Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/265

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JOURNAL OF JOHN FONTAINE.
257

sails and steered our course W. by N.; went at the rate of three knots per hour. Thick weather, no observation, but esteem ourselves to be in lat. 51° 00″.

16th Jan.—The wind came about S. by E. to N. After several heavy showers of rain, we set our sails at about three in the morning, and made three knots and a half per hour. The wind moderate, but the weather thick, so that we had no good observation. We esteem ourselves to be in lat. 51° 00″, and west from Land's End 160 leagues. "We saw a wild duck, which attempted several times to come on board, but at last fell into the sea by our side.

17th Jan.—The wind at N. W., a hard gale, but still we carried our main-sail, and steered our course S. E., and went by our log at the rate of five knots per hour. We had no observation, but by our reckoning we esteem ourselves to be in lat. 50° 50″, and distant from the Land's End 120 leagues.

By this day we may see that thy mercies are soon forgotten. Now that our miserable companions think they are out of danger, they forget all thy mercies to them, and bemoan their losses, repining against thy Providence for afflicting them. Lord, give us grace to consider, that notwithstanding the wind doth not at this time blow hard nor the sea rage, yet we are still in thy hands, and we have deserved more afflictions than we have suffered.

18th Jan.—Wind W. by S. We steered our course S. E. by E,, and went at the rate of four knots per hour, but not able to carry sail, being under our poles. Weather hazy.

19th Jan.—Wind W. by S., a good gale. Steered our course E. by S. We had an observation, and found ourselves to be in lat. 50° 24″, and westward from the Land's End of, England 60 leagues.