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[[margin note]] 3 Pages in this Day's Record [[/margin note]]
(3
1861 Dec 13 Fri

fail.  Last evening indications were that this day would be fair, but it has been otherwise.  At VI this evening, Ther. +5° at 11 O'Clock down to 10° minus & blowing a strong gale.
The sight on going on deck at 11 to-night one that will [[underlined]] live [[/underlined]] in one's memory - the gale sweeping furiously from the N.W. filled with a thick cloud of snow, so thick that the eye cannot see around 10 yards distant, save now & then an interval of a moment when an opening shows that [[underlined]] all is clear 50 feet above, [[/underlined]] the Moon & Stars peering down upon the storm scene that so closely hugs the hearth.  It is during such a gale as this, licking up as it does the dry, recently fallen snow that its power is seen & felt.  Charged with these crystal teeth numerous as the sands of Sahara, the gale goeth forth in battle array charging home upon man & beasts - ice & impacted snow pouring forth its swift artillery most furiously even upon the everlasting mountains'.
Breakfast = Whale, Coffee - Sea bread;  Dinner - Minced Whale, Coffee & Bread;  Supper = minced Whale, Coffee & Sea bread.
To-night Capt. B & I walked deck for an hour holding conversation together.

Saturday Dec 14th 1861

29.250  AM  -21°  N.W.  Gale  Fine = (that is but few clouds)
29.225  M  -22°  N W  Fresh  [[underlined]] Fine [[/underlined]]
29.225  PM  -19°  N W  Fresh  Cloudy but Moon & few stars dimly out

Through the whole night, a terrific gale - at IX AM, thermometer 54° below freezing point.  At X AM Gale abated.  Of course have to delay my trip till less wind.
This Winter, so far, the internal part of the ship (the portions occupied by the Ship's Company) much given to [[underlined]] "sweating". [[/underlined]]  The Main & Little Aft Cabins almost constantly dripping - even on the sides & above the Births, streams of water pouring down.
Water, [[underlined]] Water [[/underlined]] all about us.  Capt. B's & my positions at the table when we dine are such that we use subjected to "droppings" - not [[underlined]] "of the sanctuary" [[/underlined]] - but of [[underlined]] muddy water [[/underlined]] from the sky-Lights of the "George Henry".  It is with difficulty that I can place my writing table in the little Cabin that the paper upon which I make my diary record shall not be baptised in the showers that come from above.  This universal annoyance would not be if the gales had not swept away all the snow thus preventing the "George Henry" from having become "banked up" by the Ships Co.
A Heavy covering of snow on deck & thick snow walls around the