. That he at first hauled the wind, and flood after the wherry, but finding that he gained no. ground, he bore away after the other veffel, which probably would alfo have escaped, if I had not ftopped her, for that he gained very little ground in the chace. She appeared to be laden with tea, brandy, and other goods, from Roscoe in France; and May. 1968. and though fhe was fteering a south west course, pretended to be bound to Bergen in Norway. She Wednes. 11. belonged to Liverpool, was called the Jenny, and commanded by one Robert Chriftian. Her brandy and tea were in fmall kegs and bags; and all appearances being strongly against her, I detained her, in order to be fent to England. Friday 13. At half an hour after five, on the 13th, we faw Thurfd. 19. the islands of Scilly; on the 19th, I landed at Friday 20. Haftings in Suffex; and at four the next morning, the ship anchored fafely in the Downs, it being juft 637 days fince her weighing anchor in Plymouth Sound. To this narrative, I have only to add, that the object of the voyage being discovery, it was my conftant practice, during the whole time of my navigating thofe parts of the fea which are not perfectly known, to lie to every night, and make fail only in the day, that nothing might escape me. A TABLE A TAB A B L E OF THE LATITUDES and the LONGITUDES Weft of LONDON, with the Variation of the Needle, at feveral Ports, and Situations at Sea, from Obfervations made on board his Majefty's Ship the DOLPHIN; and her Nautical Reckoning during the Voyage which she made round the World in the Years 1766, 1767, 1768, under the Command of Captain SAMUEL WALLIS. |