And here are other proofs of the _Lightning’s_ steadiness taken from the _Lightning Gazette_, a newspaper published on board:—
9th February, 1855.—14 knots upon a bowline with the yards braced sharp up and while going at this extraordinary rate she is as dry as possible, seldom shipping a spoonful of water. During the greater part of the day the carpenter was employed on a stage below the fore chains, where he worked as easily as if it had been calm.
18th March, 1857.—The wind increases a little towards evening and we make 15 to 17 knots an hour, yet the ship is so steady that we danced on the poop with the greatest ease (Lat. 42° 34′ S., Long. 17° 04′ W.)
21st February, 1855.—During this time the ship was going 16 knots an hour and in the saloon the motion was so slight that we thought she had only a light breeze.
Two or three quotations also from the log books and shipboard newspapers may be of interest to show the power of these ships to carry sail in heavy weather and strong winds.
Here are two days from the log of the _James Baines_ when running her easting down in 1856:—
16th June.—Lat. 43° 39′ S., Long. 101° E.; Bar. 29.80°. Wind, S.W. to W.S.W. Commences with fresh breezes and squalls of sleet, 8 a.m., more moderate. Noon, sighted a ship ahead; at 1 p.m. was alongside of her and at 2 p.m. she was out of sight astern. _James Baines_ was going 17 knots with main skysail set, the _Libertas_, for such was her name, was under double-reefed topsails.
18th June.—Lat. 42° 47′ S., Long. 115° 54′ E. Bar. 29.20°. Wind, W. to S.W. First part breeze freshening. At 6 p.m. wind S.W. and freshening. At 8.30 p.m. in all starboard studding sails; ship going 21 knots with main skysail set. Midnight, fresh gale and fine clear night. 8 a.m., wind and weather the same. Noon, less wind attended with snow squalls. Distance 420 miles.
Then in the _Lightning Gazette_ I find the following entries:—
15th January, 1855.—Lat. 39° 42′ N., Long. 19° 25′ E. Wind. S.S.E., strong breezes and cloudy, with occasional squalls and showers; the ship going 13 knots close-hauled. In the morning we passed a ship outward bound with topgallant sails in and exchanged colours with a Swedish brig homeward bound—this vessel was under close-reefed topsails, while we were carrying three royals and main skysail.