Saturday, September 13th.—­Gave chase to a sail reported on the weather bow, and upon coming up with her, and heaving her to with a blank cartridge, she proved to be the hermaphrodite whaling brig Altamaha, from New Bedford, five months out.  Little or no success.  Captured her, put a prize crew on board, and made sail in chase of a barque to windward.

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Sunday, September 14th.—­* * * Last night at a quarter past eleven I was aroused by the report that a large ship was close on board of us.  Hurried on deck, wore ship, and gave-chase; the strange sail being about two to two and a half miles from us, partially to windward.  Made all sail, held our wind, and gradually eat him out of the wind, as well as head-reached on him.  Fired a blank cartridge, which he disregarded.  Continued to overhaul him, and when we had gotten on his weather-beam, distant about half a mile from him, fired a second gun, which speedily brought him to the wind with his maintopsail to the mast.  Sent a boat on board, with an order to the officer to show me a light if she should prove to be an American; and in a few minutes after the officer got on board a light was shown at the peak.  Lay by him until daylight, when the captain was brought on board.  The ship proved to be the United States whaler Benjamin Tucker, from New Bedford, eight months out, with about 340 barrels of oil.  Crew thirty.  Brought everybody on board, received some soap and tobacco, and fired the ship.  Made sail to the S.E.

Monday, September 15th.—­* * * Caulking the decks, which are already quite open.  Made the island of Flores from the masthead late in the afternoon.  Exercised the crew at quarters.  Shipped one of the prisoners from last prize—­a Hollander.

Tuesday, September 16th.—­* * * * At daylight made a schooner on the starboard bow.  Gave chase, and at 7.30 hove her to with a blank cartridge, and sent a boat on board, she showing United States colours.  She proved to be the whaling schooner Courser, of Provincetown, Massachusetts.  Took possession of her as a prize.  Stood in towards Flores, within four or five miles, and sent all the prisoners from the last three prizes on shore in their own whale boats, eight in number.  Number of prisoners sixty-eight.  About 5 P.M., having taken the prize some eight or ten miles distant from the land, hove her to, called all hands to quarters, and made a target of her, firing three rounds from each gun.  The practice was pretty fair for green hands for the first time.  We hulled the target once, and made a number of good line shots.  At dark fired the prize, and made sail to the westward.

Wednesday, September 17th.—­* * * At 7.30 A.M. gave chase to a sail on the starboard bow, and at meridian came up with and took possession of, the United States whaling barque Virginia, twenty-one days from New Bedford.  Received papers as late as the 28th August.  Got on board from the prize a large supply of soap, candles, &c.; and after bringing the prisoners on board, fired her; filled away, and made sail to the N.W.