I was now taken ill of the bilious cholic, which was so violent as to confine me to my bed, so that the management of the ship was left to Mr Cooper the first officer, who conducted her very much to my satisfaction.  It was several days before the most dangerous symptoms of my disorder were removed; during which time, Mr Patten the surgeon was to me, not only a skilful physician, but an affectionate nurse; and I should ill deserve the care he bestowed on me, if I did not make this public acknowledgment.  When I began to recover, a favourite dog belonging to Mr Forster fell a sacrifice to my tender stomach.  We had no other fresh meat on board, and I could eat of this flesh, as well as broth made of it, when I could taste nothing else.  Thus I received nourishment and strength from food which would have made most people in Europe sick:  So true it is, that necessity is governed by no law.[13]

On the 28th, in the latitude of 33 deg. 7’ S., longitude 102 deg. 33’ W., we began to see flying-fish, egg-birds, and nodies, which are said not to go above sixty or eighty leagues from land; but of this we have no certainty.  No one yet knows to what distance any of the oceanic birds go to sea; for my own part, I do not believe there is one in the whole tribe that can be relied on, in pointing out the vicinity of land.

In the latitude of 30 deg. 30’ S., longitude 101 deg. 45’ W., we began to see men-of-war birds.  In the latitude of 29 deg. 44’, longitude 100 deg. 45’ W., we had a calm for nearly two days together, during which time the heat was intolerable; but what ought to be remarked, there was a great swell from the S.W.

On the 6th of March, the calm was succeeded by an easterly wind, with which we steered N.W. till noon the 8th, when being in the latitude of 27 deg. 4’ S., longitude 103 deg. 58’ W., we steered west; meeting every day with great numbers of birds, such as men-of-war, tropic, and egg-birds, podies, sheer-waters, &c. and once we passed several pieces of sponge, and a small dried leaf not unlike a bay one.  Soon after, we saw a sea-snake, in every respect like those we had before seen at the tropical islands.  We also saw plenty of fish, but we were such bad fishers that we caught only four albacores, which were very acceptable, to me especially, who was just recovering from my late illness.

[1] “The remembrance of domestic felicity, and of the sweets of society, called forth a sigh from every heart which felt the tender ties of filial or parental affection.  We are the first Europeans, and, I believe, I may add, the first human beings who have reached this point, where it is probable none will come after us.  A common report prevails, indeed, in England, concerning Sir Francis Drake, who is said to have visited the antipodes, which the legend expresses by “his having passed under the middle arch of London bridge:”  but this is a mistake, as his track lay along the coast of America, and probably