It is a pretty sight, or rather Would be a pleasant thing, as the Epicurean Lucretius expresses it, "to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed at sea." At least I imagined so this morning, with our craft "upon a wind," whilst standing in the weather gangway, and watching her plunge and curvet, held up to her course by the helm, as a steed by a curb, obeying its rider; but I did not think the motion as agreeable as that derived from equestrian exercise. Motion quite disagreeable; and I made strange work at dotting i's and crossing t's. Hyphens also will connect words more closely than intended,--confounding too all compound terms. Showed our colors to a brig standing to the southward and eastward. Impossible to speak a vessel just now; but if we could only have gotten near one yesterday, might have communicated by boat, obtained newspapers, and learned the nominations, and general state of the country. By this time, two poor men, pitted against each other for the Presidency, have doubtless been made out more miserable characters than their most intimate acquaintance ever supposed them to be. And if either were elected, with the charges brought against him fully proved, it would be a disgrace to the Republic!
Twelve o'clock, and latitude just reported 30° 24'--the parallel of New-Orleans; longitude 68° 01'. Are getting past the Bermudas,--as usual, the "still vexed Bermoothes," though what continues to keep Bermoothes out of temper I cannot imagine.
_Tuesday, June 15th._--Longitude, by chronometer, 70° 47' west; latitude observed, 32° 12' north: are barely making a northwest course, with a westerly variation. Have the wind steady at northeast by east. This makes it quite cold, and flannels and thick coats are comfortable.
_June 16th._--In turning out this morning at four bells, found it quite calm; and on looking at the log slate, found that the wind had gone down within the past hour. Took advantage of the calm to practice at a target. Fired both batteries,--very good shooting; but the target escaped until the last shot, which knocked off the bull's eye, and dismounted the gun.
Whilst exercising, a clipper ship passed at some distance from us, bound to southward and eastward.