4 



A DIARY OF THE 



sion, till the 6th and 7th of JNIay f when we ex- 

 perienced a severe gale off the entrance of the 

 Straits of Magellan, and under the double-reefed 

 courses, which was as much sail as the masts 

 and yards would bear ; and, in a long high sea, 

 the good qualities of the ship called forth the 

 undivided praise of all on board. 



May 17. — In latitude 41°, and longitude 

 80° 43^ w., the weather appeared to have under- 

 gone a change for the better. The barometer, 

 which had been for several weeks very low, now 

 rose to the height usually shown on the coasts of 

 Peru, and the northern parts of the coast of 

 Chili ; and many were the mutual congratulations 

 exchanged on board, on our having at length got 

 into fine moderate weather, securing, as we con- 

 ceived the ultimate object in view, that of ar- 

 riving at the port of Concep9ion, then only two 

 days' sail in distance from us. Good observations 

 were obtained on this day, the results of which 

 were found to agree closely with our estimation 

 as shown by the dead reckoning. The top- 

 gallant masts were sent aloft, together with the 

 studding-sail booms, and a variety of gear, which, 

 during our stormy weather, had been sent on deck 

 to relieve the masts and ship 5 and all the necessary 



