Monday, 14 January 2019

Homeward bound

13th-31st December, 1823[Douglas is on his way home] In the morning the wind from the north-east produced a heavy sea. In Lat 39, long 72, the water in the Gulf of Florida stood at 83deg Fahrenheit.
That’s a remarkably high temperature, and you’re not in the Gulf of Florida, Mr Douglas. The water will be the Gulf Stream, emanating from the general area of Florida, but even so that is very warm for the middle of December. If the reading is correct, which I doubt very much.
My ducks were very sick for two days and ate nothing, the pigeons and quail continued well. On the morning of the 14th a favourable wind sprang up which continued to the end of the month with scarcely any alteration. Our passage was such as did not admit of an observance of the holiday [Christmas Day &c.]


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