On Saturday morning, the 17th, a breeze sprang up from the south-east. Gradually increasing, it
hauled to the northward and westward, and by noon we were
dashing on our course at the rate of ten knots. The sky was
too overcast to obtain an observation, but according to the
reckoning we were in Lat. 35° 16′ N. and Long, 75° 17′ W.
At 2 P. M. we ran across the inner edge of the Gulf Stream,
and came at once upon soundings. The line of junction between
the dark-blue water of the Gulf, and the pale-green of the
shoals was marked with wonderful distinctness. The stern of
our vessel was in the former, while the latter reached to her
waist. Within the distance of a ship’s length, the temperature
of the sea changed from 72° to 62°. The water immediately
became of a paler green, and we felt an ugly ground swell.
At the same instant Mr. Cornell discerned land off the port
beam, and a single glance sufficed to show that it was Cape
Hatteras, which, according to our reckoning, should have been
weathered two hours before. The current of the Gulf Stream
had evidently been much retarded by the strong north-eastern
gales.