Let  it  be  obferved  that  the  fpace  of  Time  in  which
thefe  voyages  of  Madog's  were  performed  is  no  where
mentioned.  They  might  have  taken  up  twenty  years  or
more.  Madog,  on  his  return  to  Wales,  might  have  failed
Northward  by  the  American  Coaft,  till  he  came  to  a  fit-
uation  where  the  light  of  the  sun  at  noon  was  the  fame,
at  the  Seafon,  as  it  was  in  his  Native  country,  and  then
failing  Eaftward  (the  Polar  Star,  long  before  obferved
would  prevent  his  failing  on  a  wrong  point)  he  might
fafely  return  to  Britain.  The  experiences  he  derived  from
his  firft  Voyage  would  enable  him  to  join  his  Companions
whom  he  had  left  behind.
That  there  are  ftrong  currents  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean
is  well  known.  On  his  return  to  North  Wales,  Madog
might  fall  into  that  current,  which  it  is  faid,  runs  from
the  Weft  Indian  Iflands  Northward  to  Cape  Sable  in
Nova  Scotia,  where  interrupted  by  the  land,  it  runs
Eaftward  towards  Britain.
There  is  a  Tradition  that  a  Captain  of  a  Ship  dined
at  Bofton,  in  New  England,  on  a  Sunday,  and  on  the
following  Sunday  dined  at  his  own  Houfe  in  Penzance,
Cornwall.  This  is  by  no  means  impoffible,  for  with
favourable  Winds  and  ftrong  currents,  a  ship  may  run
above  14  miles  in  an  Hour.
CAERNARVON  VILLAGE


CAERNARVON   CASTLE


Appendix  129

The  late  celebrated  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  of  Phila
delphia,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  well  known  in  the  literary
world,  which  I  heard  read,  faid  that  he  was  fully  con
vinced  that  there  was  fuch  a  current  from  Weft  to  Eaft,
and  that  he  did  not  think  the  Captain's  remarkable
expedition  impoffible,  nor  even,  altogether,  improbable.
