2 JOURNAL OF A 
standing tlie unpleasant situation, in which, as persons unaccus- 
tomed to the sea, we found ourselves placed, and a secret wish 
to be delivered from it, our desire to proceed was so great, that 
we all thanked God, that we had met with so good a sea-boat, 
keeping so close to the wind, and so determined and skilful a 
conductor. The wind abating towards morning, we soon forgot 
the troubles of the night, and spent the 
5th. Mostly on deck. In the afternoon, however, the weather 
assumed a more unfavourable appearance, and threatened a stormy 
night. Until two in the morning it blew hard. I staid on deck, 
beholding with astonishment the foaming surface of the troubled 
ocean, till the violent rain drove me down. I cannot deny, that 
in the mind of a landsman, the pleasure, occasioned by the no- 
velty and magnificence of such an exhibition, is intermixed with 
some degree of fear, often amounting to an apprehension of dan- 
ger, where in fact there is no sufficient cause. As it was in my 
cabin that I found my imagination most active in conjuring up 
these needless perplexities, my station in rough weather during 
the whole voyage was chiefly on deck, where the courage and skill 
of the captain, and frequent conversation with him and our fellow- 
passenger Mr. Buck, who generally kept me company, dissipated 
all fears. The Start point was the last land we saw through the 
misty atmosphere, and I now took leave, for the present, of dear 
Old England, with a comfortable assurance in my mind, that by 
God's mercy, I should return to it in safety. This assurance 
never forsook me during the whole time of my absence, and 1 
mention it with peculiar thankfulness, as it kept me always cheer- 
ful and contented, Avhether at sea or on land, arid free from those 
misgivings, which, though considered as the mere work of imagi- 
nation, often aftect our peace and happiness even more than real 
evils, 
6th. Though we had all pretty well recovered from sea sick- 
ness, yet with me, it left behind a total want of appetite, which 
during the whole voyage, prevented my partaking of much food. 
DSI 
