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Chap. II.]
ARRIVAL AT ST. HELENA.
27
1840
time only forty-five miles to the north-west of a spot where a shoal is marked on the chart as having been discovered in 1701. The great depth of water would seem to throw some doubt on the reality of this supposed danger, but being exactly to leeward of the assigned position we were unable to ascertain the fact.
In latitude 21° S., and longitude 15° 30′ W., we Jan. 8.recrossed the line of least magnetic intensity. By taking advantage of every change of the wind, which we found to vary from S.S.E. to E.S.E. at different periods of the day, we advanced on an average between twenty-three and twenty-four miles each day, and eventually anchored in St. Helena Roads at 3° 30′ p.m. on the 31st January.Jan. 31.
The chief purpose of our visit being to establish a permanent magnetic observatory, and to land Lieutenant Lefroy of the Royal Artillery, and the party under his command, together with all the instruments intended for their use, I obtained permission from His Excellency Lieutenant-General Middlemore to make an examination of the lands Feb. 2.belonging to the crown; and having selected a spot near the house that had been erected for the residence of the Emperor Napoleon, but which had never been occupied by him, as a site for the observatory, it was immediately granted by the governor. All the arrangements for the lease of the premises, and the contracts for the necessary buildings, were completed in a few days by the diligent