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Tuesday Nov 29. 1859
Begins with strong gales with
passing clouds. At 2 AM took in T.Gal sails & Outer
Jibb. At 9 AM set T.Gal sails. Passed a long
ship from South. Wind moderates in PM to easy
breezes. Employed putting on chafing gear &c.

It is a beautiful sight to meet a ship at
sea. First in the line distance a point almost
of white appears. And so soon that it seems
like magic the noble ship is before us in all
its beauty. its tapering masts careening with the
breeze, its thousand ropes, its white wings: it
seems a thing of life almost & as a thing of
life it passes away & in one short hour she is
beyond our view beneath the horizon. And
sometimes as I see a noble ship thus
plowing her way, I wonder if she is homeward
bound and hearts are beating with high
hopes of soon meeting loved ones? If so
theirs is almost an envious lot, while
we must pursue our long & weary
way across the ocean to a foreign