ssed and kissed by the servants and labourers,
who had assembled to see me off, and took my seat on the car with my
father, mother, and eldest brother, for the railway station, where C----
was to meet us.

C---- and I went direct to Liverpool from Drogheda, to which place my
eldest brother accompanied us. My father and mother, having business _en
route_, were to meet us there on the following day.

We had a rough passage to Liverpool, and the steamer was laden with
cattle and pigs, the stench from which, combined with sea-sickness, was,
I recollect, a terrible experience, and it was in no enviable condition
of mind or body we arrived at the Liverpool Docks on a foggy, wet and
dismal morning. My mercantile brother, Tom, came on board, and had all
our belongings speedily conveyed to the lodgings we were to occupy
during our stay. On the following day my father and mother arrived, and
we spent a few days pleasantly seeing the lions of the great city and
visiting friends. On arrival at London we found that we had a week or
more before the ship sailed. Neither my father nor mother had been in
London before; all was as new to them as to us, and we made the best of
the time at our disposal.

On the evening of the day before the ship sailed, after seeing our
luggage on board, and cabins made ready for occupation, we accompanied
my father, mother, and brother to Euston Station, where they were to bid
us God-speed. I was in good spirits till then, but when on the railway
platform, a few minutes before the train started, my dear mother fairly
broke down, and the tears were stealing down my father's cheeks. The
less said about such partings the better; it was soon over, and the
train started. I never saw my dear old father again.

C---- and I, after watching the train disappear, started for the docks,
and before bed-time had made acquaintance with some of our future
_compagnons de voyage_.

The scene on deck was confusing and affecting. Upwards of four hundred
emigrants were on board, and the partings from their friends and
relatives, the kissings and blessings and cryings, mingled with the
shouting of sailors, hauling in of cargo and luggage, and general noise
and confusion incident to starting upon a long voyage, continued without
intermission until we were fairly under weigh about 11 o'clock at night.

After the unusual exertion and excitement of the day, we both slept
soundly, and when we awoke next morning, off Gravesend