Yours very sincerely.

* * * * *

JOURNAL.

Gravesend, on board the George Barclay,

31st of July, 1793.

Arrived onboard at 2 this afternoon, with an intention of sailing to Philadelphia:  Gravesend is so called from it’s being the end of a sailors grave, as those who die on a voyage after passing the fort are thrown over board.

August 1st.

Got under weigh with a light breeze at S.W., which not being sufficient to stem the returning tide, we dropped out anchor again off the Nore light.

Aug. 2nd.—­Weighed anchor with the wind at S.E., and on the morning of the 3rd; off Deal, sent a boat on shore, which soon returned with a supply of meat, water, sheep, poultry gin, and gingerbread; dismissed our pilot, and soon after doubted the South Foreland; the prospect of Dover and the adjacent coast delightful.

Aug 8th.—­Beating to windward with a fresh breeze off the Lizard; finding it impossible to clear the land, put about, and by three in the afternoon were safe moored in Falmouth harbour.  Went on shore; the lower order of the inhabitants chaunt, or rather speak in recitative, a strange dialect, in which I could distinguish several English words.

Took a walk to Pendennis castle, which protects the West entrance of the harbour; found it garrisoned by a party of invalides, who informed me they had not two nights in bed to one up; hard duty after twenty years servitude!

Aug. 9th.—­Dined on john dory, which I cannot think equal either to turbot or sole.  Falmouth has the best fish market in England:  I am informed, in the course of the year, they have upward of fifty different species for sale, on very moderate terms.

Aug. 15th.—­Weighed anchor, and having a good breeze at N.E., we were soon clear of the land.  On the evening of the 16th came on a smart breeze at S.W.; at 2 A.M. the wind changed to W.N.W. and blew a hard gale, which split our jib, and at last obliged us to lie too, under our courses:  shipped some very heavy seas over our quarter, which drowned three parts of our stock of geese and other poultry; the baggage of near fifty passengers, for want of being properly lashed, was dashing about the steerage; which, with the shrieks of the women, heaving of the vessel, rattling of the wind, and all the et cetera of a storm, was dreadful indeed.

Aug. 18th.—­Wind N.W. moderate; the morning delightful; appeared doubly so, contrasted with the horrours of the night.

Aug. 31st.—­Fresh breeze at S.W. increasing to a hard gale, reduced us once more to our courses:  at 8 P.M. calm, with a very heavy swell.

Sunday 1st September.

Pleasant breeze at N.N.E.  The following hymn was written by Mr. Harwood, for this morning’s service.