Story3

Wednesday Sept 8
Finished the berth today making it very comfortable. The weather has been very fine and the ship going S.S.W. at the rate of about 5 miles an hour - Our mess is formed of 8 Mr & Mrs Gedge who are people that make themselves very agreeable. Mr W Gedge Jnr his nephew, a fine hearted, handsome young fellow - with a most generous heart - who insists on calling me the "Rapid Severn" (I must have after from the "Gentle River"). He has a moustache (a handsome one) and a pair of large dark eyes - that would make any romantic lady fall in love with him - His eyes are large and roll - Mr Meakin - his chum - is a little merry - small eyed good looking chap - He sings "Guy Fawkes" - Mr Taylor - or Montague as he calls himself sometimes - I can make nothing of . He is a Roman Catholic ( and I think a Jesuit). Mr Schjorn a Norwegian - who when he first came could only say �mine� - which he did when any one wished to take any thing that was his. (These are two friends and is most difficult to make them understand). My chum Frank Hewer is a rum chap - he is very young and had but little experience in the world I should say for his speech to his elders is not always what it should be - but he is with that exception a very nice chap - and we agree very well.

Thursday Sept 9
My birthday - up at 6 o�clock - a beautiful morning - had a pipe before breakfast - while they washed the decks - (Note Wished that I had had a lamp to make some hot water to make a cup of Coffee - a �baby food lamp� is the thing that person would find useful. It being my birthday - the Mess insisted on keeping it, and they all purchased some wine to drink my health not allowing me to pay my share. At dinner we had Beef (Preserved) Jam pudding - etc and we were very jolly - But still at times my thoughts ran to England. At about 5 o�clock it began to rain and we could not get on deck - The heat was dreadful below. At about 8 o�clock many of the gentleman at the other end of the Cabin came and insisted on drink my health - they made some Punch between them - and they (there was about 20) drank my health with musical honors - I had to return thanks - which I did and I may say that I was never so publicly toasted before. At their request I recited �The Vulgar little boy� which seems to amuse them exceedingly - for I have had to recite it many times - They then sang songs till 10 o�clock when the rain poring left off, they (according to the regulations) went on the deck - and most of us had retired at about 11.

Friday Sept 10
The wet has cleared off and the morning fine - a ship in sight - caught her up - a Dutchman. They spoke with her - very hot - have a sponging bath nearly every morning - the salt water we have to wash in is very disagreeable.

Saturday Sept 11
The boxes came up today and I was not sorry for I wanted mine badly - I got out all the things I wanted on the voyage and stowed them away in my berth (it being much larger now).

Sunday Sept 12
On every preceding Sunday, a Revd Mr Brumley had read service on the Poop deck - The doctor (whose duty it is to read the service) but who is an ignorant Scotchman of the Scotch Church had refused to read it before was beguiled by some of the chief cabin to read! - and as he passed to take the book from Mr Brumley�s hand who was ready to read it as usual - said to some of the 2nd Cabin passengers - that he�d get through it in 20 minutes. The insult we felt by Mr Maxwell (the doctor) taking the book from Mr Brumley�s hand could only be shown by our leaving the Poop deck - which we did. An appeal was made to the Captain - and in the afternoon we had a service at which one of our Cabin read the prayers - I understand that the Doctor made such dreadful mistakes in the pronunciation of several words in the service. The scene between the two cabins after the morning �service� can not be described - but insults were thrown on both sides.

Monday Sept 13
A notice was stuck up this morning - �That all 2nd Cabin passengers are requested not to frequent the poop deck - except during Divine Service .� This being an insult to us all for none had been there except those who had purchased that privilege. So a letter was written to the Captain asking him to settle the question. They sing and dance on deck as usual - of an evening.

Tuesday Sept 14
The weather continues still the same and the ship sails at about 5 miles an hour. The sea is as blue and as blue as ever. I never credited till now that the sea could be blue. Land in sight - the Island of Palma - but I did not see it. Two or three ships appeared in sight. Amongst the young ladies - in the ship is Miss Goodhall - a very agreeable young lady who has passed much of her time in France. She is generally surrounded with gentlemen for she can converse well and is a very sensible girl. She is very pretty and sings very pretty songs - This is the only lady on board that does sing. The other single ladies Miss Long and Bullen are not what I should call educated girls - the latter who is Irish is the best of the two - but not to equal Miss G. Her mother is a most quiet woman - and her little sisters are very good and obliging little girls. There are some young ladies of the name of Robertson at the other end of the cabin - but who keep themselves so close that few speak to them and those and those that have - met only with a rebuff. This looks very foolish for they sit by themselves - with old worsted gloves on, and speak to nobody.