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True longitude by the watch 28 39 18-1/2
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I found the variation of the compass, by several azimuths, taken by
different compasses on board the ship, to agree very well with the like
observations made by Mr Wales on shore; and yet the variation thus found
is greater by 5 deg. than we found it to be at sea, for the azimuths taken
on board the evening before we came into the bay, gave no more than 16 deg.
18' W. variation, and the evening after we came out 17 deg. 33' W.

I shall now give some account of the variation, as observed in our run
from the island of Fernando De Noronha to Fayal. The least variation we
found was 37' W. which was the day after we left Fernando De Noronha,
and in the latitude of 33' S., longitude 32 deg. 16' W. The next day, being
nearly in the same longitude, and in the latitude of 1 deg. 25' N., it was
1 deg. 23' W.; and we did not find it increase till we got into the latitude
of 5 deg. N., longitude 31 deg. W. After this our compasses gave different
variation, viz. from 3 deg. 57' to 5 deg. 11' W. till we arrived in the latitude
of 26 deg. 44' N., longitude 41 deg. W., when we found 6 deg. W. It then increased
gradually, so that in the latitude of 35 deg. N., longitude 40 deg. W., it was
10 deg. 24' W.; in the latitude of 38 deg. 12' N., longitude 32 deg. 1/2 W. it was
14 deg. 47'; and in sight of Fayal 16 deg. 18' W., as mentioned above.

Having left the bay, at four in the morning of the 19th, I steered for
the west end of St George's Island. As soon as we had passed it, I
steered E. 1/2 S. for the Island of Tercera; and after having run
thirteen leagues, we were not more than one league from the west end. I
now edged away for the north side, with a view of ranging the coast to
the eastern point, in order to ascertain the length of the island; but
the weather coming on very thick and hazy, and night approaching, I gave
up the design, and proceeded with all expedition for England.

On the 29th, we made the land near Plymouth. The next morning we
anchored at Spithead; and the same day I landed at Portsmouth, and set
out for London, in company with Messrs Wales, Forsters, and Hodges.

Having been absent from England three years and eighteen days, in which
time, and under all changes of climate, I lost but four men, and only
one of them by sickness, it ma