Friday, September 1st 1854 ~ At sea

At sea ~ Our course is East South East, the breeze still comes from the same quarter and seems likely to remain adverse. We are feeling as if we should have a long passage. I do not dislike the idea at all. The day has been pleasant and we all passed it on deck. I felt quite unwell this afternoon and got Dr. Gallup to administer some soda flavored with ginger. He was a long time preparing it in his little cabin. The Dr. is a queer looking little man of Dutch extraction who has passed the greater part of his life in one of the West India islands, where I rather think he did not see much of life for he is somewhat unsophisticated in the ways of the world. He is however an accomplished man and quite a gentleman, he seems to have taken a lively interest in us and in providing for our physical comforts. This evening the wind has freshened into a gale and promises a stormy night, still the ocean has not realized my anticipations of grandeur as yet. The royals and top-gallants are taken in and a reef is put into each topsail. A good deal of water from a high breaker came over the bulwarks today although we are about fifteen feet above the sea.