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Note 1. This gives me an opportunity to say that besides this Jolly-boat we have also a long boat on the middle of the ship, which will serve to carry us in safety in case that the ship is wrecked.

In the evening towards six o'clock, we thought we perceived something at a little distance from us. The Captain thinking it might be an excellent fish, again ordered the Jolly-boat to descend. Whilst three sailors, among whom was the second mate (2) were descending into the boat, a cord broke and the boat tumbled. The mate dexterously sized another cord and got happily upon deck. The two other sailors fell with the boat, but they suffered no harm. The boat was half full of water. The Captain hastened to procure for them a bucket to empty it. All was quickly done, and the mate having descended again by means of another cord, they set themselves in pursuit of the prey which was already at a great distance. The Captain observed them with his telescope, and having seen them hook it, said that the fish was taken and that tomorrow we should make a good dinner of it. When the sailors had returned, they deposited, on the boo-by-hatch, not the excellent fish which the Captain was so kind as to promise us, but in effect a piece of wood surrounded with vermin or little insects. Each of us wished to know what kind of wood it was, and each having examined and smelled it by turns, pretended to know it. It is, said one, of a cherry tree. No, said another, it is of a walnut tree. Oh! how ignorant you are! said a third; No, it cannot be either a cherry tree or a walnut tree, it is cedar. Yes, a cedar, I tell you so in truth. His opinion got the advantage and we were obliged to agree to it.

Note 2. The Captain has two mates with him. The one is aged, the other young. The former acts with a great deal of prudence and never plays: the latter, on the contrary, in spite of his wisdom, laughs often and sometimes amuses us with his tales. It is of him I speak above.

Friday, July the 12th. I had told M. Gallaudet yesterday evening that this day would not be as fine as the two preceding. He asked me how I would know that. I answered him I was half a prophet. Indeed, my prediction was true, for the whole day was rainy, windy, cold and fine by turns. In the evening our Jolly- boat went some distance on the sea, but it took nothing.

Saturday, July the 13th. In the morning we discovered at a great distance before us, a ship which we supposed to be an English ship. We looked at it with our telescope to see whether it went from or whether it came toward us, and we ascertained that it held the same course with us. At noon, it rained apace but it was only a shower. In the evening, as soon as we had supped, we overtook the snip we had perceived in the morning. It was a Scotch ship sailing from Greenock to Quebec. It was full of persons of each sex. When we were over against it we had a little conversation together. The two captains reciprocially spoke and also our mate. It happened that our second mate knew the Captain of the other ship to be his countryman. The Captain knew his relations and gave him some news from them, and told him, among other things, that his brother had married the girl who he himself had loved. To conclude, we passed by that ship and soon lost sight of it. A moment before going to bed I spoke with M. Gallaudet on religion, on God, on Jesus Christ, and on what we ought to do to go to Heaven.

Sunday, July the 14th. It rained and was fine weather by turns. We prayed to God and M. Gallaudet preached as on the first Sunday. In the evening, we discovered two other ships, the one before us and the other behind. We hoped to overtake also tomorrow the one that was before us, and if we do, I shall speak of it and say what it is. Afterwards M. Gallaudet and I sat upon deck and spoke of America, and of the origin and cause of white men, of red men, of black men and of yellow men.

Monday, July the 15th. It was very fine weather all day. The two ships of which I spoke yesterday were yet in sight, but we did not overtake the forward one, as we had flattered ourselves we would do. It took a direction different from ours. As to the one behind, which, as I said, was a ship of war, it sailed towards the north, and when it had come up with us, it fired a cannon to give us notice to hoist our flag. Seeing that we did not answer, it fired a second time towards us. Our Captain understood then what it would say and ordered the flag to be hoisted. The ship of war was satisfied and ceased firing. Then our flag descended. At this opportunity I said: "That English ship of war humbles us by demanding that we hoist our flag to inform them who we are. What a humiliation for the Americans!!" Mr. Wilder told me that it was in the right, for it had cannon and we had none, and that it was we who were in the wrong! But Captain Hall wishing to avoid all political conversations knew how to conciliate us in assuring us that it was no humiliation, but a matter of etiquette which all seamen understood as well as a Frenchman understood to put his hand to his hat, which he will do to any persons. In the evening, we lost sight of these two ships. After supper, being seated upon deck, we saw a meteor in the sign Libra, falling and scattering its light which struck our eyes, and in doing which it made a little noise which was heard by some of the passengers.