John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

17. The breeze and squalls continued all Night, driving us 8 and 9 miles an hour, but it made such a Sea, that I had scarcely an hour of sleep in the Night— It kept the same steady course all this day, and the Captain had some expectation of making the land of Norway before Night— We had not seen a vessel since passing by Fair Island untill about 5. O’Clock this afternoon, when a brig was discovered steering towards us. Within an hour’s time she came within hailing distance, before which she fired a gun to lee-ward, upon which we hoisted our colours— She did not shew hers; but came to Windward of us; then fired a gun to windward and hailed us— Whence from?— From Boston— Whither bound?— To Russia— Let down your 11boat and come on board— Which not being heard distinctly, was repeated— The Captain answered that his boat was so small that it would not be safe to go out with it, in this weather— The same order was again repeated, and a musket with ball fired ranging along-side of our ship— It was the dusk of the Evening; the wind blowing in continual squalls like a gale, and a heavy sea going— The Captain however let down the boat, and went into it, with Mr: Lowder and three men—they cast off from the ship, and attempted to row to the brig, but drifted so in the course of ten minutes, that instead of getting to the brig it was with the utmost difficulty that they reached the ship again, having the boat half full of water, and all the time in the most imminent danger both of over-setting, and of being sunk by an overwhelming wave— The Captain then hailed the brig again, and told them that his boat would not live in such a Sea and weather, upon which without making any answer, the brig shot a-head of us to such a distance, that on the moon’s setting, she was out of sight— Then after laying to untill about 11. at Night, our Ship wore about again and pursued her course— I read two Sermons of Massillon.