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3 to the Strait of Magellan. of the Dock-yard, completely equipped, with provisions for eight months, and wood and water tor five; and, as the for- tunate conclusion of all sea-expeditions must, in great measure, depend on the health and comfort of the seamen, it was the com mander’s principal care to use every precaution for that effect. He therefore sent on-board, not only an ample supply of additional warm clothing for the crew, but also all such medir cines, and other preservatives, as the experience of former navigators had shown to be essentially useful. , Whilst the commander was thus employed, the two officers, charged with the nautical observations, carried on-board two marine watches or time-pieces, (Nos. 15 and 16 of Berthogd,) whicli belonged to the Observatory of Cadiz, and also No. 71 of Arnold, a small one belonging to Lieut. Belmonte ; and, by means of observations on-shore, and signals on-board the frigate, began to ascertain their several rates of motion, and to form the corresponding - tables. At the same time was carried on-board a complete collection of instruments, chosen from those procured by order of His Catholic Majesty in London, under the inspection of Mr, Jacinto Magellan, and from the hands of the most eminent artists of England. In removing them from the Observatory tq the ship, the glass tube of the marine barometer suddenly burst, without its having received any blow or other injury,—so that the mercury was lost,—occasioned probably by the mercury having been but imperfectly purified, or perhaps not in the just quantity ; so that we were under the necessity of proceed ing on our voyage without that most valuable but delicate in strument. Amongst these instruments were the best English quintants and sextants that could be procured: for if, by the aid of the time-pieces, we hoped tq be able to ascertain every day thq errors occasioned in our reckoning, by its own unavoidable un certainty, as well as by the setting of tides and currents; so, by constant observations of the distance of the moon from the sun or stars, performed with these excellent instruments of reflec T tion, by two distinct observers, it was to be expected, as it was afterwards experienced, that in each lunation we might disco ver what confidence ought to be placed in these time-pieces, supposing them to preserve one uniform motion : and, from such comparisons and calculations, we made no doubt of ob taining satisfactory results, Lastly, as every information that could be collected respect ing the object of the voyage must be useful, either as furnishing advice to be followed, or as pointing out what was to be ^voided, the several officers of the frigate made it their business s a
