sea; the ship was sailing through liquid fire; the
sides of the vessel being quite illuminated with the foam, and the ocean
was covered apparently by fire occasioned by the breakers. Passed the
day without seeing either sail or fish.

THURSDAY, MAY 29TH.

Passed another comfortable night, found we had been getting on pretty
well; nearly out of the Stream with the intention of shooting across the
first fair wind.

The wind continues pretty favourable. A child died aged nine months. A
stone with two lumps of iron are tied up to sink the child. At six the
bell tolled, the little thing was placed upon a door and when the
Minister, Mr. H. came to that part of committing the body to the deep it
was slid off into the ocean and immediately disappeared, to be eaten by
fish instead of worms. The mother did not come upon deck, her name
Johnson, has 7 or 8 other children with her; the husband I believe in
America.

Jackson told the Captain last night that he lost his father last 29th
May, surely this circumstance will help him to a little more steadiness
but this was hardly the case, excepting as occasioned by yesterday's
debauch. Mr. Seaton says bastardy is not so common in America but
always charged to the father. Mr. Cayley takes no exercise, says he
never walks on ship, eats a good deal of animal food; a very bad system,
either exercise or abstinence is essentially necessary.

FRIDAY, MAY 30TH.

Passed another good night though dreaming more of home and the
warehouse; was delighted to find a fair wind and that it had been the
same during the night; continued so all day but the rolling of the ship
on going to breakfast made me rather sickly most of the forenoon; in
fact we pitched and tossed more than ever with heavy rain a good part of
the day, so that but for the wind being favourable we should consider it
the most unpleasant day we have had; no ships, no fish or anything to
divert the tedium.

This morning two of the sails were torn to ribbands. Frequent jelly-like
substances floating on the ocean of various colours formed like a
cockscomb commonly called Portuguese men-of-war.

SATURDAY, MAY 31ST.

Another good night, found the wind favourable but not much of this most
of the night. A warm political discussion; I stated that America and not
Dan O'Connell was the great political agitator. Speaking of the immense
salaries paid in England I said the Government was more in fault in
granting them, it being only