382 ARRIVAL OF THE MORAYSHIRE, 
denotes she has a naval officer on board." 
It was the Morayskire, Captain Mathers. 
Having learned from the Dido, but little more 
than a week since, that the ship for removing 
us was not to be here before the latter end of 
July, I could not believe this was the vessel, 
until the ship's boat landed, bringing the com- 
mander of the ship, and Lieutenant Gregorie 
of the Juno, appointed to superintend the em- 
barcation of all those who were disposed to 
accept Her Majesty's most gracious offer ; to 
wit, Norfolk Island and all that appertains 
thereto, for themselves and families. Such an 
unqualified offer of so beautiful a spot as Norfolk 
Island is easier to imagine than realize; but it 
is a bondjide reality to us. 
Saturday, May 3d. Fine weather. Break- 
fast eaten 'with heavy hearts. My family being 
among those appointed to embark first, pre- 
viously to doing so Mrs. Nobbs and myself went 
into the graveyard, where are deposited the re- 
mains of our first-born. Scarcely a word was 
spoken by either one of us, but tears fell freely. 
Why ? Not because we lamented the lot of a 
saint in Christ, but because we were about to 
leave the grave and head-stone, those frail me- 
morials, which had become unspeakably dear to 
us, never to behold them more. The reflections 
caused our tears, and not an ungrateful repining 
that our son was with the Lord. Vale, Reuben, 
till this corruptible shall have put on incor- 
ruption ! 
At Bounty Bay we rejoined those who were to 
