19 September 1859

19th. A fine morning with a light but favourable wind and the sea almost as calm as a summer's lake. Passengers for the most part appear busy packing up for flitting (?) or standing on the forecastle and looking for hours in real earnest for land ahead and others less zealous or less patient look for awhile and then turning, perhaps with a sigh, wander slowly back to their little appartments with downcast eyes evidently disappointed that the object of their solicitous gaze is yet hid from their vision. About dinner time we had a light shower of rain and the wind changed its quarter yet quite as much in our favour and it improved after sun down so that we sailed briskly at bedtime.

Booth, Thomas. Papers, 1857 - 1859. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 2002/56.