209 
me sea-sick. While labouring under this unpleasant sensation* 
it is difficult to conceive how men can expose themselves to the 
dangers of the sea* while there is a comfortable house and quiet 
bed at home. But scarcely is it over* or scarcely have we put 
foot on shore before all these inconveniences are forgotten* and 
one thinks little of embarking again. The sea gradually became 
more still* the weather charmingly warm* and an awning was 
spread over a part of the deck* under which we collected* and 
even the ladies* who had slowly recovered from sea-sickness* 
joined us* to breathe the fresh air. In the evening, we were re¬ 
galed with music; one of the steerage passengers blew tolerably 
well on the bugle* amused his companions therewith, and we 
listened to his strains at a distance. There was some musical 
talent among ourselves; a young Scotch gentleman from Jamaica* 
named Leslie* played elegantly on the flute* and often delighted 
us. Several water birds followed our ship; it is a species of bird 
resembling a swallow* called petrel* and termed mother Carey’s 
chickens by sailors* who say that they never alight upon land, 
and as their nests are not readily found* it is hard to tell where 
they propagate. A large vessel, which we supposed to be 
either the Edward Quesnell or the John Wells* followed con¬ 
stantly in our wake; but our heavy press of sail kept us always 
in advance. It is a matter of surprise, how such a large quan¬ 
tity of sail can be managed by so few hands* for we had but fif¬ 
teen sailors and two boys; however* the steerage passengers were 
obliged to lend a hand to the manoeuvres on deck; there were 
thirteen of these on board; they are similar to the deck passen¬ 
gers in the steam-boats; they pay but little* provide their own 
provisions* and are narrowly lodged in a small place below decks* 
near the fore-mast* and are not allowed* unless when working, 
to show themselves abaft the mainmast* inasmuch as this place is 
solely reserved for the cabin passengers. On board our vessel* 
the sailors slept in quarters provided for them on the deck* be¬ 
tween the fore-mast and the bowsprit. 
During the whole of the 28th of June we were favoured with 
a prosperous breeze and fine weather. Our situation was* by a 
midday observation* 40° 3' latitude, and 65° 4 f longitude. Since 
yesterday we had seen grass floating close to the ship. Thence 
we concluded that we had already entered the favouring Gulf 
Stream. The awning was again spread. Mrs. Cabell and Miss 
Marx, who had recovered by degrees from their indisposition, 
presented themselves to-day upon deck, and made a considerable 
change in the tedious uniformity of our late mode of living. In 
the evening Mr. Leslie brought his flute, and delighted us with 
music; finally* we began to dance on deck, although from the 
motion of the ship it did not succeed well. 
Vol. II. 27 
