With the hope that this wind would run us past Madeira and into the N.E. Trade, all idea of going there was given up, the quantity of coal remaining on board being deemed sufficient to carry us through the calms. Moreover the smallpox had broken out amongst the crew, and although in a very mild form, it would most probably put us in quarantine at Funchal, and we should not be allowed to land for observations for the chronometers.

From between N.b.W. and N.b.E. the breeze was the strongest, 9 being the maximum power, when on the morning of the 4th it began gradually to fall, finally at noon settling at W.N.W., squally occasionally, and light rain, the sea very much gone down.

For the next two days the wind was light and variable from between N.W. and E.N.E.

Temperature, lat. 32° 13' N., long. 19° 5' W.

This is the first sounding we have yet taken for temperature, and making it under sail we did not go very deep. The thermomer A 16 in the water bottle was placed in the surface water before going down, to start with that temperature, compared also with A 363, the thermometer on deck for general use for surface temperature, and found them to agree; A 16 ought therefore to have shown the same on the maximum tube on its return, at least the telltale; but as it did not, I conclude that the instrument is defective. How far the telltale of the minimum temperature has altered, it is impossible to say, perhaps as much as the other. A 764 is the hydrometer in general use for trying the density.

On the morning of the 7th it was perfectly calm, when the fires were lit and all sail furled. Shortly after getting steam, a bottle was passed, and as it might contain a notice thrown overboard from some ship, a boat was lowered to pick it up. It proved, however, to be empty, although corked, and from the thick coating of barnacles covering it, had been overboard some time. A small hawk-billed turtle was picked up at the same time. In the evening a light air sprung up from the S.W., veered gradually to West, and on the morning_of the 8th was at N. W., bringing with it light showers of rain. By noon the wind had got to N.E., blowing a steady breeze, which I concluded to be the N.E. Trade. The fires were therefore drawn, and all sail made on the ship.

In this conjecture I was mistaken, for at noon this day the ship had

barely steerage way, Steam was again got up, in two boilers only, and taking advantage of the fine weather, I got soundings for temperature.

Massey's sounding machine, and one altered by Mr. Mayes, sent down only registered 642 fathoms, 158 fathoms in error, or less than the line: whereas, in the trial of the 30th, the one sent down returned registered greater than the line showed. However, they were not the same, and this latter one had been altered.

The current was also tried but none detected, agreeing therefore with the reckoning. This operation was performed by Mr. Mayes in a boat far away from the ship, the boat riding by a deep sea lead of 38 lbs., let down to a depth of 100 fathoms, and a large log ship with very light line made use of.

Finding our progress so slow with only the two boilers, and no saving of fuel, an ther was brought into requisition, the fourth being at present out of order, its feed pipe choked so that the water would not run in.

At 5h. 35m. a light air came up from S W., and at midnight a light southerly swell From this quarter the wind gradually increased to 5 and 6, and continued steady all the 10th until the evening, when the wind came light from North and N.E.

On the 10th the ship was steered round and observations taken on the principal points for deviation. The variation was taken from the observation on the S.S.W. point, which is assumed to be the no deviation point, as it was when last swung in Portsmouth Harbour, also

on other occasions. viz., three times in England. and onee in Newfoundland.

This table was computed from the observations North 4 25W. for sun's bearing on each fourth point of the com-. N.E. 0 14 99 pass, and correcting each bearing for sun's change of azimuth in the interval of time. The variation determined on the S.S. W. point assumed as having no deviation was 19° 16' W.

East 1 6

S.E. 3 45

South. 0 20 99 0 10E.

S.W.

West. 5 OW.
N.W. 8 24 "9

On the morning of the 11th, the wind was more southerly, with a long northerly swell, and a short sea as well from southward, and with no prospect of change of wind the fires were banked, paddles disconnected, and all sail made on the ship. Towards the afternoon the long northerly swell had apparently overcome the short sea from South, and towards evening the wind got more to S.W., very light, and a heavy bank of clouds rising to the North, with lightning.

On the 12th and great part of the 13th the wind still was light from South, and S.S.W., with the long northerly swell, when it began to veer to S. W. and W.S.W., and on the morning of the 14th it was light from N.N.E. At the latter point the wind kept steady, and I concluded we had now really got the N.E. Trade. Of course all sail was made on the ship, but in such light weather it has but little effect, and were our passage to the Red Sea dependent on canvas, it would indeed be a long one.

On the morning of the 16th we made the island of St. Antonio, one of the Cape de Verds, with a moderate breeze from E.N.E. and N.E.. Steam was got up, and at 10h. 40m. we steamed into the harbour of Porto Grande, securing to one of the mail steamers' buoys, for the greater convenience of coaling.

In this snug harbour there were many large vessels waiting to and discharging their cargoes of coal for the West India steamers, it being their port for replenishing to and from Rio, &c. Amongst these vessels were two chartered by Government, therefore we filled up from one, the Alexander. And from the circumstance of having to haul alongside the ship every morning, and off again every evening, by reason of the constant swell in the bay, it was not until the evening of the 20th that we completed, and waiting to get the second series of observations for time, in which unfortunately we were not successful, we did not leave until the morning of the 22nd.

Porto Grande is situated on the N.W, side of the island of St. Vincent, one of the group of the Cape de Verd, and under Portuguese

NO. 1.-VOL. XXXI.

rule. This bay affords very snug anchorage, but although so well sheltered, there is generally a swell in it, and a great deal of surf around its shores. The landing, however, is good at the wharves run out from the town in the East part of the bay by Mr. Miller, the present consul, who is the chief proprietor of all the coals and stores, &c, built for the use of the mail steamers. The inhabitants are chiefly of the negro race, and are constantly employed, women as well as men, in keeping the supply ready for the ships as they arrive.

Not a particle of stock or fruit could be had, as most of the cattle, &c., had been swept off some short time ago by disease, and the few now remaining were kept to replenish, therefore none could be spared.

The wind is generally from N.E., except in the rainy season, when the South easters prevail. It commences in July and ends in October. The anchorage in the bay is good towards the N.E., and water so clear that a clear spot might almost be picked out for the anchor. A vessel should moor by the stern, as from a strong set to N.E. and wind at night not steady, she may foul her anchor, and it comes down in strong gusts off the land.

Captain George Richards had been here in the Plumper, and finding that he had been observing, I got his results from Mr. Miller. We differ in the longitude a little more than half a mile. I made the longitude of the consul's office 1h. 40m. 4-44s. West of Greenwich, taking the mean of five chronometers. Captain Richards, 1h. 40m. 8s. W. My second series of sights were not very good, I therefore worked up the rates got from Portsmouth to my first set of equal altitudes here. I would therefore give the preference to Capt. Richards' results, presuming that he did not leave until he had got a sufficient number of good and reliable observations.

We steamed out of Porto Grande with a light S.S.E. wind, and it being so dead against us, although but light, no sail could be made to help us on our way. But towards the afternoon it backed to the South, then S.E., when fires were drawn and all sail made.

The next morning was dark and cloudy, and all round the horizon squalls getting up, and paying us frequent visits, keeping the watches throughout the day constantly on the alert, shortening and making sail, accompanied with a heavy downpour of rain. Once in the afternoon the wind came out from N.N.E., and I hoped it was the forerunner of the N.E. Trade, but it did not continue, for we had hardly trimmed when the ship was taken aback with a squall from S.b.W., then again from N.W., sometimes blowing in these squalls a perfect gale. This last one I again thought might be the beginning of the Trade, but it gradually fell light, and at four the next morning chopped to the S.E., continuing a short time, then veered to West, light and steady, so until eight in the evening, when it fell calm.

On the morning of the 25th, still continuing calm, steam was got up, and shortly after a light air sprung up from S.S.E. Throughout the squally weather during the last two days, 23rd and 24th, there was a short confused sea, in fact every appearance of current, and our reck