2151_6-1-diary

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lots of rain, notwithstasnding Christian and several of the Officers went ashore. Bell split by lightning, or some other cause. In the evening, it cleared up.

February 20th Oppressively hot, fortunately scarcely any mosquitoes. All the Officers on shore again, so I had a quiet evening by myself.

February 21st As hot as ever and owing to our fat-headed commanding officer, the awnings were kept sloped. 8 Flag Lieut came off to inform the Commdr that the Admiral intended giving a Ball on board on next Monday to several of the ladies of the place. Several people came off again to see the ship. Among them as usual any quantity of Scotch. In the afternoon two ladies (query) one mined shoes and stockins. Mosquitoes bad in the evening.

February 22nd. Scarcely able to breathe and at four in the morning we had a cloud of mosquitoes off. In the forenoon Admiral came off with the Consul, and a band of Soliders, who played some very pretty tunes which were afterwards returned by our own. On the Consul leaving we saluted without any accident. In the afternoon the Admiral and Suite left for the shore; after which most of the Officers went ashore, after Divine Service had been

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performed, in which the Admiral took his part.

February 23rd No sleep for mosquitoes, and nothing to eat for breakfast. In the afternoon the Flag Lieut came on board, to say a large party of ladies were coming off with the Admiral and suite to see the ship. About half past 5, between 20 and 30 came off, when dancing commenced, and I danced into my cabin; the Admiral soon got tired and very quietly sloped on shore. The party did not go on shore till after the 8 o'clock gun had fired, leaving behind a strong odour of some scent by no means agreable. At 10 a parcel of noisy devils came off, and altho' I was shut up in my cabin, it was after one o'clock on the morning of my Birthday before I could get asleep.

+ Birth day

Tuesday Febry. 24th Got up with headache and rheumatism in both legs. Before Quarters a message came off from the Admiral for our Commander to go ashore in full dress, to pay an Official visit on General Lopez, President, and after to inspect the sails. As usual in the forenoon several strangers came off. Wrote to L, and M. At 6 PM the Admiral, American Consul and an English gent came off to dinner. Afterwards Commdr and

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Flag Lieutenant went ashore for the night.

February 25th All Officers were on board exept old Ross, who came off with the Pilot at 8. Prepared for going down the River. By 9 the Steam was up and we were on the point of weighing, when General Lopez and his Staff appeared and altho' the boats were all up the Galley was lowered & sent ashore for them, and a great display made on their embarcation: they remained some time in the Commander's Cabin, and on their leaving were saluted with 9 guns, which was speedily returned from the shore, after which we weighed and went down the River. We touched several times when going over the shallow passes, but eventually we arrived safely at St Antonio about 2.30 and commenced getting in our coals and shot; which we had left behind to lighten us on our way up. The weather being very hot and the sun searching, with very hard work, I recommended an extra issue of Spirits to all except the Gun Room Officers, which was approved of by the Admiral. As the Engineers asked for theirs, two hours after getting up steam I put a stopper on it. The men worked hard till 7 PM getting the coals and shot on board. In the evening it blew fresh, with thunder and lightning.

February 26th Commenced work at 4 am

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commenced work again. Our letters did not leave till 9 this morning. The weather very hot without a breath of wind. By 2 we had got all in, and steam up, when it came on as thick as mud in a wine glass, and it was four ere we could have, coming to an anchor again at dusk.

February 27th. Away again at daylight. The Admiral complaining of a bad leg. At noon passed the Bisson a French Steamer : got on shore two or three times but easily got her off again. At 6.30 anchored.

February 28th weighed at daylight, and steamed to Tilar where we anchored at 8.30 to take in wood for fuel. Commenced loading the boats at 9. Admiral a little better. Discharged the Pilot and fired a gun for another one. By eleven we had the wood on board and made another start anchoring at 2 off Umita a strongly fortified place: we did not remain there 10 minutes, and on leaving had the Band up, and went down the River, and at 6 PM ran ashore, and remained there till 11 when we got her off. No Saturday night.

Sunday March 1st At Corrientes. At 6 weighed and went down the River, anchoring at Corrientes a little after 7. The weather extremely hot. At 10.30 went to Divisions, inspected decks, and performed Divine Service. After dinner gave liberty to the men till 8. In the afternoon invitations came off to all the Officers for a Bal Masqué, and at 9

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several of them went, and I went to bed.

March 2nd At 8.30 shortned in cable, when a whole lot of fellows came on board, among them my old friend the German Doctor. I fired a gun and hoisted the Blue Peter. One of the Bandmen on shore and the Corporal in chase of him., he however came off without finding him, when we weighed and went on our course. A little before dusk we came to one of the shoal passes and anchored for the night, when the mosquitoes came off in clouds.

Birth Day 3rd At 6.30 weighed and went on: at 8 passed Bella Vista. At noon passed a schooner going down the River. Shortly after sunset came to an anchor, close to the shore, when the mosquitoes came off in such myriads, that it was impossible to have any rest either on deck or below. I tried a pipe, I might just as well have whittled: I had taken the precaution to close my door & window so that when I went into my cabin at 11 PM I could only hear the buzz of one, but the heat was terrible. Slept well, till I heard them getting steam up, where I turned out at 5.30 and as soon as I opened my cabin door a regular rush was made in and I found some difficulty in shaving from the myriads of stingers.

March 4th At daylight commenced work, and before six we were steaming down the river for Parana: at sunset came to fair anchor.

March 5th Weighed at daylight, and by eight AM