Saturday, November 8th.—...  In the mid-watch a sail was reported—­a schooner, standing south.  Wore ship (1.30 A.M.) and gave chase.  Soon after daylight, the chase being some five miles dead to windward of us, a ship was discerned standing to the northward and westward.  Discontinued the chase of the schooner, and gave chase to the ship.  At 10 A.M., the latter having approached to within a mile of us (we having United States colours flying), hove her to with a gun, and a change of flags.  Sent a boat, and brought the master on board.  She, proved to be the ship T.B.  Wales, of Boston, from Calcutta for Boston.  There being no claim of neutral property among the papers, and the master having no knowledge on the subject, except that the linseed belonged to the owner of the ship, condemned both ship and cargo.  A large portion of this cargo was consigned to Baring Brothers, Boston, including 1704 bags of saltpetre—­contraband of war—­which would have condemned all the property of the Barings, even if proof of ownership had been found on board, which was not the case.

We are to be embarrassed with two females and some children, the master having his wife with him, and there being also a passenger and his wife.  I shall bestow them upon the wardroom, having a couple of state rooms vacated for them.  Poor women!  They are suffering for the sins of their wicked countrymen who are waging this murderous war upon us.

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About nightfall another sail was descried from aloft, and a light was seen after dark; but we did not get hold of the sail.  Just at dark, having taken all the prisoners on board from the prize, and got her mainyard on board to replace ours, carried away in, the storm of the 16th ultimo, we set fire to her, and filled away on our course.  Nine of the crew of this ship volunteered, and were shipped as part of our own crew—­an acquisition more valuable than the prize herself.

Sunday, November 9th.—...  My menage has become quite home-like with the presence of women and the merry voices of children.  We have had a quiet Sabbath-day, there being nothing in sight.

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For some time from this date quiet days preponderated.  The Alabama was now in the region of the trade winds, but it was some time before they were fairly taken.  From the 9th November, in Lat. 27.52 N., Long. 58.24 W., to the 15th November, in Lat. 21 N., Long. 57.49 W., the wind continued light and variable, sometimes even for a few hours blowing directly from the southward.  On the 15th November the N.E. trade appeared to have fairly set in, and from this time fine weather and favouring breezes became the order of the day.

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Sunday, November 16th.—­Beautiful clear weather, with a moderate trade from about east by south.  Woollen clothes becoming uncomfortable.  At 11 A.M. mustered the crew, and inspected the ship.  A quiet Sabbath-day, with nothing in sight.  Our ship begins to look quite like a ship of war—­with her battery in fine order, her decks clean, freshly-painted outside, masts scraped, &c., &c., and the crew well disciplined.  Thus far I have never seen a better disposed or more orderly crew.  They have come very kindly into the traces.