My account of the transactions in Nootka Sound would be imperfect, without adding the astronomical and nautical observations made by us, while the ships were in that station.

Latitude.

The latitude of the observatory by Sun 49°36ʹ1ʺ,15ʺʹ
Stars South49368,36
North493610,30
The mean of these means49366,47 north.

Longitude.

The longitude, by lunar observations Twenty sets taken on the 21st and 23d of March 233°26ʹ18ʺ,7ʺʹ
Ninety-three taken at the observatory233186,6
Twenty-four taken on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of May233716,7
The mean of these means2331714,0 east.
But by reducing each set taken before we arrived in the sound, and after we left it, by the time-keeper, and adding them up with those made on the spot, the mean of the 137 sets will be233°17ʹ30ʺ,5ʺʹ
Longitude by the time-keeper Greenwich rate235°46ʹ51ʺ,0ʺʹ
Ulietea rate2335924,0

From the results of the last fifteen days’ observations of equal altitudes of the sun, the daily rate of the time-keeper was losing, on mean time, 7ʺ; and the 16th of April, she was too slow for mean time, by 16h 0m 58ʺ, 45. There was found an irregularity in her rate, greater than at any time before. It was thought proper to reject the first five days, as the rate in them differed so much from that of the fifteen following; and even in these, each day differed from another more than usual.

Variation of the Compass.

April 4th A. M. Observatory, 15°57ʹ481⁄2ʺ 15°49ʹ25ʺ east.
P. M.Mean of 4 needles15412
5th. A. M. On board the ship, 195049 1944571⁄2
17th.P. M.Mean of 4 needles193846

The variation found on board the ship ought to be taken for the true one, not only as it agreed with what we observed at sea; but because it was found that there was something ashore that had a considerable effect upon the compasses; in some places more than others. At one spot, on the west point of the sound, the needle was attracted 113⁄4 points from its proper direction.

Inclination of the dipping Needle.