78 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL - 



the orders of the Company as to his pr9ceeding to sea, not knowing how 

 far he might be justified in his present circumstances : 14 inches of water in 

 the hold. 



Wednesday, 28th. — Very pleasant; thermometer at midday 73°. 

 Passed Dover. Towards evening almost calm. 



Thursday, 2dth. — Passed Dungeness, having a very favourable breeze ; 

 at noon a perfect calm ofi the Isle of Wight. The vessel being in much 

 better condition than was anticipated, the captain abandoned the idea of 

 putting in at Portsmouth and would go to sea at daylight. The vessel 

 made only 2 inches of water during the last twenty-four hours. From the 

 appearance of the sky it must have been a very warm day on shore. 

 Thermometer at eight o'clock this morning 57°, at twelve 73° — at eight 

 in the evening 64°. 



Friday, 30th. — ^A light air of wind sprung up at midnight, and before 

 dayhght the Portland hghts were observed. Middle of the day calm and 

 warm (thermometer at 70°). At noon fine wind, which continued during 

 the night. 



Saturday, July 31st. — Morning cool, accompanied with rain ; mid- 

 day warm and dry. Passed the Lizard at eleven o'clock. In the afternoon 

 a strong wind from the south, with intervening showers of rain. At twelve 

 o'clock the thermometer was 62° ; at 4 p.m., 57°. In the evening our 

 delightful view of the rocky shores of Cornwall closed. 



Sunday, August 1st. — ^During the night strong wind from the north- 

 east with heavy showers of rain ; at eight this morning the sun broke 

 through and I had an observation ; 8° west longitude. Towards afternoon 

 wind moderate, and pleasant in the evening. Passed a schooner at four 

 o'clock. During the whole of our progress down Channel only saw about 

 fifty gulls and a few other sea-birds. Thermometer at five in the evening 

 at 66°. Our scenery, sky and water, but in these a great variety is seen. 

 At night when there is a gentle ruf3.ing on the water the Medusae, Physalae 

 and other zoophytes giving oS their phosphoric or Uluminating particles 

 over a vast expanse of water produce a very fine eSect. 



Monday, August 2nd. — ^Very pleasant, favourable wind from the north, 

 lighter at noon, freshened again in the evening. Lat. 47° north. Long. 

 11° west. Thermometer 63° in the water and 67° exposed to the air. 



August 3rd. — ^Wind from the north, rather cold (thermometer 62° at 

 twelve o'clock) ; sun visible. Lat. 45° 32' Long. 12° 43'. A year has 

 elapsed to-day since I arrived at Staten Island, near New York. It was 

 warm and pleasant, and afiorded gratification after a tedious passage of 

 fifty-seven days from Liverpool. Is there anything in the world more 

 agreeable to the feehngs of a prisoner than hberty ? Saw only two birds, 

 resembling gulls ; they seemed shy. 



August 4.th. — Wind the same as yesterday, course south-west : seven 

 miles, at an average, all day. Sun visible, Lat. 41° 38', Long. 14° 12' ; 

 thermometer 68° at twelve o'clock, in the shade. 



Thursday, August 5th. — ^Wind from the north, very pleasant ; warm 

 during the middle of the day, with a fanning breeze, succeeded by a cool 

 damp in the evening. Thermometer 74°. 



