William B. Hadden diary, 1865.

broade darkness keeped it from our sights greatly

5th we are still sailing at our usual speed. Sea very Calm plenty of Sails up + full of wind, every man singing blow ye winds, your pleasant Tails, + fill our white + bonny Sails. we went over the distance of 250 Miles this 24 hours.

6th bad luck to the Man on the [Ballace?] today for the wind has almost died away + we are rolling about upon a calm Sea. but there is a black Cloud on our Larbord side + we aspect a breze from it we are now sailing s.w. by w + 1/2 that is our proper direction until we round the Cape- every ones countenance is very distraced like to day in consequence of the wind leaving us, their anxious gaze over the bulwarks, would make the stoper of the winds have compation on them, + again feed their wishes with full sails.

While gazing over the Bulwarks, there appered a shole of small black fish leping our from amongst the waters, shortly after a very large Whale appered coming after them + every few seconds appering half above the water, she must have been about half as large as the ship a very large shark was also seen sailing beside our ship, + showing at times her bally.-

7th I only say with the [regrate?] of every one that our sailing this last 24- hours has not [illegible?] 100 Miles, but we have got out of the Tropics for some time, Today at 10 1/2 we had Church Serrvice as usuall, yesterday we had alot of [?] + Strong sails put up, I belive that is the Custome before coming into the Cape Seas as they are generley very rough, but I do not think that we will have worse than we have hade, I cannot keep from laughing at the [Restive?] opinions of some of our passangers, yet they are to be pitied, they know no better, as their education has been neglected, Some would come up + say as respectfull as they could good morning Sergeant, when will we get home do you think, will we reach England in a fortnight do you think, I replied we will not do that my good fellow, we have about 18,000 Miles yet, + may be lie exposed to Calms + Storms, with a Sigh he would say well I am quite knocked about hear, [hungred?], + my grog stoped for nothing, [diesent?] that [illegible?] all, and the worst is there is a fine blooming young Girl like to to make two hearts into one about my delay, + god knowed I cannot go [illegible?] for no life of me, When did you know thy [far one?]

you so much admire, oh, about 11 years ago he said, will [?] I [illegible?] you labour [illegible?] a very dreary abode, do you expect to return + find the girl as young looking + fond hearted as when you left, or do you that the same girl will find in you the same man that left England + has Served 10 years under the burning Sun of India, believe me that although you do not know any difference yourself, your relatives will find it on your return, I will give you an advice an old Man once gave me, it was as follows

Sow not your seed in [?] Land Nor put your trust in [weave?] Nor Ride upon an Elephant For the [?] of your [Gaze?]

All this passes very well + very amusing when all is well + gay, but there is a time when sorrow sprades her wings over us + stands between us + the Sun of pleasure for a time, a Man of the 51st Regt. was taken badly shortly after coming on board with Desentrey, he Died about 8 1/2 o'c P.M. + was buried in the deep at 1. o.c following Morning. he

was [swept?] up in a [?] a large stone with him was layed on a few boards aracted for the purpose at the gangway, funerall service rode, in the Military fashon he there was committed to the watree grave, poor man he had undergone 2 Campanes, + endured the hard- -ships of the climate + dangers, + this far on his way home to see his people and had to part with his existance about 1000 Miles from the Cape of Good Hope, I is God who ordaines the things + we only may say that we hope God has taken from a world of many troubles to one whoes skies are Celestial + [?] the servents of God.

8th very slight winds today, scarcely sailing 60 Miles in 24 hours, but before Night I hope a breeze will come + send us over the waters a little farther about 4 o.c P.M. one of our [Stansal?] Booms was broken by to hard pulling

9th about one o.c. A.M. the wind brisked up + sent our ship along at a rate of about 7 or 8 Notes per hour, when we rose in the Morning how bright were every mans countinance as their eyes beheld the bonny sails [illegible?] + the ship speeding along so [rapidethy?], the Sailors are busy today preparing new [Stansale?] boom + new

sails for the stormy weather, but night the man who died + committed to the bosoms of the mighty Deep, his Kitt was [?], + Solid, exceedingly dear, especly Tobaco, Today the weather is inclined to be squally, + showery, but we [?] but little as long as the wind continues towards night a ship appered in our front + before dark we was opsite her although a good bit distant, she was signilised + answered with the Union jack She apparently was sailing towards the [Mareshons?], the wind [illegible?] towards night, but by 10.o.c. P.M. the brease commenced to freshen + by 10 it was sending us along at the rate of 8 or 9 Miles per hours.

10th Still a strong wind but almost ahead of us, heavy showers of wind + Rain encomposed us, flashes of lightning + Rores of thunder was flashing + Roring round us, the Rain fall in very heavy drops, in fackt it was a [?] powers. + 2 Minutes is quite suficiend to wet one to the skin grait grumbling amongst the men about their rations as the ship company hyes to serve them out short we have a very [illegible?]

11th Today we have the heavest sea that has been since we came on board. Loss + [Sixth?] [illegible?]