State Library of NSW
[Page 39] Remarkable Occurrances &tc from Madeira Towards Rio De Janeiro
Fresh Breezes & fine Clear wear. at a little past 1 AM Long.de is by the following Observns. (Varin. ) by the Moon & the star Arietis 32º.27'. by the Moon & Pollux 32º.0'.15" by Dº. 31º.48'.32" the mean of the whole is 32.5.16 W.t from Greenwich which is 31' more Westerly than the Long.de by acc.t carried on since the last Observ.n the 2 first Observ.ns were made & Computed by Mr Green. & the last by myself the star Arietis was on one side of the Moon & Pollux on the other this day at Noon being nearly in the Lat.de of the Island Ferdinand Noronha, to the Westw.d of it by some charts & to the Eastw.d by others was in Expectation of seeing it or some of those Shoals that are laid down on most charts between it & the Main but we saw neither one nor a Nother.[sic] We certainly passed to the Eastw.d of the Island & as to the Shoals I dont[sic] think they Exhist[sic] grounding this my Opinion on the Journal of some East India Ship I have seen who was Detaind by Contrary winds between this Island & the Main & being 5 or 6 Ships in C.º doubtless must have seen some of them did they lay as Marked on the Charts.
Fresh Breezes & Pleasant wear. Variation of the Compass 2.25 West A steady breeze & for the most part close cloudy wea.r Variat.n by several Azm.th 1.31W.t at Noon the Observ'd Latitude 7 miles to Southward of Account
A Fresh breeze & Clear wear. Variation 8º.15' W.t Observed Latitude again to the Southward of the Log Mod.te breezes & for the most part Cloudy Var.on by the mean of Several Azm.th 0.58ºW.t in the Eveng & in the Morning found it to be 0.18º West A Steady breeze & fine pleasant wea.r this Afternoon by the mean of Several Azm.th & the Amplitude found the Variation to be 0.34E.t from which it appears that about the aforegoing Noon we have Crossed the Line of no Variation in the Latitude of 10.38S.º & according to the following Observ.n in 32.0W.t Long.de from Greenwich At 5h 5l 0" Apparent time AM the Long.de of the Ship Per Observation of the moon & the Aldebaran was found to be 32º.0'.45". at 8h.17'.0" Per sun & moon 32.25.0. & at 9h o.16-32º.19'.o Mean of the 3 in 32º.14'.55" & again at 7h.12'.52" Per sun & moon 32.10.4 & at 7h.19'.42" Per sun & moon 32º.15'.20" the mean of these 2 is 32º.12'.42" & the mean of the whole is 32.13.43 W.t from Greenwich which is less by a whole Degree than that by acco.t which is a Considerable Error to be made in 5 Days in these low Latitudes one would think from this that we must have had a Curr.t setting to the Eastward which is not likely that it should set against the settled trade Wind the 3 first of these Observ.ns were made by Mr. Green & the 2 last by my self. A Fresh Trade wind & fair wea.r Var.n per Azm.th this Evening oº.47'E.t & at little past 9 AM Long.de in Per sun & moon 33º.o' Wt. of Greenw.h A Steady Gale & fair wea.r PM. Variat.n per Azm.th 1º.29W.t Do1.28W.t & by the Ampl.de 1.12W.t Mean 1.23W.t , by which it appears that we have again Crossed the Line of no Variat.n at ½ past 9 AM the Long.de of the Ship per Obs.n of the sun & moon 33º.26'.30" Fine pleasant wea.r Variat.n per Azm.th this morning 3º.21E.t which makes me Doubtful of the Variat.n found yesterday tho' at the time I had not the least reason to doubt of the Accuracy of the Observ.ns, Long.de per Observ.n 34º.43'.30" W.t First & Latter pt. Squally with heavy Showers of rain. Middle mod.te & fair. I now determin'd to put into Rio De Janeiro in preference to any other port in Brazil or Falkland Islands. for at this place I know we could recruit our Stock of Provis.ns several Articles of which I found we should in time be in want of & at the same time Procure Live Stock & refreshment for the People & from the reception former Ships had meet with here I doubted not but we should be well received-
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