When was it published?

January 7, 1773 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News January 7, 1773

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What sub-type of article is it?

Naval Affairs, Trade Or Commerce

Q: What entities or persons were involved?

Gentleman Of Gosport, Lord Sandwich

Q: What keywords are associated?

Ship Navigation, Invention, Longitude Solution, Safe Voyages, Lord Sandwich

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

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What is this article about?

A letter from Portsmouth reports an astonishing invention by a Gosport gentleman: a method enabling ships to travel straight against wind and tide, faster in calms than with favorable breezes, preventing capsizing or wrecks in storms, expediting and securing voyages, and precisely determining longitude at sea. He has written to Lord Sandwich.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

A Letter from Portsmouth mentions, that it is reported there as Fact (however astonishing and incredible it may appear) that a Gentleman of Gosport has found out a Method of causing Ships to make their Way, in a straight Line, against both Wind and Tide, and to go faster even in a Calm than they at present can with a favourable Breeze of Wind, and which Discovery will also prevent them from the Danger of oversetting, or being driven against Rocks or Shores in a Storm, by Means whereof Voyages will be rendered much more expeditious, as well as entirely safe, and (as the Course of the Ships will thereby be always precisely known) the Longitude at Sea will be as certain as the Latitude; and that he has actually wrote a Letter to Lord Sandwich on the Occasion.

What sub-type of article is it?

Naval Affairs Trade Or Commerce

What keywords are associated?

Ship Navigation Invention Longitude Solution Safe Voyages Lord Sandwich

What entities or persons were involved?

Gentleman Of Gosport Lord Sandwich

Where did it happen?

Portsmouth

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Portsmouth

Key Persons

Gentleman Of Gosport Lord Sandwich

Outcome

voyages rendered more expeditious and entirely safe; longitude at sea as certain as latitude

Event Details

A Gentleman of Gosport has found out a Method of causing Ships to make their Way, in a straight Line, against both Wind and Tide, and to go faster even in a Calm than they at present can with a favourable Breeze of Wind, and which Discovery will also prevent them from the Danger of oversetting, or being driven against Rocks or Shores in a Storm, by Means whereof Voyages will be rendered much more expeditious, as well as entirely safe, and (as the Course of the Ships will thereby be always precisely known) the Longitude at Sea will be as certain as the Latitude; and that he has actually wrote a Letter to Lord Sandwich on the Occasion.