1841.
Nov. 25.
in order that our time might correspond with that of England, to have two days following of the same date, and by this means lose the time we had gained and still were gaining, as we sailed to the eastward.
We had, therefore, two Thursdays and two twenty-fifth days of November in succession; so that, after crossing the meridian, and having made the alteration of a day, instead of being twelve hours in advance, we became so much in arrear of the time in England, which would gradually diminish as we pursued our easterly course, until on our return we should find them in exact accordance. Had we not made this alteration, our Christmas-day and New Year's-day would have been one day earlier than in England. It is fortunate we did not cross into west longitude on either of those days, for two such holidays in succession would have been a still more novel circumstance.
The sea exhibited many large luminous patches during last night, and to-day many stormy petrel, and immature birds of the large albatross kind and small dark petrel were numerous.
In the evening the gale abated, but the wind continuing fresh from the southward, we made but small progress; and as the adverse breeze prevailed the whole of the two following days, we Nov. 27.found ourselves at noon still a hundred and eighty miles from Chatham Island, being in latitude 39° 16′ S., longitude 177° 2′ W. At 1 p.m. we tried for soundings, with six hundred fathoms, without striking ground. It was quite calm at the time, so we tried the temperature of the sea, as follows: at