CROSSING THE CHANNEL, 1779-1849. 119 



system, and be able to apply whichever is thought most 

 suitable in the locality to which they are afterwards 

 transferred. We then went to the school-room, where 

 we found about forty young men, agricultural pupils. 

 Mr Donaghy examined them on the theory and practice 

 of agriculture, in which they appeared to have acquired 

 great proficiency. 



This concluded my agricultural observations in Ire- 

 land, as I left Dublin next day for Kingston and Holy- 

 head. The mail packet, notwithstanding a heavy gale, 

 landed us in about five hours at Holyhead. Seventy 

 years ago, Arthur Young, returning from a tour in Ire- 

 land, thus describes his perilous voyage. On the 17th 

 October, he got on board the packet, but was landed 

 next morning, as the wind was foul : — " On 1 9th Octo- 

 ber, the wind being fair, I went back to the ship ; met 

 with a fresh scene of provoking delays, so that it was 

 the next morning, October 20th, before we sailed. 

 f * * We were, by contrary winds, blown oppo- 

 site to Arklow sands ; a violent gale arose, which pre- 

 sently blew a storm that lasted thirty-six hours, in which, 

 under a reefed mainsail, the ship drifted up and down, 

 wearing in order to keep clear of the coasts. The wind 

 blew in furious gusts ; the waves ran very high ; the 

 cabin windows burst open, and the sea pouring in set 

 everything afloat ; and among the rest, a poor lady who 

 had spread her bed on the floor. We had, however, 

 the satisfaction to find, by trying the pumps every 

 watch, that the ship made little water. It pleased God 



