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the excitement under which I am writing makes its almost impossible to collect my ideas. We left the Thursday March 1st passed Sandy Hook light house at 4 O clock and stood out to sea with a light Breeze under Top Gallant sails and Royals at night we took the last leave of land. On turning out in the morning nothing was to be seen but the dark Blue Water around us the wind was blowing Fresh and away we were skateing? under Top sails at the rate of 9 knots, towards afternoon the wind freshened and by 12 O clock at night it was blowing a gale of wind from North East by North and with not a rag set except a close Reefed Main Topsail we were howling through the water in a way that was novel to me this lasted for eight days and with but little alternatives. I tell you mother it was a most magnificent sight to go on deck in the night the wind whistling through the rigging the sea running? mountains high and covered with foam, I wish you could see it once. Our little Basque? is a clipper? and no mistake, she doesn't wait to go over the water? - but right through it which is the only fault she has as it leaves? her decks so wet.