Ten sets of distances, east and west of the moon,
taken by Mr. Crosley in Funchal Bay and afterwards,
with a Troughton’s sextant, 16 deg. 59’ 21” W.
Eight sets,* east and west, taken by me with a
Troughton’s circle and two sextants, before and afterwards, 16 51 28
          
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West longitude of Funchal by lunar observations, 16 55 24
          
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[* Four of these are uncorrected for the errors of the lunar and solar tables.  They were taken Aug. 29, on which day no observation of the moon was made at Greenwich; and the errors observed on the 27th and 30th were so irregular, that no proportion can be made between them with any prospect of accuracy.  Were the errors of the 30th applied, the longitude of Funchal would be 4’ less.]

We were therefore induced to prefer the 16 deg. 56’, in the Connoissance des Temps, as being nearer the true longitude of Funchal from Greenwich, than the 17 deg. 6’ 15” of the Requisite Tables.

Every person had returned on board on Friday morning; and a young man, a native of Ireland, who had been sent here sick in a French cartel, applying to go the voyage, I ordered him to be entered, on the surgeon reporting him to be a fit man for His Majesty’s service.

FROM MADEIRA—­TOWARDS THE CAPE

On quitting Funchal Road, we were taken aback, at two o’clock, by the east-north-east wind, about two miles off Brazen Head.  It blew so strong as to make it necessary to clew down all the sails; and until next morning [SATURDAY AUGUST 8], nothing above close-reefed top sails could be carried with safety.  At noon, the log gave 162 miles from Funchal; but the cloudy weather did not admit of taking observations.

SUNDAY 9 AUGUST 1801

At daybreak of the 9th the island Palma was in sight, bearing S. 72 deg.  E. ten or twelve leagues.  Albacores and bonitas now began to make their appearance, and the officers and men were furnished with hooks and lines, and our harpoons and fizgigs were prepared.  This day I ordered lime juice and sugar to be mixed with the grog; and they continued to be given daily to every person on board, until within a short time of our arrival at the Cape of Good Hope.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 1801

We carried fair, and generally fresh winds, until the 15th in the morning, when St. Antonio, the north-westernmost of the Cape-Verde Islands was in sight.  At eight o’clock, the extremes bore N. 69 deg.  E. and S. 13 deg.  W., and the nearest part was distant four miles; in which situation no bottom could be found at 75 fathoms.  A boat was observed near the shore, and our colours were hoisted; but no notice appeared to be taken of the ship.