The Stabler Family

wakes me. _ The Sailors regularly perform this office two or three times in 24 hours by pairs — The bilge water does not smell much since the first day or two — Two of our sheep gave up the ghost and crew cast into the waves — we have now one left, three hogs – several pigs – some ducks geese and turkeys — and are said to be within 250 miles of the Coast of Ireland [_ay] Cape Clear which is the land we wish to make.

6th day morning 6th

So near a clam this morning with a high swell that we only move from 1/2 to a knot an h^r with the wind aft and the yd^s squared which rolls us from Side to Side as usual — I think this thing of rocking children the cradle mast addle their braines a few degrees, judging of it effect on some of us — Sitting writing this morning on my finger nail with a pencil my fellow passenger Harris

drew some few outlines of a [Ship] which I send with this [&] a few porpoises again this morning but not near eno to strike with a harpoon, throwing which thru a ring of rope yarn in the water, has been one of the exercises among some of our athletic men

_ To day while sitting in the boat writing the forgoing the Captⁿ proposed letting it down and rowing round the ship _ which being carried Nem. Con. _ Himself Ogden Clark My Self & four Sailors were soon on the glassy bosom of the deep, whose long, heavy swells might almost induce one to believe was occasion'd by some agitation below, instead of on its surface. We went entirely round - and at the distance of an hundred yards I was surprised to see how small the [Gallants] looki'g Pacific appeared — The masts look'd tall its true, but altho She draws 15 1/2 ft water - it look'd as if the could only be a few feet two or three below the surface.

ascribed the luminous appearance before mentioned, but the ascription was blown sky-high, upon removing them to a dark place, _ when no ray of light was reflected upon the disappointed experimentors. — The conclusion now, is that the effect is phosphorscent, from the salt water, like the light produced by the collision of two pieces of [Coal/looss/loaf? ?igan] in the dark:_ When the air is clean it is much less so than when damp. that is, the luminous effect is much less — and only seen when the water is agitated – –

Among the rest of the exp^ts I endeavornd to ascertain the proportion of Sea salt in a pint of water _ and by a rough exp^t (having no scales to weigh it). I suppose it is not less than two table spoonful moderately heaped. — It was done by graduating a weighted cork to the bouyancy of sea water and then with the same cork which sank in fresh water adding as much salt as made the cork rise to the same point.

us into port. A slight wind from NE and our course SE by S1/2S. at the rate of two or three knots — at 11 or 12 increased a little to four or 4 1/2 which is the extent of our furrowing. during the day – damp & foggy – sometimes misty so that I could not be on deck. clouds hang heavily around us but now and the Sun peeps forth on deck and [anow] when all is mist we can sea bright spot on the water quite distant where his beams [fale/full] unobstructed through the openings of the clouds. Very little swell in the sea to day — a large school of porpoises but not near eno' to "cover" well with the harpoon — I forgot to mention having seen a distant "water spout" after we were out a few days — they are similar to a whilwind on land, that raises the leaves &c. – those at sea raising water — so these mariners say. – Learned the good old Captain short hand, by way of amusement who seems "mightily taken" with

[2 nd?]

Vol. 4th The Return Voyage.

On 4th day afternoon as has been "recorded", our fruitless attempt was made to get out of Dock but failing that, I remained on board the ship that y night being the only passenger and the steward going off I took command of the Gallant Pacific a little like the man who hid himself under the table and resisted the orders of his [??] to come out and receive the broomstick, declaring he "would let her see that he would be master of his own house." - (J. E.) I locked the cabin door and went below to indulge the luxury of a little lovely quiet. -- I was soon in a doze, but was aroused by the [shorthand] [shorthand]. The next morning about four o clock we cleared the dock, - lighted a fire (a thing forbidden in the dock) and and having cast anchor about 2 miles below the Town, got a [[??]] solus except the mate & Pilot [shorthand] [shorthand].. Here we remained till

The boat having to go on shore [??] sand some of the passengers went with it - and at one of the trips I ventured to take a peep at the rocks - sand - shells &c. &c. within the neighbourhood of the Fort which is building on the rock, then within half a mile of the Pacific.. --

In the evening at ^the 6 o clock tide we again weighed anchor, the wind S S E and passed the "rock" & "red [?]oses" [...] - The cry of "under quarter 4 -- "and half 5 -- 1/4 less six. Under half 7 -- By the mark 8 - by the deep nine &c. on heaving the lead brought most of us on deck -- when that ceased, immediate danger seem'd to be over -- The Pilot left us about nine o clock

7th day morning 8 mo 4th quite a breese this morning - and to make half the passengers sea sick -- pass'd Holyhead about 8 o clock -- Off Bardsey Island the the "breeze" begining to leave us. --

1st day 8 mo 5th. -- ?

At four o clock passed thru Tusker light house -- at 8 the

Set at 1/2 past 12 — The Sea often broke over [thee?] before but did no material injury except giving some of the Sailors wet jackets and shirts —Great betting now as to when we are to reach out port.

4th day 29th Last night about ten their was a most extraordinary appearance in the Heavens:- It was clear and from a slight thin cloud there was brilliant bow of light shot a cross from East to West nearly over our heads which Continued for Some time — and thought to be occasioned by the Northern lights —

At 1/2 past 12 oclock the [Inate?] haled meto come on deck again to look at the Aurora Borealis which was indeed splendidly beautiful.

[sketch of the lights shooting from the clouds]

3rd day Morning 9 Mo 4th

This morning at half past two we were under way with a wind N N W to head up thru the narrows - where we now are constantly tacking about - with a light wind and slothful pilot who makes up his want of professional energy by nonsensical gab -- "Haul away my lads - my sons - my fair fellows &c." repeating the expressions at the end of almost every sentence - The narrows now appear to come close a head and the "[suspension]" before us - so, she is "first at last, having been behind, before" and "no ways backenard" in going forward - Notwithstanding our mast has been "tickled" for a [??], and "tickled" by the man at the Helm to pitch poor Frank about.

Tolls 6. [symbol] 2/6 & 3/6 V 2d [symbol] 1^d

16 chains of 5 bars Ea & length of ea 9ft 9in & 3 inches wide by 1 inch

Mr Telford Engineer Straits of Menai

2 carriage roads of 12 feet ea & a foot path of 4ft in the centre

6 connecting links at ea point 1ft 6 in by 10 inches & [??] one inch -- secured by bolts each weighing [5lbs]