The deponent, 73 years old, has known how to take latitude since 1727. He
used David' quadrant and Hadley's quadrant just within sight of the Highlands of
Nevasink to find that the latitude of Sandy Hook is 40 degrees 25'. The forestaff,
formerly used by the French and Dutch to take latitudes, has been in use since he first
went to sea. Sixty miles ha ve always been computed to a degree of latitude. The
difference in latitude between Sandy Hook and the Fort at New York is 20 or 21 miles.
Davis' quadrant may be depended on for between three and four miles of true latitude,
and sometimes exactly. In calm water, the latitude may be taken off Sandy Hook as
exactly as on land. Signed, Thomas Hill. In Jay's hand.
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Format
correspondence
Genre
correspondence
Date
1769 September 15
Physical Description
2
Note
The entire content of the original has been digitized.