and ſeemed to be going nearer to its original Portſmouth rate. The reſult of a fortnight's obſervations proved it to be gaining at the rate of 6″ per day; and admitting the longitude to be right as aſcertained by our obſervations, it was, at noon on the 9th of October, faſt of mean time at Greenwich 26′ 14″: and as it was manifeſt; on our arrival and during our reſidence at the Cape, that Kendall's chronometer was gaining materially on its Portſmouth rate, I have, in reducing the obſervations taken prior to our arrival in King George the Third's Sound, adopted a mean rate, which I truſt will render the reſult of the ſeveral obſervations liable to little error.
The variation of the magnetic needle on board whilſt at anchor, by two compaſſes, differed from 3° 55′ to 7° 11″. The mean reſult of 12 ſets ſhewed 5° 20′ weſtwardly variation.
The vertical inclination of the South point of the magnetic needle, marked end North, face Eaſt - - - 65° 49′ Marked end North face Weſt - - - - 63° Marked end South face Eaſt - - - - 65° 28′ Marked end South face Weſt - - - - 65° 20′ Mean vertical inclination of the South point of the marine dipping needle ...... 65° 20′
Our obſervations with regard to the tides were rather indeciſive, as their fluctuation in the found ſeemed to be greatly influenced by the force and direction of the wind; our laſt viſit however to Oyſter Harbour afforded an opportunity of noticing, that the riſe and fall appeared on that day to be about four feet, and that it was high water 3h 42′ after the moon paſſed the meridian. Whilſt on the coaſt the veſſels were conſtantly found to be further advanced, than what the run of the log intimated ; but whether this was occaſioned by errors in this practice, or by a current continually preſſing eaſtward along the coaſt, we had no poſitive means of diſcovering; though, from our concluſions at the time, the latter ſhould ſeem to be the caſe, as the log was not only uſed with much circumſpection, but the line was frequently remeaſured, and always found according to its due proportions.
