Diary: James P. Stabler, 1827 (Volume 4)

[front cover of book]

Return voyage

Passengers. -- Hon. John Walpole Willis, Lady Mary Willis, Mrs. Mary Willis, Miss Jane Willis, Master Robert Bruce Willis, and 3 servants; James Cucheral, attached to the Legation of the U. S.; Mrs. Eliza Plowman, Master John Plowman, Ireland; Miss Mary Francis, James Barney, Birmingham; Samuel Rhodes, Yorkshire; John Dunlop, London; James P. Stabler, Maryland; Isaac B. Burrows and servant, Penn; Charles Jones, Thomas Wardle, Philadelphia; George Howe, Wm. S. Bird, Henry B. Rogers, Samuel P. Blake, Rev. Jonas King, Boston; Samuel Butcher, Robert Campbell Maywood and daughter, Thomas Toole, Jun. Ezra C. Read, Benjamin H. Folger, Master Wm. P. Wainwright, New-York

Vol. 4th The Return Voyage.

On 4th day afternoon as has been "recorded", our fruitless attempt was made to get out of Dock but failing that, I remained on board the ship that y night being the only passenger and the steward going off I took command of the Gallant Pacific a little like the man who hid himself under the table and resisted the orders of his [??] to come out and receive the broomstick, declaring he "would let her see that he would be master of his own house." - (J. E.) I locked the cabin door and went below to indulge the luxury of a little lovely quiet. -- I was soon in a doze, but was aroused by the [shorthand] [shorthand]. The next morning about four o clock we cleared the dock, - lighted a fire (a thing forbidden in the dock) and and having cast anchor about 2 miles below the Town, got a [[??]] solus except the mate & Pilot [shorthand] [shorthand].. Here we remained till

Evening about five when the passengers came down in a Steamer - and having got all on board, with the aid of another steamer to tow us, weigh'd Anchor, and had a run of five to ten minutes when the wind turned "dead a head" and away went the anchor, and the steamer cleared out - -- On 6th day Morning the 3rd at six o clock two steamers came down and having raised ther Anchor again attempted to get out with the assistance of towing but owing to the carelessness of one of the engineers the works got out of order and she got entangled with our contraptions - broke our lower foremast steering sail booms and her bow sprits shorn off. -- -- She then made tracks, and the other boat attempted to tow us; but, we being heavy laden and the Steamer small - that scheme was blown up and the anchor was again let go - The wind W S W quite fresh and a head sea right in our teeth. [shorthand] While one of the steamers was nigh us, had an opportunity of observing his "wind sail" to ventilate the cabin - [shorthand]

The boat having to go on shore [??] sand some of the passengers went with it - and at one of the trips I ventured to take a peep at the rocks - sand - shells &c. &c. within the neighbourhood of the Fort which is building on the rock, then within half a mile of the Pacific.. --

In the evening at ^the 6 o clock tide we again weighed anchor, the wind S S E and passed the "rock" & "red [?]oses" [...] - The cry of "under quarter 4 -- "and half 5 -- 1/4 less six. Under half 7 -- By the mark 8 - by the deep nine &c. on heaving the lead brought most of us on deck -- when that ceased, immediate danger seem'd to be over -- The Pilot left us about nine o clock

7th day morning 8 mo 4th quite a breese this morning - and to make half the passengers sea sick -- pass'd Holyhead about 8 o clock -- Off Bardsey Island the the "breeze" begining to leave us. --

1st day 8 mo 5th. -- ?

At four o clock passed thru Tusker light house -- at 8 the