Passed another good night, and rose at half past six. Found we had been
making about 5 knots an hour; three ships in sight; read before
breakfast one of Cobbett's sermons "On hypocrisy." In the forenoon two
sermons from Chalmers's "Discourses on Commercial Integrity." One of the
steerage passengers read from the Scriptures and commented sensibly,
but he was laughed at by some graceless Irishmen. In the afternoon Mr.
Hopkins proposed to address the passengers. After reading about the
talents he proceeded to speak of the Bible as the oldest and best Book.
Paine, he said, had denounced it as a forgery, but various authors had
mentioned the N.T. Burnett had quoted Lord Clarendon: the Old Testament
was much older and was so called at the time the New Testament was
published; the difficulty of procuring a copy before the art of
printing, if the best, each should strive to get a copy, also read it
and understand it, but above all practice it; not to be compared with a
library even extending across the Atlantic, because the one only treated
of this world, the other of that to come. Read three more of Channing's
"Sermons," one fully proving self interest to be the foundation even of
our best actions. After tea had a long chat respecting girls, etc. About
ten went on deck, a most beautiful moonlight night; a nice breeze which
we enjoyed much, after the calm day; more surprising considering the
equinox.