light Airs and Calm. At 6 a.m. Cape Finister bore S. by W. ½ W., distance 10 or 11 leagues. Loosed all the Reefs out of the Topsails, and got Topgallant Yards across. Wind Westerly, Calm; at noon, Island of Cyserga,[1] E.S.E. 3 leagues.
Monday, 5th.—Light breezes and Calm all these 24 hours. At 2 p.m. had an Observation of the Sun and Moon, which gave the Longitude 8° 42′ W. from Greenwich. At 6 Cape Finister bore South by W. ½ W., 6 Leagues. Variation of the Compass per Azimuth 18° 42′ W. At Noon, Cape Finister S. by E., distant 4 leagues; lat. observed 43° 4′, therefore Cape Finister must lay in lat. 42° 53′ N.[2] Wind Westerly, N.W., Calm.
Tuesday, 6th.—Moderate breezes and Clear weather these 24 Hours. A.M. found the Variation by the Mean of 5 Azimuth to be 21° 40′ W., 3 Degrees more than what it was found Yesterday, which I cannot account for,[3] as both Observations appeared to me to be equally well made. At 10.28 had an Observation of the sun and moon, which gave the Longitude 9° 40′ W. from Greenwich. By this Observation Cape Finister must lay in 8° 52′, and by that made yesterday in 8° 40′. The Mean of the two is 8° 46′ W. of Greenwich the Long. of the Cape,[4] its latitude being 42° 53′ N. Wind N.W.; course S. 42° W.; distance 70 m.; lat. 42° 1′ N., long. 9° 50′ W.; at noon, Cape Finister N. 42° E., 70 miles.
Wednesday, 7th.—Moderate breezes and Clear weather; found the Variation to be 21° 4′ W. Wind W.N.W.; course S. by W.; distance 92 m.; lat. 40° 29′ North, long. 10° 11′ W.; at noon, Cape Finister N. 13° E., 49 leagues.
Thursday, 8th.—Fresh Gales and Cloudy weather. A.M. Past by 2 Sail, which were standing to the N.E. Wind W.N.W. to W. by S.; course S. 4° E.; distance 111 m.; lat. 38° 33′ N., long. 10° W.; at noon, Cape Finister N. 12° E., 88 leagues.
Friday, 9th.—First part fresh Gales; remainder moderate breezes and fine, Clear weather. Set up the Topmast rigging, and found the Variation to be 19° 50′ W. Wind W. by N. to N.E.; course S. 40° W.; distance 116 m.; lat. 37° 4′ N., long. 11° 33′ W.; at noon, Cape Finister N. 20° E., 124 leagues.
Saturday, 10th.—A steady, fresh breeze and fine Clear weather. Found the Variation of the Compys by the Evening and Morning Amplitude and by 2 Azimuth to be 20° 59′ W. Wind N.E. by E.; course S. 36′ W.; distance 130 m.; lat. 35° 20′ N., long. 13° 28′ W.; at noon, Cape Finister N. 24° E., 166 leagues.