Thursday March 15th
Lat. 42º 55' Long. 53º 38' All drawing sails set. Running WSW. The sky, water, and clouds wore the same appearance as at the night. In same Lat. Most of the day was pleasant and calm. The sea was remarkably smooth after such a heavy blow. All wore happy continences once more to see pleasant weather and amused themselves in various sports. Many was the guess that we should be along while in getting round Cape Horn.
Friday March 16th
In Lat. 43º 46' Longitude 54º 41. Commenced with a strong breeze from the NW. Indications of another blow. Going ten knots. At ten double reefed topsails. At 12 o'clock shook them out again and drove along at a rapid rate. Rained pretty much all day. Cleared off towards night. Set top gallant sails etc. At midnight it blew pretty fresh. Clewed up top gallants. Set them again.
Saturday March 17th 1849
In Lat. 45º 29' Long. 54º 58'. All drawing sails out. Going along briskly. Steering SW by W. Wind NNW. Steering W so as to get inside of the Falkland Is. which lay at noon about SW of us six degrees. Pleasant all day, but rather chilly. Toward night greatcoats were very comfortable. At dusk saw a ship about seven miles off, to appearances bound N on our larboard beam. This was a pleasant sight as we had not seen one for some time. Land would be rather pleasanter. Considerable sea weed of the kelp kind was seen today, and the water wearing a very ... was signs of land at no great distance.
Sunday March 18th
In Lat. 46º 43' Long. 58º 12'. This was the third good sailing day in succession. Wind NW. Running all night nearly W at the rate of ten knots, making in ten hours 98 miles. This was capital, but we were not in farther enough yet The wind hauled more to the SW at noon. To clear the most westerly point and have a fair run, we tacked ship at noon and ran WNW, rather a discouraging course but all for the best.
Had religious services today. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Benton on the gold of man. Well delivered and discussed. The meeting well attended.
We are now fast approaching that dreaded Cape within four days of good sailing of it. All are looking for rough weather and expect to meet it. Heavy winds rise and fall so that the sails are clewed up and down two or three times a day. All are very anxious to weather the Cape as soon as possible as it is growing cold. All manner of speculation is made on the time going round. All seem to be in good spirits having run well for the last three days. We have one consolation , that of having a good ship, and if we do not get round quick and safe, it will be no fault of us. With a good crew, a good craft, and above all a good commander we are bound to make a speedy trip round Cape Horn with favorable winds.Chapter
Monday March 19th
In Lat. 46º 43' Long. 59º 50'. Commenced with a fair breeze from the W. Lasted all day and night. Very pleasant. Saw a spar and topmast float by in the afternoon. Making but little headway on account of a heavy tide setting ENE. Yesterday, the 15th, the Capt. proposed to some of the men the idea of putting about fifty men ashore on Patagonia and let them cross by land to Valparaiso. A majority were wise enough to take the joke, but some were weak enough to be in favor of the foolish project and showed themselves by drawing up a paper to that effect and signing it.
Tuesday March 28th
In Lat. 47º 56 Long. 62º 59. Commenced squally. Looked like another S. Wester. Tack ship and ran W by N. At ten under double reef topsails . At 12 o'clock took in all but close reef main topsail, spencer and foretop staysail. Wind SW, blowing a gale. Not so hard as the last though, but a much heavier sea. Saw a barque laying to about five miles off at 11 P.M. Set close reefed topsails and foresails, the wind having abated some and hauled more W.
Wednesday March 21st
In Lat. 47º 53' Long. 63º 20' Commenced with a fair breeze from the W. Put ship on the other tack about six. Discovered the ship we probably saw the day before about three miles ahead on the same course with us. Set every inch of canvas and was within three hours alongside within hailing distance. She proved to be the bark Elvira who sailed with an assorted cargo and twelve passengers about a fortnight before we did from Boston. This was cheering and exciting. She carried all the sail she could but we smashed along by her like a race horse and left her, by three PM., four miles astern. After which having a light breeze she gained on us. By seven the wind shifted SSE. Tacked ship. Running pretty much all night SW by W.
Next Week Sunday March 2: Cape Horn