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Sunday June 3rd
To day has been very pleasant, with a beautiful breeze from the South East, while writing this the passengers are collected in groups round the deck and a warm discussion is going on regarding the authenticity and inspiration of the Bible and the existence of God, I have been permitted by Mr. E. of Roxbury,to copy the following verses from his Journal, it being his first attempt at poetry I think them worthy, though ^[[insertion]] I am [[/insertion]] not quite so full of this divine faith, spoken off

An exile and adventurer alone doth I roam,
Oer this wild waste of waters afar from my home.
Then speed, speed my Bark, fast safe on thy way,
To that land where gold glistens in the Sunlight of day

At evenings soft twilight when musesing alone
My thoughts oft recurring to that peaceful home
And the dear one Ive laid in the cold Silent grave
And those Babes unprotected while Im on the wave

And often at night have I gazed out afar
And watched the lone twinkle of some distant star
Would thoughts of my loved ones cloud oer my mind
And my heart throb with anguish to have left them behind

When all round is hushed in the Stillness of night
And the moon oer the deck sheds its pale silvery light
Have I asked that kind parent who dwelleth on high
That he their protector and friend would be nigh.

Should fortune befriend me on that distant shore
With glad joy Ill hasten to greet them once more
And those dear friends that love them so fondly & well
In peace and contentment forever to dwell

Latitude 9"46 Longitude 96"45
June 3d 1849
Pacific Ocean
[[flourish]]

Transcription Notes:
I think musesing is intended to be musing (as in contemplative thought) - just spelled wrongly - this is transcribed correctly (even if the writer spelt it wrong) ^[[text]] - is used to indicate a hand written insertion in a type written text. The Transcription Centre has requested that we use [[insertion]] text [[insertion]] where there is a normal insertion in writing. I include the ^ where it is written in but don't when sometimes the writer forgets.