ABSTRACT
It was common knowledge that by sailing due south by compass from Montevideo one would come to shallow water in the vicinity of Banco Inglés. 1 We therefore set a course in that direction. In accordance with my instructions the brig was to take the most direct route towards the bank. I hailed the Atrevida, instructing her to keep well to starboard of us and begin a separate line of soundings. The bearings of different positions on the coast confirmed in every instance their exact position on the new chart, but at the same time indicated that we were being carried somewhat to the west by the current. We therefore altered course to SbyE and SSE, in order to reach the end of the bank. Indeed, shortly before noon, the depths shoaled from six fathoms, ooze, to five-and-a-half fathoms, sand, gravel and shell. In this depth we were in latitude 35°13′2o″ with the Mount [Cerro de Montevideo] bearing N2°E, true, twenty miles distant. Since up to that time the breeze had remained moderate from NNE and NNW, we had not crowded on sail, relying on the breeze continuing, with the intention of waiting for the brig to catch us up, as her known poor sailing was now very evident. When the erratic light airs and excessive heat indicated that the favourable winds would not last much longer, both corvettes crowded on sail, standing to the SSE close-hauled at first with studding sails, and later, as a moderate easterly breeze set in, with all sails set except the mainsail. At two o’clock in the afternoon, with Cerro de Montevideo disappearing from sight bearing true north, we observed longitudes in order to compare the rate of the chronometers with that deduced on the 7th, when the rates were last calculated. It was found that number 61 had kept approximately the same rate, that of number 13 had increased, while that of 72 had slowed considerably. We refrained from adjusting their rates, however, until better data obtained in some harbour could confirm the exact extent of the changes.
