125

121

August 12th Got up, very seedy, at 7 and at ten
went on board the Syren. Got orders to be ready for
sea at daylight on the 13th. In the evening all the officers
went ashore.

August 13th Blowing and raining, no prospect of
going to sea altho' Mr Daley the Pilott was on board.
In the afternoon several of the Officers went on shore-
At 8 it blew very hard.

August 14th Syren drifted some distance. No chance of the
Officers coming off on account of the sea running so
heavily. After sunset it blew harder than ever, & many
ships were riding with three anchors. Before seven I was
in bed.

August 15th Damnably cold and uncomfortable with
any quantity of growling on board. About 10 the wind
moderated a little and the sea went down a few.
Commdr & some of the officers went on shore, some of
them remaining all night. The evening being very
cold I went again early to bed.

August 16th Still blowing fresh, but it was settled
that we should not make a start before the arrival of
the English Mail, expected on Monday or Tuesday, when
we are to go down to the English Bank. At 10 a signal
was made for Commdr and his return, we lighted fires,
got steam up, and took the Syren in tow as she had drifted
from her anchors: we made a very shining job of it,
and it was a long time before we managed to get hold
of her, and after carrying away our mizen rigging we
managed to put her in a safe position, returning to our
old mooring ground. At 4 Commdr went on shore and we