Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/152

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142
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1792.

comprehend. The conſequence was, that our bad wine grew worſe and worſe, till we were at length obliged to ſubſtitute brandy in its place. This piece of negligence deprived us of one of the beſt means for preſerving the health of the crew during a voyage, in the courſe of which they ran the hazard of being in want of every neceſſary.

The obſervations taken on board the Recherche, gave us for its anchoring ſtation at the Cape of Good Hope, 33° 54′ 24″ S. lat. 16° 4′ 25″ E. longitude.

The variation of the magnetic needle at the ſame place was 24° 30′ W.

Our aſtronomer Bertrand found, for the place of his obſervatory in the town, 33° 55′ 22″ 4-5ths S. lat. 16° 3′ 45″ E. long.

The variation of the magnetic needle, as obſerved by him, was 24° 31′ 52″ W. The dip of a flat needle gave 47° 25′.

During the whole time we lay at anchor, the mercury in the thermometer was never higher than 25° above 0.

CHAP.