April 17th.  Speaking of Mr. Collins, he says:  “I think we shall much enjoy ourselves.  We shall study, read, sing, and pray together, talk and walk together.  From present appearances we shall feel towards each other as David and Jonathan did.”  Mr. Collins was a man of intense missionary convictions, who declared if there were no means to send him to China he would find his way before the mast, and work his way there.

“April 22.  We have now been one week on our voyage.  We commenced our studies today.  Mr. Doty, Collins, and myself have organized ourselves into a Hebrew class.  We expect to have a daily recitation in Hebrew, another in Greek, and another in Chinese.”

“May 8th.  Saturday evening.  We have been out 23 days.  We have had our worship as usual in the cabin.  Since then we have spent some time in singing hymns.  Have been led to think of home.  Wonder where and how my many friends are?  Are they happy?  Are they well?  Are they all alive?  Is it strange that sadness sometimes steals over my mind, when I think of those whom I love, and remember their weeping eyes and sorrowful countenances at the time of bidding them farewell, perhaps never again to see them in this world.”

He had decided to take a text of Scripture for daily meditation, following the order in a little book published by the American Tract Society entitled “Dew Drops.”

“The text for today is 1 Pet. ii. 21.  ’Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps.’

“Why should the Christian tremble at the prospect of suffering, or be impatient under its existence?  ‘The servant is not greater than his Lord.’  The ‘King of Glory’ suffered, and shall a sinful man complain?  Besides, the Christian should be willing to suffer for the welfare of others.  If he can benefit his fellow-men by running the risk of losing his own life, shall he hesitate to run that risk?”

“May 11.  Since Sunday noon have made little progress.”

On examining the record of the voyage which Mr. Talmage kept faithfully every day, we find that the ship had made only twenty seven knots in two days.

“June 18.  For the last month we have not made rapid progress.  We have experienced much detention from head-winds and calms.  About a week ago we were put on an allowance of water, one gallon a day to each one on board.  This includes all that is used for cooking, drinking and washing.”

“Have had quite a severe storm this afternoon and evening.  The waves have been very high, and the wind—­severe almost as a hurricane.  This evening about 8 o’clock, after a very severe blow and heavy dash of rain, ’fire balls,’ as the sailors termed them, were seen upon the tops of the masts, and also on the ends of the spars, which cross the masts.  They presented a very beautiful appearance.

“Brother Collins and myself have this week commenced the study of Pitman’s System of Phonography.”  That Mr. Talmage became proficient in the use of it is evident from the fact that much of his journal was written in shorthand.