November 1854 Pacific Ocean 6th This morning a light NE breeze rising up we got underweigh and passed out of Port Lloyd, narrowly escaping being jammed against the South Head. Upon the top of this promontory we notice six or eight wild goats which stood looking at us, and modestly congratulating themselves at the prospect of being at last freed from the harassing persecution of our rifles. The weather was clear threatening; temperature 80°. We passed around to the southward of the group and toward evening the islands of Coffin's Group came into view. These we did not visit however but hauled up to the S.E. for the night. 7th N.Lat. 25°39' E.Lon. 142°46' Wind E. Temp. 75°. Weather unpleasant. We are beating against an easterly wind which in the afternoon increased into a gale. 8th N.Lat. 26°25' E.Lon. 142°34' No. 3 kn. Wind S.S.E. Weather Stormy. Temp. 79°. In the evening a leak was discovered in our stern which admitted a considerable quantity of water into the ward-room. We are working up to the N.W.? 9th N.Lat. 28°23' E.Lon. 143°46' Heading S.E. No. 6 kn. Wind S. Cloudy. Temp. 83°. In the evening the weather became stormy. About eight o'clock an alarm of fire occurred, drum beat to quarters etc. It was occasioned by the consettling of a candle on the drafting-room to—the cover of which was soon in a blaze. This however was nonet-the-less extinguished some of the officers having the presence of mind to snatch off the corn and smother the fire by trampling. 10th N.Lat. 29°31' E.Lon. 144°33' N.N.W. No. 5 kns Wind N.W. Cloudy. Temp. 78°. Sea rough. Under short sail seeking for reported islands & shoals which are found not to exist. 11th N.Lat. 29°57' E.Lon. 143°26' N.N.W. No. 7 kn Wind N.E. Weather Stormy. Temp. 67° 12th N.Lat. 29°31' E.Lon. 141°01' N.E. No. 7 kn Wind N.E., blowing hard. Temp. 68°. This day (Sunday) in the afternoon we passed Armstead's Peak, a solitary rock in the wide ocean, far from any land. It was of a slender pyramidal form and several hundred feet in height, and of a remarkable appearance resembling in the distance a sail.