Lightning—Boston Light to Rock Light 13 days 19½ hours.

Their 24-hour runs opened the eyes of the packet ship commanders and in fact the whole world.

The Red Jacket put up runs of 413, 374, 371, 343, and 300 against the Lightning’s 436, 328, 312 and 306, thus there was little to choose between the two vessels on this point.

The Boston Daily Atlas of 18th February, 1854, thus describes the Lightning’s departure from Boston:—

At 2 o’clock the Lightning hove her anchor up, and at 3 o’clock discharged her pilot off Boston Light. She went down in tow of the steamer Rescue, Captain Hennessy, and was piloted by Mr. E. G. Martin.

Before the steamer left her, she set her head sails, and fore and mizen topsails, and had a moderate breeze from W. to S.W. She appeared to go at the rate of 6 knots under this canvas, though she draws 22 feet of water and has only 23 feet depth of hold.

We have seen many vessels pass through the water, but never saw one which disturbed it less. Not a ripple curled before her cut-water, nor did the water break at a single place along her sides. She left a wake as straight as an arrow and this was the only mark of her progress. There was a slight swell, and as she rose we could see the arc of her forefoot rise gently over the seas as she increased her speed. At 5 p.m., two hours after the pilot left her, the outer telegraph station reported her 30 miles east of Boston Light with all drawing sails set and going along like a steam boat.

And the following extract from her log book was published in the Liverpool Albion on her arrival.

Distance.
Feb. 19Wind,

W.S.W. and N.W. moderate

200 miles.
20 „

N.N.E. and N.E. strong breezes with snow

328 „
21 „

E.S.E. with snow storms

145 „
22 „

E.S.E., a gale with high cross sea and rain

114 „
23 „

N., strong gales to E.S.E.; ends moderate

110 „
24 „

S.E., moderate

312 „
25 „

E.S.E. and S.E., fresh breezes with thick weather

285 „
26 „

W.S.W., moderate

295 „
27 „

W.N.W. „

260 „
28 „

W. and N.W., steady breezes

306 „
March 1 „

South. Strong gales; bore away for the North Channel; carried away the foretopsail and lost jib; hove the log several times and found the ship going throughthe water at the rate of 18 to 18½ knots;lee rail under water and rigging slack

436 „
2 „

South, first part moderate, latter part light and calm.
3 „ Light winds and calms.
8 „ Light S.E. winds and calms; at 7 a.m. off Great Orme’sHead. 12 noon off the N.W. lightship.