Page:Memoirs of a Trait in the Character of George III.djvu/258

NO. 3. 

 

circumstances attending the run from Portsmouth to Madeira, in the first voyage, which appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine, and other periodicals of the time, were very remarkable (and certainly such as could never have been paralleled, had the Longitude depended on Dr. Maskelyne's superior method.) When the Deptford approached the Latitude of Porto Santo, the crew who were confident in their reckonings, made her considerably to the eastward of that Island, which differed widely from the Longitude shown by the Timekeeper. But the Captain, though he would have laid five to one that the ship was too far run easterly, yet, as if out of courtesy, would not alter his course, Mr. Harrison having declared, that if the wind and weather continued the same, and Porto Santo was accurately laid down in the maps, they must see it the next morning—a prediction which was verified at seven o'clock.

On arriving in Funchal roads, another and forcible illustration of the utility of the Timekeeper occurred: for they fully expected to have found that the Beaver sloop of war had anchored there a week or two previously: that ship having sailed a fortnight before them, taking out orders to the merchants 