The Stabler Family

a good library of 150 volumes we cannot read -- the chefs boards all lie idle -- and the cars are trumped -- walking is tiresome lying still more so -- and talking is a thing of nought -- the only resource is to sleep it off - as to writing, it is too [much?} for any body to undertake [?] to avoid the pilory or whipping post which is about equivilent to being lashed up to the yard arms. 2nd day 25th Lat by observ. this day 41° 7' A dead calm nearly all the morning -- 2 large whates spouting (see by the captain) about a mile from us -- a little breeze about two o clock - a school of black fish - somewhat similar to the whale or grampus - a large fin on the the back and from 10 to 20ft from snout to tail -- some of them very near the ship. For the want [drawing of fish] of something better to do --- as the calm was so complete that the [?] actually went backwards

derive their name — but it would not take — Lat to day 41° 51 — A slight breeze at night and we begin to for from 3 to 4 miles pH^r [but bring] abt makes her roll _

5th day 28th

Quite a bresse this morning & which gives us pitching for rolling which is far preferable _ I have just discoverd that my birth is in about the worse place in the whole ship * discoved it by walking on the deck _ and when I got over my sky light _ when the Ship is pitching it seems as if it shrank from underneath the feet. — rainy_wet_damp weather to day — the sea runs high (fine mild weather) and we run faster than 9 of 10 knots to the N — several of us Sea sick again – I feel a little conscientiously scrupulous about the matter but not eno to part with what I have taken to fill the blanks between bone & skin _ A ship in sight to day.

Lat 43, 51

* & so dark that I can seldom write well

[2 nd?]

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

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

Saltees -- quite a breeze at 10 o clock crafting us at the rate of 7 knots

- Many sea sick but I feel not a symptom yet. -- passed the brig that came out before us bound to Bston. J W Miller [??] the "Lady Mary" sick - sick = - a fine wind, taking us out of the channel. - Barometer is [??] to 31 1/2 from 30 1/2 - [Therm] - 65 [degree sign] - Passd Waterford Harbour & tht Dungarvon Hills about 12 --

2nd day 6th Passed Cape Clear at 4 o clock this afternoon --

Stewardess Margaret -- thrown into [con??sious] by the sea sickness -- "Lady Mary" Also : -- slight wind to night. then sick getting better steering W N W. Sat 51[degree sign] [??] 5' Long 9[degree sign] 21' ??? (??)

Nothing further of consequence

3rd day Mornig 7th.

Lat 51[degree symbol] 7 Long 12 [degree symbol] 28' - a fine School of porpoises this morning -- a Shark following the Ship -- ?? overhauled the "Addison" [shorthand] which left the dock this morning we got out, and went to sea. - passed her about 11 oclock [Spoke] and held some "confab" with her.

A fine sight truly to go along side & side for some time and See a ship under sail - rising and falling with the Swell. - - paid us some compliments for our fast sailing - asked us to report her and bid us adieu with a "continuance to the breeze": - When She got to the windward exactly of as it appeard to take all from our sails and they flapped as if in a calm -- it was still and quiet -- getting out of her lea our sails filled and away we shot ahead going

8 or 9 knots the hour this afternoon

4th day 8th Mo 8th' 27

- The wind continued all night but right a head this morning. - The Maid "Bowker" with fits this morning - "Lady" in also - - Nothing of note through this day --

5th day 9th. Came on squalls and blows - one this afternoon carried off our fore top gallant mast - It was quite odd to see her thus dismantled - in a short time all things were arranged and the Carpenter at work making another. The greatest pitching and rolling this evening that I have yet seen at sea -- [??] S W 6th day 10th. A heavy sea this moring and a head of us - the deck can scarcely be walked at all And from the best estimae I can make the sea min 25 ft in height. A [??] gale - carried away same of the bowling and had to reef some of the sails: The Addison in sign again

Horizon was limited to a few hundred yards - and it look'd more like a field of Snow drifts and drifting, than an expanse of fluid = The roar of the waves, and the wind through the shrouds would Some times nearly resemble distant thunder.

3rd day 14th — Out storm has cleared — a slight wind to day but a heavy Sea - nothing to remark except the Storm sick are better — except the Stewardess who appears as if she must die from [???] -

4th day 15th. Latitude 47[degree sign]5' Long 32[degree sign] 21' — Nothing particular occured to day - the same listless routine of Cards and Oaths and nonsense [servent?] fill up the time.

5th day 16th A fine breeze all this forenoon. — heavy squalls of rain after which the Sea would appear beaten down which I suppose may be in part occasioned by the heavy rains as well as contrary winds quite foamy on the waves which

Set at 1/2 past 12 — The Sea often broke over [thee?] before but did no material injury except giving some of the Sailors wet jackets and shirts —Great betting now as to when we are to reach out port.

4th day 29th Last night about ten their was a most extraordinary appearance in the Heavens:- It was clear and from a slight thin cloud there was brilliant bow of light shot a cross from East to West nearly over our heads which Continued for Some time — and thought to be occasioned by the Northern lights —

At 1/2 past 12 oclock the [Inate?] haled meto come on deck again to look at the Aurora Borealis which was indeed splendidly beautiful.

[sketch of the lights shooting from the clouds]