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36 getting ready for Sea : a heavy swell setting in from the SEward, dispensary all afloat: 9 sent a boat for Commdr At noon a large French Ship went out : heard from the Commdr a strange account of the appearance of some retained people from the Gold Diggings an old rusty man and his wife apparently paupers going home with £25,000 - Sighted fires and got steam up, weighed and went out of the roadstead: French Barque went out under all sail : at 5 let the fires go out and made sail steering to the Northward. August 23rd Running to the Nward with Stinsails let : exercise the watch at Gun drill. At 2 we were abreast of Rio Grande do Norte, when we tacked and stood to the Sward : in the evening played at Whist in the cabin- August 24th At 7 passed a large ship running to the Eward 9 excercise at General Quarters - A large sick list but all trifling cases - After evening Quarters exercised shifting fare topsail on hoisting the sail carried away foretopsail yard sent the yard down and an other up - In the evening played Whist in the cabin - 10 a strong breeze, tacked and stood off the land - August 25th Strong breeze from the Sward with a nasty cross chop of a sea - Cleaned ship throughout: In the afternoon saw two vessels running to the Nward Sunday August 20th At Sea. A strong breeze and unpleasant jump of a sea- 3 Commdr dined with us. Went to bed very early - August 27th The same sort of weather, my sick list decreasing. In the afternoon the breeze freshened, when we took in a reef of foretopsail - Passed a sail running to the W. August 28th Very squally, with occasional showers of rain and a nasty sea running, passed a Brigantine and a