Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/173

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April.]
OF LA PEROUSE.
163

time before we ſaw the iſland of St. Paul, one could hardly perceive any appearance of phoſphoreſcence in the waves.

During our paſſage from the Cape, the thermometer had never indicated lower than 8° below 0, nor higher than 20° above 0. The mercury in the barometer, during the ſame period, had never ſtood higher than 28 inches 7 lines, nor lower than 27 inches 7 lines.

While we were in the track of the variable winds, the currents had ſet from 10′ to 20′ N.; but whilſt we were ſailing off the S.W. coaſt of New Holland, they had ſet eaſtward. Theſe differences in their direction depend upon the ſituation of the lands.

Our tables for rectifying the irregularities of our time-keepers ariſing from difference of temperature, extended no farther than 15° of Reaumur's ſcale, and the balance-bow for our pendulum-clock was only calculated to anſwer between 105° and 115°. The latter was conſtantly above 115°, and the temperature of the atmoſphere was very often lower than 15° of the thermometer. It was neceſſary to keep up a degree of temperature, at leaſt equal to this, in the place where our time-keepers were depoſited. A common lamp might have anſwered this purpoſe; but

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