[Saturday, May 19, 1815]
Having made an arrangement with Hugh C. Davey (1) on Friday evening 19 May 1815 at day light the next I called on him accompanied by Mr. Ja[mes] Biscoe, Mr. Nicholas Robinson and my Brother and we joined the brig then at anchor below the fort [McHenry]. While getting under weigh my friends par took of a hasty prepared breakfast and as we filled away they left us in a small boat to return to the shore.
Under conduct of an experienced pilot, Mr. Carrol we proceeded down the bay the winds fresh and fair the first part of the day. Every vessel we saw _______________________.
Those which were not visible forward of us in the morning were lost in the opposite horizon long before night fall. In the evening the wind which had proved so friendly during several hours gradually subsided and we anchored for the night at a place called the Wolfe trap in 7 fathoms water.
[Sunday, May 20, 1815]
Early on Sunday morning the anchor was again weighed and the brig took her course thro the Capes of Virginia the wind being so light at times as scarcely to ruffle the surface of the stream our progress was but slow. So that an offing was not gained before two o'clock P.M. When having prepared a letter for Geo. P. Stevenson, (2) Esq., the acting member of the concern by whom the voyage is carried into effect, we dismissed the pilot and stood for Boston where business of vital importance rendered it indispensable for us to stop.
[Friday, May 26, 1815]
Without any circumstance remarkable or interesting we arrived at and anchored in Nantucket Roads on the Friday following 26th inst. According to previous agreement with G.P.S. I did not wait on those gentlemen to whom I had letters until the day following when having received assurances from him that every thing was ready I waited on Mr. J.B. Fitch and to my inexpressible mortification that so far from any preparations having been made he had as yet received no instructions from D.A. Smith, Esq., to that effect. In such a situation to refine was useless. I therefore set myself actively to work to repair the wil [sic] and with the friendly aid of Mr. J.B.F.[itch] everything was prepared for the departure of the Brig by Friday fortnight after her arrival.
[Saturday, May 27, 1815]
On Saturday 9th June the Cap[tain] and myself went on board she now lying near the castle [Fort Independence] having been brought in for greater security but the Pilot thought it unsafe to move wind & tide both unfavorable.
[Sunday, June 10, 1815]
In the morning the Pilot unmoored and got under at the dawn of day the brig for Liverpool [England] and ____________west of the lighthouseat 12 [noon] having discharged the pilot about. We took our departure the high lands of Marshfield bearing NNW about 4 leagues distant so that this Journal Commences . . . Sea Account
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Notes:
1 Captain of the Chasseur and former captain of letter-of-marque Perry in fall of 1813 and Pike in 1814..
2 Stephenson, a wealthy merchant was sole owner of 13 private armed vessels, including the Chasseur.
