led, her masts were short and very stout; and as
her hull was as strong as wood and iron could make it, she was in every
way suited for a long sea voyage. As I had made up my mind to attempt
to carry out some sheep, I divided her hold into compartments, one as a
pen, another for hay and water, a third for implements of agriculture,
and a few select goods which I calculated would sell well, and
provisions for ourselves. In the after part of the vessel were cabins
for my wife, myself, and my daughters, while the boys with the two men
who formed the crew were berthed forward.

Just as my preparations were ready my eldest son returned home from sea,
and delighted he was to find that his next voyage was to be made with
those he loved.

I was fortunate in disposing of my house and the heavier part of my
furniture to advantage, and the remainder I stowed away on board. It is
extraordinary what number of things the little vessel held. There were
numerous casks of water, salted meat, potatoes, bread, rice, and many
other sorts of provisions for six or seven months. I had no wish to be
starved; then there was the hay for the sheep, which I got pressed into
very tight packages in a way since become common, and by the time the
sheep came on board there was not much space to spare, I can assure you.

When all was ready for sea, my wife and I and all my children took a
last farewell of the house where we had lived, and the neighbours we had
known so many years, and we then went to church to pray God for a safe
passage, and as soon as service was over we returned on board, and that
evening dropped down the Thames. I have not yet said a word about the
sheep, for I did not take them on board till afterwards. I was
acquainted with a man at Hamburg who understood sheep well, and to him I
had written to buy for me the two finest merino rams he could find, and
four ewes of the same breed. I calculated that I could not carry hay
and water for more. We had fine summer weather and a fair wind to carry
us across Channel, and when I put into Hamburg to take the sheep on
board, I found that my friend had not disappointed me; he had in truth
selected six magnificent animals, and I felt certain that if I could
carry them safely to the colony they would fetch a pretty high price.
Having filled up one water-cask, we again put to sea, and were now
fairly on our voyage.

We had a beautiful run down Channel, and indeed from first to last
Pr