We did not long enjoy our easterly breeze, for in the evening the wind became variable, the rain fell in torrents, accompanied with lightning and thunder, and the night was dark and dismal, with an irregular sea, which made the ship very uneasy; then followed one of those scenes of confusion which can be witnessed only on shipboard; the creaking of timbers as they were strained by the conflict of the elements, the uproar of a multitude of voices, the ludicrous accidents arising from the pitching and rolling of the vessel, things breaking loose in all directions, chests flying from side to side, crockery smashing, people hallooing, others moaning and groaning, accompanied with frequent evomitions, and occasionally a general scream, from some extraordinary crash.  With tumultuous noises of this kind I was entertained as I lay on my bed, not from sea-sickness, but from previous indisposition.  Towards morning the wind settled in the N.W., blowing very strong, and the Eden continued rolling a great deal the whole day.  This breeze fortunately kept up the two following days, when the weather became very fine, and the wind light and variable.  The whole of this day (Thursday, August 2nd) we were in sight of Cape Finisterre.  On Sunday the 5th the weather was very fine and warm, with a moderate breeze; we had eleven sail of vessels in sight, the greater part of which, from their regular order of sailing, were supposed to be the experimental squadron under the command of Sir Thomas Hardy.  Divine service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Davy, a Church Missionary, who, with his wife, was bound to Sierra Leone, to perform the duties of a missionary and teacher to the liberated Africans; his wife taking upon herself to instruct the female part of that community.  The following day, in 36-1/2 deg.  N. lat., we saw several flying fish, which I mention merely because it was thought to be very unusual to see them so far to the northward.

On Wednesday, the 8th of August, we came in sight of Porto Santo.  The first appearance of land always produces a degree of interest in the ship even to sailors, but to passengers it is generally the cause of great excitement.  In the afternoon we saw Madeira,[1] and on the following day we rounded the west end of the island, and stood for Funchal Roads, having passed along the north side in order that Captain Owen might ascertain its length, which he found to be thirty-four miles; this was precisely the same distance that he had calculated it to be on a former measurement.  He had taken this trouble a second time, in consequence of some navigator having expressed a different opinion on the subject.  In the evening we anchored in thirty-six fathoms water, the Loo Rock bearing N. by E. We found a Portuguese sloop of war and several small merchant vessels lying here.  The next morning I went on shore with the surgeon and purser of the Eden, both of whom have since died of fever on board the same ship.