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PORTER’S JOURNAL, 
around to the westward, blowing fresh, with thick weather, and it 
was with difficulty we were enabled to weather the dangerous 
shoals of Chincoteague. On the morning of the 29th, the wind 
hauled around to the westward, and increased to a gale. Got the 
ship under snug sail, and secured our masts, by setting up the 
rigging, which, being new, had stretched considerably. The ship 
being very deep, we found her unusually laboursome and uncom¬ 
fortable: her straining, occasioned by her deep rolling, opened 
her water-ways, and kept the birth-deck full of water, damaged 
a great deal of our provisions stowed on it, and wet all the bed* 
ding and clothes of the crew; found also the coal-hole full of 
water; found a leak somewhere between the cut-water and stem, 
but in other respects found the ship tight; for, after scuttling the 
birth-deck and bulk-head of the coal-hole, found we could easily 
keep her free by pumping a few minutes every two hours. 
Previous to leaving the river, the crew had been put on al¬ 
lowance of half a gallon of water each man per day; and being 
desirous of making our provisions hold out as long as possible, 
having views, at the same time, with regard to the health of the 
crew, I caused the allowance of bread to be reduced one half, and 
issued in lieu of the remainder half a pound of potatoes, or the 
same quantity of apples. Every other article of provisions was 
reduced one third, excepting rum, of which the full allowance 
was served out raw to the cook of each mess (the crew being di¬ 
vided into messes of eight, and a cook being allowed to each), 
who were accountable for the faithful distribution of it. For the 
undrawn provisions the purser’s steward was directed to issue 
due-bills, with assurances on my part that they should be paid 
the amount on our arrival in port. Orders were given to lose no 
opportunity of catching rain-water for the stock, of which we had 
a large quantity on board, every mess in the ship being supplied 
with pigs and poultry. The allowance of candles was reduced 
one half, and economy established respecting the consumption of 
wood and the expenditure of the ship’s stores. Habits of cleanli¬ 
ness and care with respect to clothing were strongly recommend¬ 
ed to the officers and crew. I now gave a general pardon for all 
offences committed on board; recommended the strictest atten- 
