Log Book Ship Nimrod, 1833-1835

Tuesday the 27 th August 1833

Commenced with light from the E ward weather Clear & pleasant Steering by the wind with all sail set hands Employed in fitting the Larboard quarter boat at 6 P M barked the Main Top Sail & put a new boat on the larboard quarter and the other over head. Saw a number of finbacks but no whales Middle & latter part wind & weather about the same at 7 A M raised a whale a breaching [lowered] & Chased but could not ascertain whether hump backs or Sperm whales at 9 Came alongside & took up the boats latter part watch Employed in fitting teh larboard quarter boat So Ends all well Lat Obsd 27:18 Long 24:20

Wednesday the 28 th

Begins with light winds E N E Steer S E by the wind hands Employed in [bending?] a mizen & Painting a spare boat latter part fresh winds at N unbent our fore sail & [fitted?] it for the bank latter part saw large quantities of bank birds So Ends all well Lat Obsd 28:18 Long 23:00

Thursday the 29 th

First part of theese 24 hours fresh winds at N Steering S E by S by Compass at 6 P M the wind shifted suddenly to the S th W [braied?] our yards & steered by the wind at 7 sent up the fore Top Gallant yard and bent the fore sail latter part light airs S S E Steering E by the wind bent the main Top Gallant Sail & set it So Ends Lat Obsd 28:56 Long 21:20

Friday the 30 th August A D 1833

Began with light breezes from the S ward weather clear and pleasant steer to the E ward by the wind Ship under all Sail at 6 P M wind S E tacked ship & Steered to the Sth W ward by the wind Obsd [observed] a great swell from the S W ward middle & latter part weather the same wind S S E Saw a ship to the Sth ward steering to the W ward latter part the boatsteers Employed in grinding Lances hands in Sundry jobs of Ships duty. So Ends all well Lat Obsd 29:19 Long 21:15

Saturday 31 st

Commenced with light airs from the E ward with frequent showers Steering Sth with all Sail sit a great swell from the Sth west Ship Labours hard Saw a ship to the Sth ward becalmed latter part wind S S E at 7 A M tacked Ship to the E ward two Ships in sight standing to the Sth W ward So So Ends all well Lat Obsd 30:02 Long 21:20 by Obs

Sunday the 1 st Sept

First part of theese 24 hours light airs about S E by S Ship under all Sail Steering by the wind to the E ward at 6 P M wind S S W Steered S E by the wind one ship in sight to the leeward standing to the E ward latter part Strong winds at 6 A M handed the Top Gallant Sails and took in a Single reef the day being the Sabbath no labour done more than occasion required So goes all well Lat Obsd 30:30 Long 20:50

Monday the 2 nd September A D 1833

The day began with Strong winds from the Sth ward Standing to the E ward by the wind Ship under Single reefed top sails at 7 P M wind S E tacked Ship to the W ward Saw a large Sperm whall [whale] but to [too] late to lore [lower] took in sail & set a qr [quarter] watch Middle & latter part light airs at 6 A M Called all hands and set all sail Saw a number of finbacks but no whales hands Employed in Ships duty as occasion required So Ends all well Lat Obsd 30:02 Long 18:48

Tuesday the 3 th

First part light airs from the E ward weather thick & Cloudy Steer to the Sth ward by the wind Ship under all Sail latter part weather neer [near] the Same wind N E Steer S S E at 10 A M set a fore Topmast Steering Sail People Employed in Sundry jobs ofShips duty So goes all well Lat Obsd 31:03 Long 18:10 by Obs

Wednesday the 4 th

Theese 24 hours begins with light airs from the W ward Ship under all sail Steering S S E at 4 passed teh meridian steered Sth by E middle & latter part fresh breezes from the N ward Saw a brig to the N wars Steering E by Sth latter part hands - Employed in Sundry Jobs of Ships duty as occasion required So Goes all well Lat Obsd 32:36 Long 17:15

Thursday the 5 th September 1833

Begins with fresh breezes from the N ward Steering Sth by E by Compass with all Sail Set one Ship in sight to the Sth ward Steering E at 6 P M the wind being aft furled the fore & mizen Top gallant sails Saw 1 hump back, latter part strong glaes from [?] at 4 A M furled the main Top Gallant Sail & double reefed the Top Sails handed the gib & Spanker & Main Sail at the same time hoisted up our boats At 10 called all hands furled the fore & mizen top Sails & Came too So Goes all well Lat Obsd 34:50 Long 16:40

Friday the 6 th Sept [September]

began with Strong Gales about & rain Ship under Short Sail lying by at 4 P M wind N W Called all hands [wrore?] Ship & Set the Top Sails couble reefed Middle & latter part light airs about W at 8 A M set all sail & steered Sth by Compass 1 Ship in sight Steering Sth Saw large quantities of bank birds 21 finback So ends all well Lat Obsd 36:05 Longitude 15:04 by Obs

Saturday the 7 th

Commenced with light airs from about W Ship under all sail Steering Sth by compass all hands Employed in getting up our cutting Pendents & other sundry jobs as occasion required 1 Ship in sight to the N ward Steering Sth at 7 hours passed teh meridian the wind N N E took in sail heading N W at 5 Spoke with Ship Clay Ch Church of Boston 69 days over at midknight [midnight] heavy Gales with rain. I shall now give up my dead reckoning for the present

Good Ship Nimrod on the Eastern Cruising Ground

Saturday the 7 September A D 1833

The day began with Strong Gales N N E & rain by by under short sail at 3 A M weather Increasing handed the Fore Sail & Close reefed the Main Top Sail middle part wind & weather about the same Saw A Ship to the leeward Supposed to be the Clay latter part the Gale abates at 3 P M wind N N W wore Ship and Set the fore sail all hands Employed in breaking out the fore hatch for water So Ends all well no Obs Lat per Count 37:02 Long 14:40

Sunday the 8 th Sept

Begins with Strong winds from about Sth weather thick & Squally at 8 A M the weather more moderate Set double reefed top sails & steered to the W ward Saw 2 whales but to [too] rough to lore [lower] at 11 weather increasing furled our Top sails & by by latter part heavy Gales & a very bad sea Ship laboured hard at P M furled the fore sail at 5 [Perceived?] our rudder out of order & upon Examination found it split from the upper Pinth to the deck we [immediately] [applied] Guy [Tackles] to support it through the [night] thinking it unsafe to run at 8 o'clock got them fitted & put them on the day Ends with heavy Gales and hails no Observations Lat per Count 36:40 Long 14:50