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[[preprinted]] TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1865 [[/preprinted]]

Morning.  The steamer got under way at about 12 o clock and steamed round and out of the harbor.  After lunch go ashore with Smith, buy a looking glass, and go up to Hunters and take a little lunch then down to Mr. Pierces where I get a [[Tournoon?]] pipe some slippers and a pair of boots as curios.  Go up to Madame Baishofs with a box of wine and Mr Coles, who presents it as from the officers of the wardroom.  Down to the Cymkevou's [[Russian Sutkevoi? see notes]]and tear my-self away to dress at Peirces after which I return and accompany them to the [[Uenpavirik's? in Russian? Ispravnik's?]] where we have a pleasant 

[preprinted]] WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 [[/preprinted]]

evening party.  Tables for cards and a few dances.  Pass a pleasant evening flirting with Mesdames Cymkevou and Baishkov [[see notes]].  Go home with the latter and sleep at Mr Peirces.  Up about nine.  Up to Hunters and to Madame Cymkevou's [[Sutkevoi?]] about eleven and the signal gun being fired hastily bid all goodbye and get aboard.  Young Fletcher comes aboard and we get up anchors and drop outside the smaller harbor, in the Bay, about five o'clock.  We shall probably set out tomorrow, a beautiful moon light evening.  Sleep in the cabin for the first time.

[[preprinted]] THURSDAY 2 [[/preprinted]]

Last night may turn out to be one of the turning points of my life.  I discussed with the Capt. Ounga Island and the Consufilia.  Day cloudy, foggy calm with puffs of wind.  Get some shelves put up in my room and get all my things out of Norton's room.  Pack the scientific collections in the after locker.  Begins to blow favorably but soon changes to S.E.  Go to the spit with the Capt. Hyde and the Doctor and take a glass of tea with the [[Sopravnik?]], Capt. [[Sutkevoi, see below notes]] and their ladies, Miss Fletcher and the postmistress, Muller and Fluger, who have pitched a tent there and have a samovar under full head of steam.  Go aboard leaving the rest to spend the night ashore. A heavy blow!

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[[preprinted]] FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1865]] [[/preprinted]]

Morning, slight breeze.  Cloudy & snowing.  Capt. comes aboard early.  Doctor, Hyde & Radin, soon after.  Had a pleasant time.  Examine my alcoholic collection, catalogue and label them and get all stowed away.  Start about eleven o'clock and with a fair wind, leave Avatcha Bay for San Francisco via Victoria.  Everything looks like settling down to our old sea life for a month or so.  Afternoon commence my report for the year past.
   Talk with Capt. Scammon of the probability of a war with England on the Alabama question.  I hope that it may be settled with honor & without war.

[[preprinted]] SATURDAY 4 [[/preprinted]]

Far away from Petropavlovsk. With a favorable gale we are making a splendid run.  All hands a little sick even Mr. Davison.  The weather is rough and disagreeable.  Lie low most of the day, & have very little appetite for dinner.  work a little on my report and learn that B. wanted to make me fleet surgeon; an office which I most decidedly should not have accepted.
  The power is left with Capt. Scammon to do pretty much as he pleases in Col. Bs. absence

[[preprinted]] SUNDAY 5 [[/preprinted]] 

Last night pretty much every thing fetched away, that could, including my bottle of ink for which I am sincerely sorry as it was all the decent ink aboard. Young Fletcher is pretty sick, every one else is a little stirred up.  Rough weather continues and rain and hail.
 Play chequers with Black and beat him for the first time.  Soft tack for the last time in the ward room, the first time for a month.  Turn in early on account of the weather.

Transcription Notes:
William Dall seems to be mixing Cyrillic and Roman letters when rendering Russian names. Cymkevou with curl over the "u" is probably Sutkevoi, which makes more sense as a name. Rosanne Johnson