February 19, 1846 ~ Thursday

19^th We have still head wind but vary
strong it is much warmer this morn[in]g
I was quite unwell this morning
The wind increased to A strong gale at
9 oclock they were oblieged to put the ship
nearly under bare poles left nothing up but
closs roeef top reef main top sail And one gib
the sun shone most of the day & it don not
look possible for the wind to blow so hard
According to the looks of the weather, but
it continued to blow a strong gale through the
day yet we were in hops the wind would lay
at sun set but we were disappointed And
the edge of the evening showed us we must
be prepared for a most dismal night the gale
was from the North West & clouds now began
to rise from that quarter black as ink & rose in
the Heavens with Awful majesty And terrific
fury the gale immediately increased to A Hurrican
which lasted through the night which was
the longest & most dismal night I ever spent
at sea we are truly experiencing A passage of
the roughest class. I knew we were in a ship
of the strongest class And my hope is wholly
in that God who has carried me through all
gangers [dangers] thus far in life. The wind & waves
increased & continued to spend there fury upon
us amid the darkness of the night we were
shiping some heavy seas when about 11 oclok
A heavy sea rolled over us the main body of
which buried the Aft quarter deck As it passed
Along it stopve to peases the compass house washed
it against two amen at the wheel it smashed
the wheel that governs the helm came near
washing the men overboard it dashed the window
of the first cabin & water poured into

February 19, 1846 ~ Thursday

19th We have still head wind but vary strong it is much warmer this morning I was quite unwell this morning The wind increased to A strong gale at 9 oclok they were oblieged to put the ship nearly under bare poles left nothing up but closs reef main top sail And one gib the sun shone most of the day & it does not look possible for the wind to blow so hard According to the looks of the weather, but it continued to blow a strong gale through the day yet we were in hops the wind would lay at sun set but we were disappointed And the edge of the evening showed us we must be prepared for a most dismal night the gale was from the North West & clouds now began to rise from that quarter black as ink & rose in the Heavens with Awful majesty And terrible fury the gale immediately increased to A Hurrican which lasted through the night which was the longest & most dismal night I ever spent at sea we are truly experiencing A passage of the roughest class. I knew we were in a ship of the strongest class And my hope is wholly in that God who has carried me through all dangers thus far in life. The wind & waves increased & continued to spend there fury upon us amid the darkness of the night we were shiping some heavy seas when about 11 oclok A heavy sea rolled over us the main body of which buried the Aft quarter deck As it passed Along it stove to peases the compass house washed it against two men at the wheel it smashed the wheel that governs the helm came near washing the men overboard it dashed the window of the first cabin & water poured into