Altered our course from S.E.by E.to S.E.to avoid the St.Mary's bank; a Captain Livingstone having reported, about forty years ago, that he saw white waters hereabouts, and no nation having thought it worth while to verify the report.
Thermometer 63 deg..

Heavy rain-squalls.

The weather during the night was dirty and squally, with lightning all around the horizon by turns, and heavy rain..

Spliced the main-brace.
The 26th December brought the Sumter off Cape Flyaway, and once more she was rapidly approaching the ordinary track of commerce.
_Monday, December 30th_ .-- Sail, ho! at daylight, and Sail, ho! in succession during the whole day, until as many as thirty-five were reported.

There were as many as nine or ten in sight at one time, all standing on the same course for the tide and wind.