which was, to have a proper place of devotion to perform divine service in every sabbath-day:  For this sacred office, our tent was judged the most commodious place.  The duty of public prayer had been entirely neglected on board, though every seaman pays fourpence per month towards the support of a minister; yet devotion, in so solemn a manner, is so rarely performed, that I know but one instance of it during the many years I have belonged to the navy.  We believe religion to have the least share in this proposal of the lieutenant.  If our tent should be turned into a house of prayer, and this project takes, we may, perhaps, in the midst of our devotion, be surprised, and our arms taken, from us, in order to frustrate our designs, and prevent our return to England through the Streights of Magellan, or any other way.

Wednesday the 12th, hard gales from S.W. to W. with heavy showers of hail and rain.  Served out provisions today, a piece of beef for four men; some time past we have had but a quarter of a pound of flour per man per diem, and three pieces of beef:  We live chiefly on muscles, limpitts, and clams, with saragraza and thromba; one is a green broad weed, common on the rocks in England; the other is a round sea-weed, so large, that a man can scarce grasp it; it grows in the sea, with broad leaves; this last we boil, the saragraza we fry in tallow; in this manner we support life:  Even these shell-fish and weeds we get with great difficulty; for the wind, the rain, and coldness of the climate in this season, are so extremely severe, that a man will pause some time whether he shall stay in his tent and starve, or go out in quest of food.

Friday the 14th, very hard gales at W. and N.W., with showers of rain and hail, which beat with such violence against a man’s face, that he can hardly withstand it; however, one of our mess-mates to-day shot three gulls and a hawk, which gave us a very elegant repast.  This day was held a court-martial on the sentry who is believed confederate with the marine that robbed the store-tent:  sentence was passed on them to receive six hundred lashes each:  Captain C——­p not thinking the punishment adequate to the crime, cut ’em short of their allowance, so that they have now but half the provisions they had before:  The day following the offenders received two hundred lashes each, as part of their punishment.  We hauled the long-boat higher up, for fear the sea should wash the blocks from under her.  We have found a new way of managing the slaugh; we fry it in thin batter with tallow, and use it as bread.

Sunday the 16th, fresh gales of wind at S.W. with heavy showers of hail:  The people generally complain of a malady in their eyes; they are in great pain, and can scarce see to walk about.  The last tide flowed nine feet perpendicular; to-day we picked up shell-fish in abundance, with, pieces of beef and pork.  The prisoners received two hundred lashes more.