December 16 Monday – The Clemens party was en route to Sydney in the Mararoa in the Tasman sea.

From FE: Monday. Three days of paradise. Warm and sunny and smooth; the sea a luminous Mediterranean blue….One lolls in a chair all day under the deck-awnings, and reads and smokes, in a measureless content. One does not read prose at such a time, but poetry. I have been reading the poems of Julia A. Moore, again, and I find in them the same grace and melody that attracted me when they were first published, twenty years ago, and have held me in happy bonds ever since. “The Sentimental Song Book” has long been out of print, and has been forgotten by the world in general, but not by me. …Indeed, it has the same deep charm for me that the Vicar of Wakefield has, and I find in it the same subtle touch — the touch that makes an intentionally humorous episode pathetic and intentionally pathetic one funny….I have read her book [Moore] through twice to-day, with the purpose of determining which of her pieces has most merit, and I am persuaded that for wide grasp and sustained power, “William Upson” may claim first place…[ch. XXXVI 324].

Sam’s notebook:

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, – brilliant sunny weather warm…/ We have some immense albatross sailing about the ship. /To-day (Monday) everybody on deck. No seasick, Weather bright & perfect, sea a Mediterranean blue [NB 36 TS 3].