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task of punishment preparing for Christmas dinner
Made it Saturday night and turned in early.

Sunday December 23rd At Sea. At 3 am ware
and stood in for the land. 9.30 went to Divisions,
inspected ship, and performed Divine Service - At 3
Commander dined with us in the Gun Room

December 24th Made sail running in for the land,
at 3.30 came to an anchor in 5 fathoms, furled sails.
In the evening had a game at Snap Dragon and afterwards,
cold whiskey Punch in the middle of which I
was sent for - on the lower deck, and there found a man
had been beaten by three others, and was bleeding profusely
from the nose; after making him all right I
returned to the GR, where the Punch was going on, and
singing was kept up till 2 am

Tuesday December 25th XMas day-
9.30 went to Divisions, but had no Divine Service
and gave leave to some men who wished to go away
fishing in the dingy: 11.30 made it seven bells, and
smoked: Commdr very seedy and sulky. Making great
preparations for Xmas dinner: thought more about dear L
than all our French Cook could produce - Noon shifted
tables, wine chest, side board &c and laid out a table for
dining ten: 4 P.M. dinner was on the table and
all seemed to enjoy it: after the removal of the cloth
the Queen was drank, and many other toasts followed
and after coffee we went on deck to smoke, and there
found a procession formed, accompanied by a band
of music, and a chair, on which we were all carried
round the deck, and on being put down again, three