in the surveys of his more accurate observations, and from being called upon to supply his place so far as was in my power.  The duties of commander joined to the occupation of surveyor, left little time for other employment; but through an increase of effort, and with the assistance of my officers, I hoped to carry on the surveys and fulfil the most essential parts of the instructions from the Board of Longitude, at the same time.  Of these instructions, Mr. Crosley permitted me to take a copy.

SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER 1801

The rates of going with mean solar time of the four time keepers committed to my charge, were deduced by Mr. Crosley from three days observation of equal altitudes, with a sextant and quick-silver horizon, between the 21st and 27th of October.  These rates, which he left with me, I extended to November 1, by equal altitudes taken on that day; and their respective errors were deduced by allowing 1h 13’ 40.47” to be the longitude in time of Simon’s Bay. *

[* In 1763, Mr. Mason determined the longitude of his observatory in Cape Town, from the transit of Venus, to be 18 deg. 23’ 7” east; and the difference of longitude from thence to Simon’s Bay, by the Dutch survey, is 2’ 00” east.]

Earnshaw’s No. 543,
slower than mean Greenwich time at noon h ’ " "
there Nov. 1, 0 14 35.33 and losing 5.33
         No. 520, 34 16.62 15.84
Arnold’s No. 176, 50 59.29 8.96
         No. 82 -------- -----
         No. 1736, watch, faster 21 20.03 17.27

The watch was intended to be taken up rivers, and to such places as the ship did not go; and in order to gain some knowledge of its probable performance, I wore it five days in the pocket.  Its rate of losing during that time, was from 11.59” to 8.79” per day; so that upon the average, it lost 7” less in the pocket than when in a fixed situation; for the above rate of 17.27” was what it kept in the box, during the last three days.  Arnold’s No. 89, altered its rate on the last day, from 2.98” to 1’ 18.68”, without any apparent cause; no rate could therefore be fixed for it, with any probability of its being kept.  Of the excellent watch No. 465 of Earnshaw, being Mr. Crosley’s private property, we were deprived at the same time with the astronomer; he also took with him the reflecting circle, No. 74 of Troughton, both of which I considered to be an addition to our loss.

So soon as the corresponding altitudes of Sunday afternoon were obtained, I took on board the time keepers and instruments, with the tents and observatory.  The ship was then ready for sea; but the wind blew a gale from the south-eastward, which continued until Tuesday [3 NOVEMBER 1801].  It then fell calm, and we unmoored; but before getting under way, the same wind again set in, and obliged us to drop a second anchor.