70

66

Sunday December 30th. At Sea. At 9.30 went to
Divisions, Mustered by Open Sist and read the articles
of War, having Divine Service after - Going on with my
annual accounts: at 3 Commdr dined with us : a fair
wind, always turn in early on Sunday.

Monday December 31st At 5 commenced getting chain
cables up for Survey, which woke me and I turned out
thinking what different weather L was having - At 11 held a
Survey on my Stores, by the 2nd Master and Adjt Paymaster.
In the afternoon we had a fair wind blowing fresh. At 1 saw the land
and kept more away, at 4 made out the entrance to Espiriter Santo, and
at 5 came to an anchor and furled sails - In the evening it came
on to blow very hard but did not last long, but it was a very dull
dreary New Year's Eve.

1856

Tuesday January 1st 1856 Off Expiriter Santo At 11 lighted
fires and got steam up, noon weighed and steamed in towards the
bar, after crossing which we were met by a Pilot, who took
us up to the town : it is a poor miserable, half deserted town,
having 3 Churches, & the Presidents Palace, and Cholera is at present
fast emptying the place of the few who remain : being the first of
the month, the Fort Saluted as we passed. In the evening there
was a grand display of Fire Works and one of the Churches was
illuminated and a band of Music was playing in front :: to
show the difference between their rockets and ours, we fired one.
In the evening raining very hard.

January 2nd It rained all night, but cleared away a little at
5.30. At 8 loosed sails to dry : 11 a squall caught her and she drove
within a few yards of the beach : Commdr went ashore to wait on
the President, returning at noon with a request from the President