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2
MARGATE ROADS.
[Chap. I.
1839
provisions was taken on board, and observations for the determination of the effect produced on the compasses by the iron of the ship were obtained. This operation, so simple and desirable at all times, became more important and essential in ships destined to navigate the more interesting regions of magnetic power, and to penetrate to the highest attainable magnetic latitude.
The Commander in Chief, Sir Robert Waller Otway, and his family, from whom, during the period of our fitting out under his immediate command, we had experienced many instances of kind consideration and assistance, honoured our ships by a visit on the 24th. On the morning of the Sept. 25.25th Captain Superintendent Clavell and the pay clerks came on board, and paid the crews three months' advance, in addition to the wages then due to them; soon after noon the moorings were slipped, and we sailed down the river, followed by the Terror. As we passed Sheerness a pilot came on board, but not having sufficient depth of water over the flats, we were obliged to anchor near the buoy off the Mouse until the next morning, when, towed by her Majesty's steam vessel Hecate, we proceeded to Margate Roads, where we anchored at 2h. 20m. p.m. The Terror joined us the following evening, and many people from Margate visited the ships during their stay at this anchorage. We were here supplied with a bower anchor from the dock-yard at Deal, to replace a damaged or defective one that had broken whilst we were in the act of