16

12

May 31st At 5 Sighted fires and got steam up. At 7 weighed
and steamed towards the Bar 7.30 made our Pendants to HMS
Express : saw a small steamer towing out a vessel. At 9 Stopped
alongside and Commander went on board Express - returned
in half an hour and ordered us to anchor and draw the fires : he
then went on board the small steamer, came back and took the
second gig, with two days provisions &c and took a passage in
Steamer up to Rio Grande do Sul, distant about 15 miles, (as
there was not sufficient water on the bar for us to go over)
to wait on Captain Boyce of Express, Purser went with him.
Sailed a small brig for England. One of the Officers of Express came on board.
At 3 PM saw a tug coming off having in tow two gigs which we
soon made out to be our own and the Express's : Captn Boyce &
Christian went on board with the Brazilian Consul when a
Salute of seven guns was fired : at 5 Consul left when another
salute was fired: 5.15 a signal from Express to shorten in
cable and prepare for sea : at 6 Commdr & Purser came on board
up gig, weighed and made sail in Co with Express, arrived an
American Brig. Having got our anchor at the bows after making
sail the Compressor tackle fell carried away and away went
anchor and cable again at a frightful rate, very nearly losing
both : the Brig seeing it tact about and stood towards us:
we again got it up and made sail together - At 9 Express
almost out of sight astern -

Friday, June 1st 1855 At Sea. At 2 blowing fresh, single
reefed fore topsail and furled LGb sail. At 8 saw Express bearing
WNW dist 7 or 8 miles - 9 made sail - a signal on board Express
but could not make it out : a nasty cross sea running
many of our people sea sick. At noon the weather began to look
overall, and the barometer fell fast - Lost sight of Express on
our weather quarter - At 7 single reefed the fore and aft sails, secured
the guns, rose preventer braces, and hoisted the boats in -