I found the variation of the compass, by several azimuths, taken by different compasses on board the ship, to agree very well with the like observations made by Mr Wales on shore; and yet the variation thus found is greater by 5 deg. than we found it to be at sea, for the azimuths taken on board the evening before we came into the bay, gave no more than 16 deg. 18’ W. variation, and the evening after we came out 17 deg. 33’ W.

I shall now give some account of the variation, as observed in our run from the island of Fernando De Noronha to Fayal.  The least variation we found was 37’ W. which was the day after we left Fernando De Noronha, and in the latitude of 33’ S., longitude 32 deg. 16’ W. The next day, being nearly in the same longitude, and in the latitude of 1 deg. 25’ N., it was 1 deg. 23’ W.; and we did not find it increase till we got into the latitude of 5 deg.  N., longitude 31 deg.  W. After this our compasses gave different variation, viz. from 3 deg. 57’ to 5 deg. 11’ W. till we arrived in the latitude of 26 deg. 44’ N., longitude 41 deg.  W., when we found 6 deg.  W. It then increased gradually, so that in the latitude of 35 deg.  N., longitude 40 deg.  W., it was 10 deg. 24’ W.; in the latitude of 38 deg. 12’ N., longitude 32 deg. 1/2 W. it was 14 deg. 47’; and in sight of Fayal 16 deg. 18’ W., as mentioned above.

Having left the bay, at four in the morning of the 19th, I steered for the west end of St George’s Island.  As soon as we had passed it, I steered E. 1/2 S. for the Island of Tercera; and after having run thirteen leagues, we were not more than one league from the west end.  I now edged away for the north side, with a view of ranging the coast to the eastern point, in order to ascertain the length of the island; but the weather coming on very thick and hazy, and night approaching, I gave up the design, and proceeded with all expedition for England.

On the 29th, we made the land near Plymouth.  The next morning we anchored at Spithead; and the same day I landed at Portsmouth, and set out for London, in company with Messrs Wales, Forsters, and Hodges.

Having been absent from England three years and eighteen days, in which time, and under all changes of climate, I lost but four men, and only one of them by sickness, it may not be amiss, at the conclusion of this journal, to enumerate the several causes to which, under the care of Providence, I conceive this uncommon good state of health, experienced by my people, was owing.

In the Introduction, mention has been made of the extraordinary attention paid by the Admiralty in causing such articles to be put on board, as either from experience or suggestion it was judged would tend to preserve the health of the seamen.  I shall not trespass upon the reader’s time in mentioning them all, but confine myself to such as were found the most useful.