Friday, September 13th

Dirty with a good deal of rain and a raw fog. Most of the company upset again. Hamilton practically sick, I myself and Henry eating our breakfast with fear for consequences. A shark killed last night gave us a fry for breakfast, which smelt savoury but looked dangerous. The sun at eleven o'clock has come out strong and the wind has settled into a fresh breeze with a good deal of not disagreeable motion. The company on deck fore and aft look lively. Andy called me aside this morning to speak the complaint of the single men. It seems they are condemned to clean out the filth of some of the married men, who are privileged, as constables, inspectors, &c. He thought they had more put upon them than the regulations prescribed, and I promised to speak to the Doctor about it. The Doctor has explained to me that the single men have rather less to do than they ought; and show, at any rate that he is a despot on board with the powers of the Passengers' Act at his discretion. There is, therefores page 24no use in appealing or complaining from the Doctor's fiat which, I am bound to say, is guided by the very kindliest motives. Read Fanny's chapter on deck with great pleasure.

Twelve o'clock, noon. Lat. 41.31, off Cape St Vincent. The Captain is discontented with his southward progress and compares, grumblingly, his luck upon former voyages, especially a time when he made Madeira in four days from Gravesend. Wind continued fresh till evening, not much sun; the ship's company not so lively as the night before; a good deal of lightning seen to windward.