Tuesday, March 11th

Drizzly morning—some heavy rain before eight o'clock, but turned out a fine and very hot day, with little or no wind. Mr Hewlings, one of the Surveyors, came about surveying Quail Island, saying he was ready to commence operations. The yawl was not ready for launching, the paint being not quite dry. The sail was being bent on the bolt-ropes, and Andy was lettering the name, 'Lass of Erin—Quail Island' on the stern board. Wortley took me a trip in his new boat to the Isabella Kercus. She, Wortley's boat, seems likely to be page 147a useful and money making concern; he has two capital hands to manage her. The Isabella seemed dirty and close smelling—so unlike the Charlotte Jane. She was rolling grievously at her anchor. The white cow has adopted a strange calf, which follows her and sucks her all day; consequently we get no milk from her in the evening. Half of our customers have been thereby grievously disappointed of milk this morning and this evening. Came to a settlement today with Crawford. Turnbull very ill indeed today, and mismanaged by the doctor's assistant, who gave him a wrong and too strong a dose. This evening there is a good deal of lightning, with wind from S.W., and promise of more rain.