She was a sorry craft, with old sails, ropes, etc., and very badly manned.  She had as a crew only sixteen, including the captain, mates and three small boys.  It was a surprise to Miles Macdonell that the Company would charter and send her out in such a state.  The officers came down to Gravesend from London and joined their ships, and somewhere about the 25th of June, 1811, they set sail from Sheerness on their mission, which was to become historic—­not so historic, perhaps, as the Mayflower—­but still sufficiently important to deserve a centennial celebration.

The fleet was, however, to take up its passengers after it had passed Duncansby Head, on the north of Scotland.  But the elements on the North Sea were unpropitious.  Sheerness left behind, the trio of vessels had not passed the coast of Norfolk before they were driven into Yarmouth Harbor, and there for days they lay held in by adverse winds.  On July 2nd they again started northward, when they were compelled to return to Yarmouth.

In company they succeeded in reaching Stromness, in the Orkney Isles, in about ten days.  Here the “Prince of Wales” remained and her two companions sailed down to Stornoway on the 17th.

And now, with the storms of the German Ocean left behind, began the opposition of the “Nor’-Westers.”  The “Prince of Wales” brought her contingent from the Orkneys, and on July 25th Miles Macdonell writes that after all the efforts put forth at all the points he had 125 Colonists and employees, and these were in a most unsettled state of mind.

Some dispute the wages offered them.  One party from Galway had not arrived.  Some are irritated at not being in the quarter of the ship which they desired, and some anxiety is evident on the part of Miles Macdonell because large advances of money have been given to a number and he fears that they may desert.  The expenses of assembling the settlers have been very heavy, and now opposition appears.  Sir Alexander’s party are doing their work.  Mr. Reed, Collector of Customs at Stornoway, was married to a niece of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, and as collector he throws every obstacle in the way of Macdonell.  He has also taken pains to stir up discontent in the minds of the Colonists and to advise them not to embark.

Further trouble was caused by a Captain Mackenzie—­called “a mean fellow”—­who proved to be a son-in-law of the Collector of Customs Reed, and who went on board the “Edward and Ann,” recruited as soldiers some of the settlers, himself handing them the enlisting money and then seeking to compel them to leave the ship with him.  Afterwards, Captain Mackenzie came on board the “Edward and Ann” and claimed the new recruits, as deserters from the army.  The Customs officials also boarded the emigrant ship and most officiously proclaimed that if any emigrants were not satisfied, or were not going of their own free will then they might go ashore, and the scene as described by Miles Macdonell may be