28th May.—Lat. 42° 44′ S., Long. 25° 48′ E. Distance 404 miles. Winds, W.S.W., west. P.M., begins with brisk gale and occasional heavy squalls accompanied with heavy rain. At 4 p.m., handed small sails and double-reefed fore and mizen courses. Midnight, still increasing. Noon, as previously.
29th May.—Lat. 44° 15′ S., Long. 30° 51′ E. Distance 240 miles. Winds west. First part strong gales and fine clear weather, heavy sea, ship rolling. Midnight, less wind, sea going down, set all small sails. At 4 a.m., set all starboard studding sails. Noon, light breeze, dark gloomy weather.
30th May.—Lat. 46° 16′ S., Long. 36° 56′ E. Distance 300 miles. Winds, W.N.W., W.S.W., S.S.W. First part light breezes and dark gloomy weather. 8 p.m., sky clearing and breeze increasing, barometer falling. Midnight, fresh gales, took in royal and skysail studding sails; 8 a.m. heavy snow squall; took in topgallant studding sails. Noon fresh gales and clear weather with snow showers and squalls.
31st May.—Lat. 46° 52′ S., Long. 43° 54′ E. Distance 300 miles. Winds, W.N.W., W.S.W., S.S.W. First part fresh breeze and squalls. 10 p.m., ran through between Petit and Grande, Prince Edward Islands. Midnight, dark with snow squalls. Noon, as at midnight.
Best Week’s Run by Lightning, Liverpool to Melbourne, June-July, 1856.
28th June.—Lat. 44° 25′ S., Long. 42° 58′ E. Distance 232 miles. Winds westerly. P.M., snow squalls, wind increasing. Preparations were made for shortening sail by taking in the lighter canvas. This was not accomplished before the mizen royal and mizen topmast staysail were torn to pieces. Between 5 and 6 p.m. the conflict raged most furiously. Reefs were taken in the topsails and these with the exception of the foresail were all the canvas set.
29th June.—Lat. 43° 36′ S., Long. 50° 07′ E. Distance 312 miles. Winds westerly. The gale of yesterday abated the intensity of its fury about midnight, we have set more sail though the wind blows stiff.
30th June.—Lat. 44° 02′ S., Long. 56° 35′ E. Distance 281 miles. Winds westerly. The weather has been excessively cold, dark and cloudy. The heavy sea running caused the ship to roll heavily.
1st July.—Lat. 44° 39′ S., Long. 63° 27′ E. Distance 298 miles. Wind westerly. Fine at first, then cloudy with showers of snow.