March 28. Saturday. Last night and this Morning We were in the thoroughfare of all the Ships from Bourdeaux—We had always a great Number in Sight—By obs. to day, our Lat. is 46D.:3M. North about 7 Minutes, South of the Middle of the Isle of Rea.—We are therefore about 20 Leagues from the Tower of Cordoan. We have no Wind, and nothing can be more tedious and disagreable to me, than this idle Life.—
Last Evg. We had, two little Incidents which were disagreable. one was, the French Barber attempting to go below, contrary to orders, the Centinell cutt off his great Toe with his Cutlass—which raised at first a little, ill blood in the French People, who are on board, but on Enquiry finding the fellow deserved it, they acquiesced.—The other unpleasant Incident, was that one of our Prisoners of War, a little more elevated than usual grew out of Temper, and was very passionate with Mr. Vernon1 and afterwards, with C. Palmes2—but it has all subsided—
Mr Mc.Intosh,3 is of North Britain, and appears, to be very decided vs America in this Contest, and his Passions are so engaged that [the]y easily inkindle.—
Mr Gault4 is an Irish Gentn. and as decided vs America, in her Claims of Independence at least, as the other. Mr Wallace,5 is more reserved cautious, silent and secret.—
Jealousies arise among our Men, that the Prisoners are plotting with some of our profligate People: but I believe this Jealousy is groundless.
All Day Yesterday, and all the forenoon of this Day We have been looking out for Land—about 4 OClock We found it—the Isles of Rhee and Oleron, between which two is the Entrance into the Harbour of Rochelle, which is abt half Way bet. Bourdeaux and Nantes.—The Land is extremely flat and low.—We see the Tower—The Water is shoal, 25 or 30 Fathoms, the bottom Sand.—the Reverse of the Spanish Coast on the other Side of the Bay of Biscay.—
This afternoon, a clock calm, and Mr Goss played upon his Fiddle the whole afternoon, and the Sailors danced, which Seemed to have a very happy Effect upon their Spirits and good Humour.—
Numbers of small Birds from the shore, came along to day, some of them fatigued, allighted on our Rigging, Yards &c and one of them We caught.—a little Lark he was called.—these Birds loose the shore and get lost, and then they fly untill they are so fatigued yt ye instant [the]y allight upon a Ship the[y] drop to sleep.—