The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-12

charts have been prepared at the National Obser-
vatory, the object of which is TO render available
to every navigator the experience OF all who have
gone before him similar voyages, as to the
winds, weather, currents, Sc, Of the ocean.
The suboined letter shows how important and
successful this undertaking is proving itself to be.
The voyage home 10 Rio de Janeiro and other
places has been materially shortened thereby.
On BOARD SHIp MONTREAL,
Al Sea, lat. 80 49, s., Ion $50 80 w.
February %, 1919
DEAR Sin: Previous 10 our departure from Boston
in this ship, bound for the Pacific ocean, you
informed that il was intention to take the route
to the equator, recommended in your valuable
wind and current charts Nos. |, 2 and 3; or to
speak with more exactness, the route indicated in
the following extract from letter which had the
honor to receive from you on the subject
''To make the best of our way to lat. POP N, and
lon. 40 to 49o W., and thence to the equator; and
be content to cross it any where between Ion. SOP
and $50 W."
Having pursued these directions with entire sue
cess and experienced for the most part farer,
stronger and steadier winds, and efecting the pas
sage in ten days less time, at least, as compared
with those met with by vessels taking the old route,
do myself the pleasure to communicate the results,
with the hope that the information may be Of some
small benefit to those navigators who have been
deferred from taking the 'new route" to the equa-
tor, from fear OF falling to lecward of ST. Rogue on
their southern passage
The ship Montreal is of the burden of 543 tons
John Chadwick, master.
Sailed from Boston Goth January, present year;
fifth day out reached the longitude of $50 49, w.
latitude $50 NJ; winds generally strong from south
west via north TO northwest, with a high rough
sea, especially from the southwestward.
Thence diverging more to the south, winds vari-
able from n. N. E., by way OF north to west, and
back again TO f. S f., we arrived, in 10 days from
Boston, at the casternmost limits Of your route
longitude 40 w. latitude 300 NJ
Took the N. E. trades in about 2oo N. latitude,
but blowing from E. to f. S. E. until we had
reached about 70 N. The ship was in the mean
while sharp braced, to enable us to make the re-
CURED casting. The wind then hauled more to
the northward and eastward, and northerly, and
becoming a free wind.
February Is, % days out, placed US in latitude
10 So N, longitude 30o w. The NJ f. trade
winds left at this point Thence to 90 south lat
itudc, met with light airs and Gains; crossed the
equator in 300 d W., in passage of several hours
less than 90 days.
Taking the s. E. trade winds at E., in about 10
s., which however hauled to the S. f. and fresh
| ened, as we advanced, we made coarse about %
miles to eastward, of and in sight of the Island of
Ferdinand de Noronha, and on the 2fth day of
February found ourselves in latitude 60 81 S., lon
gitude 800 40 W.-well clear of Cape st. Rogue,
and in fair way of passage to Cape Horn.
Your valuable % abstract Of prevailing winds
from equator to 10 south lat, and long. 80 to $50
W." showing that they blew at this of the
year february and March) from S. f. to s. S. E.,
equator near the eastern limits of the route. 1t
was, therefore, with some anxiety lest should
fail i'll that object, and very much lessen our chance
of clearing Cape st. Rogue from the equator, that
we sailed through the N. E. trades with the ship
close hauled, having the wind from E. to f. s. f. As
we nearcd the equator, however, it hauled more to
the north and set our fears at rest.
From the experience have had in making pas
sages to the equator from the United States, (cross
ing the line once in 80 so W.-month of Februa-
ry, ls37-and clearing Cape st. Rogue in thirty
I,.Ia
the value and safety of the route--a route
which shall hope navigators will hereafter call by
your name.
To your superior knowledge and Judgment |
submit with great difhdence the question: whether
it would not be well to place the eastern limit of
the route four degrees farther east in lat. 200 NJ
substituting 400 to 44o W. instead of 40 to 49o w.
My reasons are, that there many vessels in the
mercantile marine whose sailing and wcatherly
qualities very dulland it is Of the first import
TO all interested in the vessel and voyage that
such should be certain of clearing the Cape
any other vessel. Now, as the S. f. trade wind
is met with at the seasons Of the year far
north as 50 or 100 from the equator, it renders it
somewhat uncertain that vessel of the kind, and
under the circumstances last mentioned, will be
able TO cross the equator, in long $40 or $50
w. from lat. 300 n. and long 4So or 49o-and even
were 1t otherwise, the chances Of dull ships clear
ing st. Rogue from point so far west $40 on
the equator would be very much against hcr-an-
other reason for limits more easterly. The distance
sailed, to be sure, s increased, but the winds will
be more free, and the greater distance compen-
sated by increased speed and the wind remaining
free from any anxiety of falling TO leeward fast
wcatherly. vessel may take the great circle line,
line more easterly, but parallel with it, at any
season of the year, and meet with the most perfect
success in all the objects aimed at.
Enclosed is our abstract log for the passage thus
far, and which has been kept by Capt. Chadwick
with some care. shall write to you again here
after
With feelings Of much respect and regard, am
yours, very truly,
(Signed) HENRY A. PIERCE.
Lieut.. NJ. Il. MAURY,
U. S. Observatory, Washington, ID. e.
p. S.-iIad our ship not been deeply laden, I
have no doubt but we should have crossed the equa
tor in p days passage.