1802.
February.
beak of Coffin's Bay on the other. A great part of the bearings taken from hence, crossed those from Stamford Hill very advantageously.
Amongst the various excursions made by the scientific gentlemen, one was directed to Sleaford Mere, of which they made the circuit. The two southern branches were found to terminate within a hundred yards of the head of Sleaford Bay, with which the mere had been suspected to have a communication from its water being not quite fresh; but they are separated by a stony bank too high for the surf ever to pass over it. At the head of the bay a boat's sail and yard were seen floating, and no doubt had belonged to our unfortunate cutter: after being set out to sea by the tide, it had been driven up there by the late south-east winds.
March.
Wednes. 3.The refitment of the ship being nearly completed on the 3rd of March, lieutenant Fowler was sent round to Memory Cove in a
boat, to make a final search along the shores and round the islands in Thorny Passage, for the bodies of our late shipmates, which the sea might have thrown up. On the 4th,
Thurs. 4. the last turn of water was received, and completed our stock up to sixty tons; and the removal of our establishment from the shore waited only for the observation of a solar eclipse, announced in the nautical ephemeris for this day. The morning was cloudy, with rain; but towards noon the weather cleared up, and I had the satisfaction to observe the eclipse with a refracting telescope of forty-six inches focus, and a power of about two hundred. The beginning took place at 1ʰ 12′ 37″,8 of apparent time, and the end at 3ʰ 36′ 11″,8. So soon as the observation was concluded, the tents and astronomical instruments were carried on board, the launch was hoisted in, and every thing prepared for going down the port on the following morning.
