26th [February, 1777] Latitude 33°. 30', the winds blowing constantly in storms from the West northerly, we have been obliged to go to the southward to escape drifting to the eastward, and to find more temperate weather for our people, who begin to be unfit for duty, as well as to attempt some Port at least in the thirteen United Colonies; what renders our condition still more disagreeable is the frequent thunder storms we have had for the three weeks past, some of them accompanied with severe gusts of winds, and very sharp strokes of lightening, these are the most startling as we have a large quantity of powder on board the vessel, and should it receive a stroke from the lightening, we have no reasonable prospect to avoid perishing; our Captain and officers all tell us they have never heretofore observed so much thunder [in] one passage, and what made it appear to us more extraordinary was the amazing coldness of the weather. At those times had it not been for our distressed situation, I should have been much diverted at the various stupid superstitions and unphilosophical means our Captain and people made use of to prevent the effects of the lightening, such as stopping up the mouths of the pumps with wet swabs, and doing a variety of other things equally rediculous; Dr. [Hugh] Williamson ³ and myself endeavored to show them the absurdity of such contrivances, and to convince them that they could answer no purpose whatever, telling them that stopping the mouths of the pumps could be of no service, while the pump rod which was iron remain in, and that the lightening supposing the vessel to receive a stroke would not pass down the pump, tho' it should remain open, but thru' the metal, to this reasoning they were entirely deaf, and went on, as usual on the appearance of a thunderstorm, to stop every hole and crevice to prevent the lightening from entering.