Whaling Log of the Ship France, 1838-1840

Saturday, Aug. 4th, 1838.

Commences with strong breezes from the SW and cloudy steering SE. by E.

at 4 P. M. made the Island of Flores bearing south and corvo E. S. E 8 miles Dist at 5 Do hauled by the wind and run in between the two Islands. at 6 Do in stowing off the main Hatch with Casks one of the men let a Break fall and cut one of the mens Thumb nearly off he came on Deck washed it off set it took in a few [stithes?] and raged it up at 9 P. M. Hauled too and lay off & on for Daylight.

middle & Latter Hours light winds and cloudy at Daylight made all sail and steered S. E.ly by S.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 39" 10 North. Longitude per. watch 30" 40 west.

Sunday, Aug. 5th, 1838.

Commences with moderate breezes from the SW. and cloudy. steering by the wind to the Southward untill 12 midnight lay aback untill 4 A. M. [bread?] Foward steering to the Southward. at 9 Do. Tacked ship to the northward at 10 Do spoke ship Clarckson of Nantucket Chaise master no Oil likewise Brig Charleston Backet of New Bedford Daget master no Oil but For mast Rotten we then steered off E. by S.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 38" 26 North. Longitude per. watch 29" 12 west.

Monday, Aug. 6th, 1838

All of these 24 Hours pleasant breezes from the SW and fair weather steering E. by S. at 3 P. M. made the Island of Fayal bearing E. by N 40 miles Dist. at 5 Do. hauled too by the wind and lay off & on throught the night at 3 A. M. steered in for the Harbor at 4 Do. bent the Larboard chain and overhauled a Range. at 8 Do. off the Town went on shore with one Boat for Trade purchased 170 bushels of Potatoes 8,000 onions 100 Pumpkins and other necessaries to tedious to mention at 11 Do. the

Friday Aug. 10th, 1838.

Commences with light airs from the S. S. W steering by the wind to the S. & E

Middle Hours the wind hauling W. S. W ship Heading S by E. at 10 A. M made the Island of St. Marys bearing SE by E.

Latter Hours pleasant breezes and fair weather saw a schooner steering to the S. & E.

Hands employed in various jobs of ships Duty.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 33" 37 North. Longitude per. watch 26" 32 west.

Saturday Aug. 11th 1838.

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes from the W. S. W. and pleasant weather steering by the wind to the Northw Hands employed in Repairing an Old main & mizen Top Sail after repairing bent them likewise another Fore Top Sail

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 36" 38 North. Longitude per. watch 25" 14 west.

Sunday, Aug. 12th, 1838.

Commences with light airs from the W. S. W. steering by the wind to the Southward

middle & Latter Calm. at 6 P. M. the Island of St. Marys bore E by N. 25 miles Dist.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 45 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 46 west.

Monday Aug. 13th, 1838.

Commences Calm middle & Latter Hours light breezes from the S E. steering by the wind to the S. & W. the Caulker employed in Caulking the Bullwarks Foward. Hands in knotting yarns &. &.

Latitude Obs. 35" 25 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 40 west.

Tuesday Aug. 14th, 1838.

Commences with light airs from the S. & E. steering by the wind to the S. & W.

middle & Latter Hours the wind hauled to the N. & E. set the Fore Top mast steering Sail and steered S. S. W. this Day broke out the Sails that were in casks and put them in the Sail Room and knocked down the Casks. at 3 P. M. spoke the Clarkson no Oil

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 35" 00 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 35 west.

Wednesday Aug. 15th, 1838

All of these 24 Hours moderate breezes from the N E. steering S. S. W. at 8 A. M. bent a new Lower steering sail and set it

Hands employed in various jobs of ships Duty.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 33" 00 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 35 west.

Thursday Aug. 16th, 1838.

All of these 24 Hours pleasant breezes from the N W and fair weather steering S. S. W.

at 10 P. M. beat a new Top mast steering sail and set it to the main likewise a Top Gallant steering sail. at 3 A. M. raised 3 Sail ahead steering to the Southward

Hands employed in various jobs of Ships Duty.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 30" 34 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 48 west.

Friday Aug. 17th, 1838.

All of these 24 Hours pleasant breezes and fair weather wind N E steering S. S. W. at Daylight saw 5 sail ahead steering to the Southward one of them Bark Monmouth Smith and Ship Washington the rest unknown. Hands employed in fitting the cutting Pendants & upper and lower Block stropes.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 27" 54 North. Longitude per. watch 24" 50 west.

Saturday Aug. 18th, 1838.

Commences with moderate breezes and pleasant weather wind E. N. E steering S S. W.

middle & Latter Hours fresh breezes and squally Carpenter in fitting a new Rail.

Hands fitting cutting geer & knotting yarns.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 25" 43. North. Longitude per. watch 25" 36 west

Sunday, Aug. 19th, 1838.

All of these 24 Hours fresh breezes from the E. N. E. and fair weather steering S S W with all possible sail set.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 22" 47. North. Longitude per. watch 26" 08 west.

Monday Aug. 20th, 1838.

Commences with fresh breezes and clear wind E. N. E. steering S S. W.

middle & Latter Hours more moderate and clear squally attended with light showers of Rain Hands employed in scraping the Decks.

So ends

Latitude Obs. 19" 49. North. Longitude per. watch 26" 20 west.

Tuesday Aug. 21th, 1838.

Commences with fresh breezes and squally wind E N E steering S S. W.

middle & Latter Hours more moderate and clear the wind veering to N N. E. steered S. by W. at 10 A. M. passed a ship steering to the N W. Hands employed in knotting yarns and making spun yarn.

So ends.

Latitude Obs. 17" 35. North. Longitude per. watch 27" 00 west.

Wednesday Aug. 22th, 1838.

All these 24 Hours fresh breezes and pleasant first part wind N. N. E. steering S S W middle Hours the same Latter the wind hauled in E. by S. So ends.

Latitude Obs. 14" 37. North. Longitude per. watch 27" 40 west.