Mar 6, 1789 Home Logbook Mar 8, 1789
Revised Jun 29 2021
(238
Light Variable Winds and much Rain. Wind Westerly and round the Compass. Thermr. 80° to 82°.
Employed as the weather would admit us. Supplies as usual. The weather is now much against us that I cannot forward the Ships duty without risking greatly the health of our People. I therefore do not suffer them to work in the Rain.
In the middle watch, the native who I had in Irons found means to break the Lock of the Bilboa bolt and escape about 4 o'Clock in the morning. The Officer of the Fore Castle Watch heard the plunge into the water and went off in a boat in search of him but to no effect.
I had given in written orders that the Mate of the Watch was to be answerable for the Prisoners and to visit and see that they were safe in his watch, but I have such a neglectfull set about me that I beleive nothing but condign punishment can alter their conduct. Verbal orders in the course of a month were so forgot that they would impudently assert no such thing or directions were given, and I have been at last under the necessity to trouble my self with writing what by decent young officers would be complied with as the common Rules of the Service. Mr. Stewart was the Mate of the Watch.