January 27, 1820, 10 o'clock P.M.

January 27, 1820, 10 o'clock P.M. - At 8 this evening while our vessel was tossing upon the rising billows, her sails close furled, her decks washed with a heavy spray continually breaking over, and while a strong west wind from it roared through her rigging drifted her towards the South East, we assembled, as usual for evening prayers, read the 46th Psalm, and sung the 83rd hymn of the Select.,  acknowledged the good hand of our God upon us in his past undeserved favors, endeavored to lay ourselves peacefully at the feet of divine soverignty, and to implore the kind protection, the sure guidance, and the continued presence and blessing of his whose unfailing goodness constrained us unitedly and devoutly and joyfully to say "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."  (Closed this interview with the 84th Select. H. Hothen).  Though even now his waves and his billows are going over us we have great cause for gratitude that we are now so far from land as to be comparatively free from danger.  This gale, had it been commissioned a few hours sooner might have dashed us on the rocks of Staten Land.  But the Captain of our Salvation is our pilot, and we will not fear.  "The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge."