His Majesty’s ships Argo, Carysfort, Falcon, and transports, under the command of captain James Bowen, had arrived in Funchal Road about nine days before us; having on board the 85th regiment under colonel Clinton.  After making their dispositions, the two commanders sent to inform the Portuguese governor, that His Britannic Majesty, considering the probability of an attack from the French upon the island, had sent troops to assist in its defence; and they demanded permission for the forces to land.  A council was called by the governor; and it being agreed that even were they inclined yet no effectual resistance could be made, the permission was given, and a place assigned for the encampment of the troops to the west of the town.  A part of the 85th was afterwards quartered in the Loo Fort and in that of St. Diego, which command both the town and the road; and the men were employed in putting these fortifications into a state of defence.

These arrangements caused no change in the administration of the government, nor in the trade of the island; but the governor was said to be not satisfied that his conduct would be approved.  On the day of our arrival, he received intelligence of peace being concluded between Portugal and Spain, but that the war with France was continued; and before we sailed, His Majesty’s sloop Voltigeur brought despatches from the Court of Lisbon, which directed the governor to receive the British troops; and it was supposed that every thing connected with the defence of the island would be committed to them.  This was the state of things when I took leave of captain Bowen and of colonel Clinton.

Water, wine, and fresh beef, were the supplies procured at Madeira.  Wine for the ship’s company was charged at the enormous price of 5s. 8d. per gallon, and the beef at 10d. per pound; I therefore took only small quantities of each.  For good Madeira, we paid as much as L42. the pipe.  Fruit and onions were in abundance, and probably were not of less advantage to the health of the people than the more expensive articles.

The latitude observed in Funchal Road was 32 deg. 37’ 44” north.  The longitude, as given in the Requisite Tables, is 17 deg. 6’ 15” west; but in the Connoissance des Temps for 1792, it is laid down by a member of the Academy of Sciences, probably the Chevalier de Borda, at 16 deg. 56’ from Greenwich.  Arnold’s watch No. 1736, in my care, gave 16 deg. 22’ 42”, and the greatest longitude shown by any of the six time keepers was 16 deg. 54’ 26”.  This was given by Earnshaw’s watch No. 465, which had kept an uniform rate during fifteen months previously to its being brought on board.  We made use of this watch to reduce some lunar observations taken a few days before arriving, and others after sailing, to the place of anchorage; and the result was as follows: