Got up at half past six, was delighted to find the wind had continued
favourable all night.
After breakfast assisted the Captain in assorting 2430 letters, many of
them double, treble, etc., besides some hundreds of parcels, with a
great many newspapers most of them Willmer & Co. Immediately, i.e. half
past eleven, a sudden squall came on, a great part of the sail was
immediately taken in--rain and much colder, also much rocking of the
ship; we have to be thankful that it has happened now, rather than in
the night and especially when nearer land. Immediately after dinner one
of the most terrible rolls we have ever had, I suppose more glasses were
broken this day than on any former one. About two we had quite a thunder
storm with very heavy rain. After dinner we went to the stern and had
the most terrible heave, and such a sea as we had never beheld before
and all this at the end of the fifth week. Sounded and found 40 fathoms,
tried to fish for cod or hollypot (halibut) but not successful.
Yesterday a calm, to-day almost a hurricane. The wind went down about
four but the sea continued rolling; in fact it must have blown harder
from some other part to have raised the sea so much.