Remarkable Occurrences South Seas ~
Mod.te & Cloudy wear a Swell from the SW. by observ.n of the Sun & Moon made this morning the Long.de of the Ship at Noon is 147o18'.40" which differs but 11' from that given by the Log ~
First part little wind & Cloudy latter part fresh Gales & Clear wear Variation Variation off Azmth 6:40'E saw several Albetrosses, Pintado Birds & Sheer Waters ~
Fresh Gales & Cloudy with rain on the Latter pt. at 10AM departed this Life Jno Radon Boatswains Mate, his Death was occasioned by the Boatswain out of mere good Nature, giving him part of a Bottle of Rum last night, which it is supposed he drank all at once, he was found to be very much in Liquor last night but as this was no more than what was common with him when he could get any no farther notice was taken of him then to put him to Bed where this morning at about 8 o'Clock he was found Speechless & past recovery ~
Fore & Middle parts fresh Gales & Dark Hazey weather with some rain, at 5AM saw a Comet in the North ~
Fresh breeze & fair wea.r at 1 AM saw the Comet a little above the Horizon in the E. it pass'd the Meridian about ½ past 4. the Tail of the Comet Subtended an Angle of 42o at 3AM Variation off Azm.th 7o9'E bent another suit of Sails, saw a Piece of Rock weed, some Pintado birds & Sheer Waters & a Green bird something smaller than a Dove but it was not near enough to distinguish whether it was a Sea or Land bird, it was only seen by one Person & he Probably was Mistaken in the Colour. a Swell from the SW.
The first pt. a fresh breeze & cloudy at 6PM hauld the wind to the SW. & close reefd & the Topsl. at 1AM being very squally with rain took in the Topsails & brought too under the Mainsail. at 6 made Sail under the Courses saw some sea Weed sounded but had no ground with 65 fam. of Line. some Albetrosses Sheer Waters & a great many Pintado Birds about the Ship. with some hundreds of Birds that were smaller than Pidgeons their backs were grey, their Bellies white & the Ends of their Tails black & have a blackish line along the upper parts of the wings from the Tip of one to the other we saw birds very like those near Faulklands Islands on the Coast of Patagonia, only they had not the black streaks along the wings they fly low like sheer waters or another Carys birds & are perhaps of the same Tribe, for Distinction sake I shall call them Doves
Very strong Gales & heavy Squalls with rain at 6PM bro. too under the Main Sails at 6AM set the Foresail a great Sea from the Westward the same sort of Birds about the Ship as Yesterday but not in such great Numbers ~