The Great Chemifit, Joseph Black. 75 



stones, on which was shook a little hay. On this soft bed I 

 was laid down, and there continued in a state not to be 

 described during the remainder of the voyage ; but the worst 

 is yet to come. 



We arrived at Whitehaven after just 18 hours, and 

 were there obliged to lie at anchor five hours waiting for the 

 tide to bring us in to the pier. To give you a description of 

 the last scene is impossible, for the tide coming in made the 

 vessel roll and toss with double velocity, which you may 

 well judge did not settle our stomachs. Kobin had prepared 

 two of the men to carry me, but the view I got of the long 

 flight of narrow stone steps which we had to ascend to the 

 quay made me exert myself to try my own limbs, and, thank 

 God, I was able to walk safely to the inn. 



As for my companions I do not know which was worst. 

 Robin alone was able to keep his feet though he was some- 

 times extremely sick. Indeed, if you can imagine how busy 

 he was in attending to us poor objects, and ordering the 

 men by turns, you would think he never should have arrived 

 here but for his exertions. Poor Mr. Turnley was like a 

 dead person the whole time : he got into a small boat which 

 was on the deck and lay on one side without stirring or 

 speaking for 23 hours. Mrs. T. and Jenny Gairey were 

 both so frightened that it frequently drove away their sick- 

 ness; the former in particular often surprised me by bouncing 

 up out of a severe fit and calling them to lower the sails 

 and various directions which I now forget. Indeed she put 

 me much in mind of the description you gave of her when 

 the French landed. 



I can't tell you how I am this morning, I am as sore as 

 if I had been pounded in a mortar, and so weak that I can 

 hardly walk, but Mr. Turnley and Robert are so entertaining 

 they just keep me alive." 



The rest of the letter is interesting, but we have no time to 

 give to it. The Turnley family was of Drumnasole, near Cushen- 

 dall, and the name remains yet among our shareholders. 



