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The New York Historical Society 
 
 The John Divine Jones Fund Series 
 
 OF 
 
 Histories and Memoirs, 
 ii 
 
Of this letter-press edition two hundred 
 copies have been printed for sale. 
 
 No. ^Q 
 
 June, jgob. 
 
LOUISA SUSANNAH (WELLS) AIRMAN 
 
THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 FROM 
 
 Charlestown, S. C, to London 
 
 UNDERTAKEN DURING THE 
 
 AMERICAN REVOLUTION 
 
 BY A DAUGHTER OF AN EMINENT 
 AMERICAN LOYALIST 
 
 [LOUISA SUSANNAH WELLS] Aikma, 
 
 IN THE YEAR 1778 
 
 AND WRITTEN FROM MEMORY ONLY 
 IN 1779 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
 
 1906 
 

 out 
 
 Publisher 
 '06 
 
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY, 1906. 
 
 PRESIDENT, 
 
 SAMUEL VERPLANCK HOFFMAN. 
 
 FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT, 
 
 FREDERIC WENDELL JACKSON. 
 
 SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT, 
 
 FRANCIS ROBERT SCHELL. 
 
 FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 
 
 ARCHER MILTON HUNTINGTON. 
 
 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 
 
 GEORGE RICHARD SCHIEFFELIN. 
 
 RECORDING SECRETARY, 
 
 ACOSTA NICHOLS. 
 
 TREASURER, 
 
 CHARLES AUGUSTUS SHERMAN. 
 
 LIBRARIAN, 
 
 ROBERT HENDRE KELBY. 
 
 MCMVI. 
 
Committee on Publications. 
 
 DANIEL PARISH, Jr. 
 
 FREDERIC WENDELL JACKSON. 
 
 ROBERT H. KELBY. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 "The John Divine Jones Fund Series" has been so named by 
 The New York Historical Society in honor of their enlightened and gener- 
 ous fellow-member, the late John Divine Jones, whose great interest in the 
 history of his native State has led him to endow the Society with a fund 
 of six thousand dollars for publishing works of an historical nature which 
 may not fall within the scope of its ordinary " Publication Fund." 
 
 The object of the Series is fully set forth in the Plan and Declaration 
 of Trust on which the Society formally accepted the gift of the Fund for 
 its establishment. It is to print, publish, and sell, under the direction of 
 the Publication Committee of the Society: 
 
 First, Such manuscript historical and biographical writings, memoirs, 
 documents, and records, private or public, official or not official, ecclesi- 
 astical or secular, civil or military, which shall relate to, or illustrate, the 
 history of New York as a Colony or a State, or the history of any of the 
 Dutch, English, or French, colonies in America, and which shall have been 
 written prior to the year 1800. 
 
 Second, Such historical works or documents relating to the history of 
 New York, or that of the United States, or of either of them, which shall 
 treat of, or relate to, events or persons, which shall have happened, or 
 who shall have died, at least fifty years prior to the publication of the 
 same. 
 
 Third, That the cost of the volumes be paid out of the Fund; the vol- 
 umes so printed to be sold under the direction of the Publication Commit- 
 tee; and when the proceeds have been received, the same to be employed 
 in the printing of other volumes, which in their turn are to be sold, and 
 thus permanently to continue the issue of the Series. 
 
 Fourth, That under no circumstances shall any new volume or vol- 
 umes be put to press until the proceeds of the sales of the preceding 
 volume or volumes shall be in the possession of the Society, to an amount 
 which shall in the judgment of the Executive Committee be equal to the 
 cost of producing such new volume or volumes. 
 
PUBLICATIONS OF THE JOHN DIVINE JONES FUND 
 SERIES OF HISTORIES AND MEMOIRS. 
 
 I. — History of New York During the Revolutionary 
 War. By Thomas Jones. Edited by Edward F. de Lancey. With 
 Notes, Contemporary Documents, Maps, and Portraits. 8vo. Two 
 Volumes. New York, 1879. Price $15.00. 
 
 II. — The Journal of a Voyage from Charlestown, S. C, 
 to London, Undertaken during the American Revolution. 
 By a Daughter of an Eminent American Loyalist [Louisa Susannah 
 Wells]. Svo, pp. 132. Portrait and Facsimile page. New York, 
 1906. Price $2.00. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This volume, comprising " The Journal of a Voyage from 
 Charlestown, S. C, in the year 1778, by Miss Louisa Susannah 
 Wells," completes the second publication of The John Divine 
 Jones Fund Series. 
 
 The Journal is reproduced frorn a verbatim copy from the 
 original by Mr. W. G. Aikman, of Glasgow, Scotland, great- 
 grandson of the authoress. The portrait is from a miniature 
 painted about 181 5. 
 
 Miss Wells married, January 14, 1782, Mr. Alexander Aik- 
 man, Printer to the House of Assembly and King's Printer, 
 Jamaica, W. L, and for many years a member of that body. 
 
 The Index is by the Librarian of the Society. 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 ' Portrait of Louisa Susannah (Weli.s) Airman . Facing Title-page. 
 - Facsimile of Handwriting of Authoress . . " page i 
 
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THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 
 
 London, May 3rd 1779. 
 
 On the 27th of June, my uncle Robert Rowand, his son 
 Charles Elliot, Miss Frances Thorney, my maid Bella, and 
 I, went on board the Ship " Providence " formerly L'Esper- 
 ance, Richard Stevens, Master, a native of Triero in New 
 England, bound to Rotterdam. The other Passengers were 
 Mr. Manson, Owner, Mrs and Miss Manson, and three 
 other children, the youngest not two months old. Mr and 
 Mrs Henry, Mr and Mrs Weir and a Mr Falconer ; master 
 of a Jamaica ship, which had been captured and brought 
 into Charlestown; but from his great age was liberated. 
 We soon dropped down to the Roads, where we lay wind 
 bound for several days. 
 
 I cannot help here relating a trifling circumstance as it 
 will show you to what necessity we were reduced for the want 
 of British Manufactures. With much difficulty and trouble, 
 I obtained three eighths of a yard of black serge; I pur- 
 chased a pair of clumsy shoe heels of a Jew ; and in an ob- 
 scure Lane, I found out a Negro Shoe Maker, who said he 
 could make for Ladies. I deny that he could fit them. My 
 shoes had no binding, were lined with French sail-Duck, 
 and the heels were covered with Leather. On stepping out 
 of the Boat, to go up the side of the ship, one of my dear- 
 bought shoes slipped off. I exclaimed, "then I must go 
 barefooted to Europe " ! Our Captain declared he would 
 
2 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 go to the bottom of the sea first, and almost leaping over the 
 stern, he saved my shoe. Our fears for his safety were not 
 small. On coming on board one of the ladies lent me a 
 Morocco Slipper, two she could not spare. I used to darn 
 my stockings with the ravellings of another, and we flossed 
 out our old Silk Gowns to spin together with Cotton to knit 
 our gloves. In the Country the Ladies were forced to use 
 the thorns of the Orange Tree instead of Pins. 
 
 On this day many boats were employed in carrying up 
 Palmetto Trees and Boughs to celebrate, in Town, the Anni- 
 versary of the ever inglorious 28th of June 1776! We 
 saw the ruins of the Palmetto Fort on Sullivan's Island, 
 now, Fort Moultrie. The Cannon Balls of the Ships under 
 Sir Peter Parker, lodged in the logs as in a sponge. 
 
 On the 1st of July, the wind proving fair, we weighed 
 Anchor, having a Black Pilot on Board, to whom we prom- 
 ised a hundred dollars, Congress, if he would carry us safely 
 over the Bar. As we passed the Point at Fort Johnston, a 
 providential escape I had of being drowned occurred to my 
 memory. I was but ten years old when I attended my 
 Mother with two Infant Sisters, both ill of the Hooping- 
 Cough. We had an apartment in the Governor of the 
 Fort's house, Col. Robert Howarth. I was tired of a Sick- 
 room, and slipped out one day after dinner to walk on the 
 Beach, and seeing the Point uncovered, I imagined it 
 reached to Sullivan's Island, and I thought I might go 
 thither with ease, and be back before dark. The Governor 
 happened luckily to be looking over the Battery, and called 
 out as loud as possibly he could through a Speaking Trum- 
 pet, to run as fast as I could or I would be swallowed up 
 in the Sea. He dispatched a Soldier to my assistance, and 
 in a quarter of an hour I saw the Sand-Bank covered with 
 surf ! Before that, I had escaped drowning in a Pond in 
 King Street, being pushed off a narrow bridge, of two 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 3 
 
 planks, by a mischievous girl, who wanted to get before me : 
 but saved by the presence of mind of another, a girl about 
 1 2 years old, the eldest daughter of Cato Ash ; who ran home 
 to her Mother and told her my disaster, who sent a man to 
 take me out. My other comrades were wringing their hands 
 lamenting my untimely fate. I fell on my side, but should 
 soon have been suffocated as the mud had got into one 
 Nostril. The sequel of my voyage will prove that, a watery 
 Grave is not yet ready for me. 
 
 Perhaps you do not know what gave rise to the name 
 the Sea-Island called Coffin Land? I will tell you. When 
 the Hudson's Bay Company obtained so much interest with 
 the then existing Ministry as to have the flourishing Scots 
 Colony of Darien broke up, and its inhabitants recalled: 
 Three large Ships were purchased and fitted up for the 
 reception of such a cargo and sent. One of them was called 
 the " Rising Sun." For what reason she anchored on our 
 Coast I know not, perhaps for provisions or Water, but one 
 of their Clergymen, the Revd. Stobo hearing there was a 
 Scots Presbyterian Meeting House and Congregation on 
 John's Island, came on shore with his wife, the next day, 
 being Sunday and preached to them. A Storm arose in the 
 night, and wrecked the ship on " Coffin Land." Between 
 three and four hundred souls perished. Many of the dead 
 bodies were washed on shore, Women with their infants 
 clasped to their breasts were found cast up on this Island. 
 Mr Stobo soon after was preacher to that Meeting, and I 
 knew his Daughter, old Mrs. Joseph Stanyarne. His great- 
 grand daughter Miss E. Stobo is amongst the number of my 
 correspondents in Carolina. Another of these ships was 
 lost on another part of the American Coast, and only one 
 arrived safe to Scotland to carry the melancholy news. The 
 wreck (of the Rising Sun) was very lately seen by my 
 Uncle and he drew from it several great Nails which are 
 
4 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 now to be seen in the Live Oak Tree near his house at Stone- 
 Landing. 
 
 Every Person on board the " Providence " were banished 
 except Captain Stevens. Never did any of us experience 
 joy, so truly, as when we found ourselves in the wide Ocean, 
 out of the dominion of Congress. You know the many 
 difficulties the poor Tories had to encounter in procuring 
 ships, getting Men &c. The poor Pilot by whose skill we 
 were indebted for safety, seemed to enjoy our happiness, 
 independent of our contribution, above his Master's fee. 
 The Pilot boat sailed ahead and tracked our way, notwith- 
 standing which we struck twice on this dangerous Bar. We 
 had just reason to suspect that the Pilot of the " True 
 Briton," Jamaica Ship (afterwards the " Prosper " Man of 
 War, and purchased by Sir Edmund Head and Mr Kincaid, 
 who restored her original name) had been bribed to run 
 that unfortunate vessel on the Shoals. These Tories were 
 obliged to return to Town, unload the Cargo, and the bottom 
 of the ship to be repaired, which detained them many months. 
 For this reason we chose a Negro Pilot, their's was a 
 White man. Never shall I forget poor Bluff's (the name of 
 the Pilot) anxiety when our Hay-Stack of a ship missed 
 Stays on the Bar! He said he was a true friend to British 
 Manufactures and that was as much Loyalty as he durst 
 own, but these Revolution times was not so good as before 
 for poor Negroes. 
 
 London, May 5th 1779. 
 
 Captain Stevens, too, had been ill used in Charlestown. 
 We therefore turned our backs on the Land, which soon dis- 
 appeared and Captain Stevens sinking a ballast stone said 
 " When that rises, I return." I really joined him from my 
 heart. 
 
 A finer breeze, or rather gale, could not blow out of the 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 5 
 
 heavens, for us. It was S. West. I have since learned that 
 our friends in Charlestown were apprehensive for our safety, 
 the wind being so high. In about seventy hours we had 
 sailed near One hundred and fifty leagues N.N.E. from 
 whence we took our departure, viz. from the Steeple of 
 Saint Michael's Church, now rendered perfectly distinct 
 from being painted black, as well as the Beacon, on the Coast 
 (the Light-house was partly demolished) never being now 
 mistaken for clouds as formerly, when white. Thus has 
 their own caution defeated its own purpose — the Americans 
 thought to conceal their Land-marks from British Invaders. 
 Everything went on extremely well, and every one seemed 
 desirous of pleasing each other. Some of us were Sea sick 
 to be sure, but, I escaped pretty well, till the third night, 
 when every Man, Woman, and Child were " casting up their 
 accounts." Poor Miss Thorney was in a sad plight, but we 
 made shift to compose ourselves to sleep. I must here men- 
 tion a trifling dispute which happened between Captain Fal- 
 coner and Captain Stevens. We all concluded that we had 
 got out of the track of His Majesty's Cruisers and had there- 
 fore settled matters accordingly. Captain Stevens said he 
 should hoist Irish Colours, viz the Bell and Harp, as soon 
 as we should arrive in the British Channell, and possibly 
 might escape to Holland unnoticed, especially if the Ladies 
 would go upon deck ; for our present simple unadorned mode 
 of dress might make us pass for Irish Girls ! It would there- 
 by save us the trouble and vexation of an Admiralty-suit. 
 The old Gentleman, Falconer, insisted that if any colours 
 were shewn they should be the Thirteen Stripes, as any du- 
 plicity, if discovered, would argue against us — that it would 
 be our interest to be taken and carried into a British Fort, 
 as we did not know the trouble, nor, perhaps, the enormous 
 expense we might be put to amongst the Dutch. In this 
 opinion we all agreed, and the Bell and Harp was silenced. 
 
6 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 The Wind still increased, and several squalls ensued ; the 
 ship too, was excessively leaky, occasioned by taking in a 
 part of her cargo, six months before. This left two planks 
 of her hold above Water, which when our Indigo and To- 
 bacco were put on board, sunk them below the edge of the 
 water at the Wharf. Guess then how much we gained in 
 our Pumps by the straining of the Ship in the Gales? We 
 thought it not dangerous, but excessively fatiguing to our 
 small complement of Men, among which was not a good sea- 
 man, excepting the Master and Second Mate. Poor Stevens 
 had just thrown himself into his cot, with his clothes on, 
 when the Watch cried out, " A Sail, a Sail ! wear or we shall 
 be on board of her; but, she does not see us." Guess our 
 alarm. " All hands upon deck." We dreaded more our 
 American Friends and our new Allies the French at that 
 time, than a Man of War belonging to Lord Howe's Squad- 
 ron, notwithstanding it would be very disagreeable to be car- 
 ried into a British Port on the Western Shore of the Atlan- 
 tic. In wearing the Ship, and carrying so much more sail, 
 our little moveables in the cabin and State rooms began both 
 to zvalk and talk. The first thing which awakened me was 
 my work basket and a parcel of books tumbling off a shelf 
 upon my head. I got up, asked for a light, but this was 
 denied me, as we were running from an Enemy, who was 
 then in chase of us. I slipped on a wrapping gown, groped 
 about for some letters which had been delivered to me, by 
 the Wives of several Loyalists, to their husbands, in Eng- 
 land, with a charge " not to part with them while art, 
 strength or life remained." I put them into my bed and sat 
 down on the side of it to ruminate on our mishap in not 
 steering a point or two to the Eastward. The gentlemen 
 went upon deck, and we were within hail of the other ship, 
 when a Gun was fired to bring to, it flashed, a second was 
 fired, and the ball went through our rigging. They then 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 7 
 
 hailed us " Whence from, where bound &c." to which we an- 
 swered without hesitation. They then hoisted out a boat, 
 which was well manned to take us, as a prise. The boat 
 passed under our stern, and as I was then sitting on one of 
 the Lockers at the Cabin window I heard a voice cry out 
 " Get ropes ready " ; at this moment a Volley of Musketry 
 was poured on the deck from the Ship. The Shot whistled 
 over the Passengers' heads, upon which they came below, 
 not being yet willing to leave this World. The Man at the 
 Pump was shot through the hat, upon which every sailor 
 quitted the Deck and went under hatches, none but poor 
 Stevens being left to combat a twenty gun ship, the people 
 on board of which swearing at him for not laying to; how- 
 ever the Lieutenant, and his men in the boat, boarding us, 
 soon relieved him from his solitude by taking him prisoner. 
 After placing a proper Guard, the Officer descended but with 
 great' seeming reluctance I was told. He drew his sword, 
 whilst Stevens searched for the Ship's papers. I was struck 
 with the Lieutenant's height and bold appearance and, recol- 
 lecting myself, was not a little disconcerted at discovering 
 that I had no cap on, my hair hung loose and dishevelled, 
 and neither Shoes nor Stockings on my feet. I stole unob- 
 served to my bed, and peeped through the door curtains to 
 see what was going forward. Mr Lock, for that was the 
 name of the officer, supposed us to be French, at least our 
 vessel had that appearance. He was not far wrong in his 
 conjecture, for, Mr Manson had purchased her of some 
 Frenchmen in Carolina ; and although she was British built ; 
 she was entirely altered in her Masts and Rigging. She ap- 
 peared so large and high out of the water, they took us for 
 a ship of great force. Lieut. Lock had therefore orders to 
 carry every Male on board of the " Rose," the name of our 
 Captor Ship, which was commanded by James Reid Esq., 
 Our conqueror soon sheathed his weapon, on seeing such a 
 
8 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 number of helpless Women and Children, but " owned he 
 was uneasy at coming below amongst so many people, still 
 thinking us French." Captain Stevens had been a great 
 while in the Danish Service, and therefore spoke English like 
 a Foreigner; and besides we had several French sailors on 
 board. As soon as the Papers were got ready the Master 
 and Owner accompanied the Lieutenant, in order to explain 
 our situation to Captain Reid, but without success. This 
 hungry Vulture guessed the value of our cargo, as coming 
 from Carolina, and would hear nothing in our defence. He 
 desired Mr Manson to particularise the contents of the 
 Hold. " Seven hundred Tierces of Rice, Seventy casks In- 
 digo and seventeen Hogsheads Tobacco." " Seventy of the 
 latter you mean." " No Sir " returned Mr Manson. " It 
 is no matter," resumed this disgrace to the British Navy, " I 
 shall know when the Court of Admiralty shall condemn the 
 ' Providence ' and Cargo as my lawful prize at New York." 
 Upon finding this, Mr Manson left the ' Rose,' and returned 
 to us, with his heart full of pride, indignation and resent- 
 ment at being thus treated by the servants of that King for 
 whom we all had suffered so much. It seemed necessary to 
 treat us as Enemies until he chose to consider us as Friends ! 
 
 London, May 6th 1779. 
 
 Lieutenant Lock also came back, and brought with him 
 another officer, McBride I think was his name. The former 
 comforted us as well as he was able, adding that we had not 
 any great reason to believe our Ship should be condemned. 
 Captain Reid had requested it as a favour of him to be Prize 
 Master of our Ship but Mr. Lock refused, being Lieutenant 
 of the ' Rose ' he had no right to be out of her, but as the 
 other officers seemed to decline, he had offered to come and 
 board us, however, after spending an hour or two with us, 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON Q 
 
 he said he would so far oblige himself as to remain in the 
 ' Providence ' until we arrived in Port, were it only to be 
 away from Captain Reid, who had the happiness of knowing 
 that he was disliked by most of his officers. I ordered the 
 cabin boy to set Wine on the table, for we had saved a little 
 out of the fire in January, for which Mr. Manson and my 
 Uncle thanked me, as it did not occur to them. Lieut. 
 Lock's toast was " a happy sight of New York " the other 
 said " Well here's d — n to Charlestown." This rude deputy 
 of Captain Reid soon quitted the cabin, to examine our Hen- 
 coops, and said he had orders to carry on board of the 
 ' Rose ' six Geese, six Ducks, six Turkeys and twelve Dung- 
 hill Cocks and hens ! My Uncle forbade him " at his peril 
 to touch them, as he had no right to a single article in the 
 Vessel until condemned by the Courts." He said " the Cap- 
 tain wanted them, and if we gained our cause, he could af- 
 ford to pay for them." Matters were not settled until eight 
 o'clock in the morning, when old Mr Falconer recollected 
 that the Ship had not been pumped for many hours. The 
 whole Ship's company, with several of the Sailors belonging 
 to the ' Rose ' wrought hard, for a considerable time, before 
 they could clear her of the water she had gained in that time. 
 Indeed, Lieut. Lock frequently observed to us, during his 
 stay in our ship, that ultimately we should think it providen- 
 tial in having fallen in with the ' Rose ' as the ' Providence ' 
 would not have swam across the Atlantic. She was pumped 
 every two hours till the men were heartily tired, in the re- 
 mainder of the Voyage. Our running rigging was also very 
 bad, and, one day, with very little stress, our main sheet gave 
 way. Had I attempted to have written my Journal last year 
 I should have made but a poor hand at it, as I was then alto- 
 gether unacquainted with the technical terms used on board 
 of a ship, never having been afloat but in a Canoe or spend- 
 ing an afternoon in the Cabin of a Packet-boat. 
 
IO THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 The day of our capture was the 4th of July, the day the 
 unfortunate weather-beaten Admiral Byron and his fleet met 
 with their disaster! It was very squally, and, with all our 
 exertions, we could not keep up with the ' Rose.' In the 
 afternoon we all took to our beds, to try if we could rest, 
 and get refreshed after our fatigue and fright, when lo! 
 Tables, Chairs and every thing which was not lashed, came 
 flying to leeward ! The Gentlemen got up, but the Officer on 
 duty had ordered them to shorten sail, as our topmasts had 
 nearly gone by the board (or been carried away). Mr Lock 
 made a signal to our convoy, to wait until we should come 
 up with them, we being altogether defenceless, should we 
 meet a Foe. The ' Rose's ' people brought a few Musquets, 
 but before we had only one pair of Pistols, and they were in 
 my Trunk, the Tories being all disarmed before they left 
 Charlestown. 
 
 On the 5th we began to be a little better acquainted with 
 our new Commander, and he seemed perfectly satisfied with 
 his new situation ; he declared " he had never been so happy 
 at sea in his life before, never, till then, had he been blessed 
 with the company of Ladies ". Captain Reid was every day 
 sending us some uncivil message, such as, expressions of as- 
 tonishment that he (Lieut. Lock) sent no letters for exami- 
 nation ; surely he had not searched the Ladies trunks &c, at 
 last Lieut. Lock was provoked at such rudeness, " Tell him 
 I have searched Trunks, but can find nothing." We opened 
 them for him, but, the melancholy effusions of separated 
 families were committed to my care for we had no other 
 papers to hide. 
 
 By the first boat, Mr Lock sent to his Mess for a loaf of 
 Sugar and some Lemons, to give us a treat, such delicacies 
 we had not partook of for a long, long time; also some Port 
 Wine for one of the Men who was sick. I mention this to 
 show Mr Lock's humanity as well as his politeness. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOVVN TO LONDON II 
 
 London, May 7th 1779, 6 O'clock a. m. 
 
 Yon see how punctual I am, and how resolved to go 
 through with my task ! You must own 'tis an Herculean 
 Labour? There is not one woman, in the Parish of St. 
 Bride above the rank of a Housemaid or Washerwoman, 
 stirring yet, but I must not take all the credit of early rising 
 to myself; my Father having a repairing Lease, of twenty 
 one' years, of this Llouse, (in Salisbury Square) the Premises 
 are full of Masons, carpenters, Bricks, Mortar and Wood, 
 from five in the morning until seven at night. Helen and 
 I take it alternately to superintend, or rather to watch them; 
 we are in London, the centre of knavery, however you may 
 well remember my habit of early rising; and tho' this day is 
 not mine to rise soon, I chose it, lest Indolence should con- 
 quer me. Truly, that kills more than the sword ! In your 
 climate, the only time for recovering from the relaxation 
 which perpetual Summer must produce will be before Sun- 
 rise. I shall certainly know when I go there, in the mean- 
 time I hasten to finish my narrative of last year. 
 
 On the third night, viz: July 7th, in the second Watch, 
 the ' Rose ' made a signal of another sail, which she intended 
 to give chace to, and, that we must bear away after her. 
 This was not very agreeable, as it obliged us to wear and 
 alter our course. Towards daylight we came up with the 
 chace, which vessel proved to be the ' Active ' Privateer of 
 Liverpool. Captain Powell. This Ship had taken, the day 
 before, a Schooner which had left Charlestown the same day 
 on which we sailed. The Schooner's people had informed 
 Powell of our being out, and he was then in pursuit of us ; 
 however he would not have found us : for we should have 
 been a good way from both that Latitude and Longitude, for 
 as I observed before, we kept a N.N.E. course and had in- 
 tended to do so for some days. 
 
12 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 I was much amused when in the Gulph Stream with the 
 Flying-Fish which abound there, and with the Gulph Weed 
 floating about. Well might poor Columbus be deceived and 
 conjecture himself not far from Land! 
 
 When we had finished our conference with the ' Active ' 
 we again steered for the high land of Never Sink, on the 
 Coast of New Jersey. As we drew nearer to the Coast 
 Lieut. Lock observed we might expect to meet with several 
 Cruisers, and from them we might learn some news, Par- 
 ticularly if Philadelphia was evacuated by the British Fleet 
 and Army, as such a report had prevailed in Carolina, and 
 had contributed not a little to the success of the Abjuration- 
 Oath. The ' Rose ' had been out on a month's Cruize, and, 
 therefore knew less than we did ; but, we were soon put out 
 of doubt, although unwilling to believe it; the next day we 
 spoke the ' Camilla ', ' Zebra ' and ' Nautilus ' Men of War. 
 They gave their intelligence to Mr Cole, acting Lieutenant, 
 who brought the ' Rose ' alongside of us in the evening, Cap- 
 tain Reid being laid up with the Gout. He informed us 
 " that Philadelphia and all Pennsylvania was left to the 
 " Rebels, and that, the King's troops were retreating 
 " through the Jersies, and also that they had a severe conflict 
 " on the 28th of June in a battle fought at Monmouth Court 
 " House; in which the British were worsted. They had left 
 " several wounded to be taken care of! " and also " that there 
 certainly was a French Fleet of great force, mostly of the 
 Line, in Chesapeak Bay." The latter news staggered us a 
 good deal, but we would not suffer ourselves to believe it; 
 however as a proof of its truth " Lord Howe had ordered all 
 " the Cruisers belonging to His Majesty, into New York 
 " harbour, whither these three were bound ". 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 13 
 
 London, May 8th 1779 
 
 After receiving this news, we soon made soundings, and 
 in the morning of July 9th we espied Never Sink. I was 
 not well enough to get up and see what gave every person 
 on board so much pleasure, having caught a severe cold, by 
 sitting upon deck, late at night. The next day however I 
 ventured up to see, what my eyes had never before beheld, 
 namely High Land ! You cannot conceive my surprise and 
 astonishment! I expected to have seen the Land towards 
 the head of the Vessel, but, as I came up stairs, I chanced to 
 turn my eyes to the left, I exclaimed, like a fool, " we shall 
 soon have a thunderstorm for that heavy black cloud por- 
 tends it." This speech decided a wager in my Uncle Row- 
 and's favour, who betted that I would mistake the land for 
 a Cloud. 
 
 But I have omitted to mention one material adventure 
 which we met with before soundings were made and which 
 made us all very serious till we were safely anchored in the 
 midst of Lord Howe's Fleet at Sandy Hook, but this, with 
 the remainder of the subject I must defer till a more con- 
 venient season. 
 
 London, May 12th 1779. 
 
 In the evening of the 8th day of July, 1778, our whole 
 group being assembled on the Quarter-Deck, Lieut. Lock re- 
 quested us all to be silent for he believed he heard some Guns. 
 We were soon convinced that he was not mistaken, as we all 
 heard them plain enough. We guessed the sounds to pro- 
 ceed from some engagement between a British Cruiser and 
 an American, and, from the firing ceasing, supposed the prize 
 to be taken. The quarter from whence the report came, the 
 time &c, the Lieutenant noted in his pocket book, in order 
 
14 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 to have a share, should his conjecture prove true. Next 
 morning being hazy, we saw nothing ; but about four o'clock 
 in the afternoon, the look-out at the Main-top Mast-head 
 cried out " a Fleet, a Fleet " ! We then concluded it must 
 be some of the Transports from Philadelphia or at any rate 
 the appearance of these Vessels accounted for the Guns 
 which we heard the day before. The guns must have been 
 fired as signals for carrying proper sail during the night, &c. 
 About sunset some of the ships were pretty near us, so that 
 I, short-sighted as I am, could see them plainly with my 
 naked eye ! 
 
 We had the precaution to nail a sail-cloth before the 
 Cabin Windows and to be careful of shewing lights, lest 
 they might be Enemies; various were our conjectures. 
 Some of us dreamt and others believed them to be the French 
 Fleet of the Line which we had heard of, but Lieutenant 
 Lock would not hear of such a thing. He said the French 
 Ministry knew better what to do with their ships than to 
 send them to the Americans ; but, if they were, he was sure 
 there was a superior force just at their heels. We might, 
 possibly, see some of them before we got into port, and, per- 
 haps have a share in the booty ! Thus did he endeavour to 
 quiet his own and our fears. He said it would be a dreadful 
 thing to be taken prisoner just at the beginning of a French 
 War, merely from being out of his own ship ; for the ' Rose ' 
 although a dull sailor, could easily have left us and made the 
 best of her way, however, we went to bed tolerably composed 
 and slept pretty soundly till four o'clock, the first Watch 
 being kept by the younger part of our Company, and it was 
 by those imprudencies I took my sickness. Mr Allan, one 
 of the Master's Mates who had been sent on board to assist 
 our Commander in navigating the Prize, called up Lieut. 
 Lock and told him the Fleet astern must be French, as we 
 Avere so near that he could discern the difference in their rig- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 1 5 
 
 ging from that of the English ships, and that unless more 
 sail was made in an hour's time we should be in the midst 
 of them. Mr Allan and Mr Lock both went ahead to hail 
 our Convoy, and to tell the danger we were in. There 
 seemed to be no Watch kept there at least no lookout. We 
 accordingly crowded sail, and, by ten o'clock, left the Fleet 
 greatly astern. In this distant manner did they keep during 
 the rest of the voyage. On the i ith of July, in the morning 
 of which day, we got a Pilot on board, every Boat we met 
 hailed and asked us if the Fleet was Admiral Byron's or 
 L'Comte D'Estaing's? We told them they were wiser than 
 ourselves in that respect, for that we had had no conversa- 
 tion with these great folks, as we made them keep their dis- 
 tance, or, rather, had kept ours. By this time we got up to 
 the Light-House it was Tide of Ebb and no wind, from 
 which circumstances and the very bad condition of our sails 
 and running rigging we were under the necessity of lying to ; 
 but our " trusty and well beloved Cousin " James Reid 
 Esq., made off as fast as he could crowd, nor did he stop 
 until he found himself surrounded by half a dozen double 
 Deckers at Sandy Hook. You will observe that, by water, 
 a gouty old Fellow could run faster than an active young 
 Officer. 
 
 Lieut. Lock went down to the Cabin, in order to dress, as 
 he expected to be ordered on board of the Admiral's Ship as 
 soon as we should anchor ; but, being very uneasy, he came 
 up on deck, before he had half finished this, to some young 
 Gentlemen very important business, to see if everything was 
 going on right above. What was his astonishment when he 
 found we had drifted with the tide, above a mile since he 
 left the Watch ! In a very short time we should have been 
 with our good Friends for they had anchored only three 
 miles below the Light-House. A gentle breeze sprang up as 
 if to our assistance, and we hoisted sail, though not without 
 
l6 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 some seamen's blessings on the Pilot, for his great care and 
 attention. 
 
 We were soon hailed by the ' Swift ' Sloop of War! who 
 was going down to reconnoitre. We could give her no sat- 
 isfactory answers but obeyed her orders in getting out of her 
 way as fast as we could. She at length got near enough to 
 give the Fleet the signal of the day, which they not answer- 
 ing, settled the point at once; for till that moment Lieut. 
 Lock never allowed himself to think they were any other 
 than an English Fleet. The ' Swift ' was so apprehensive of 
 being taken that she threw out all her boats in order to be 
 towed in, but the wind increasing she had no occasion for 
 them. All the comfort we had was that the ' Swift ' would 
 be taken first, for we were far from being out of danger, had 
 the Comt D'Estaing chose to send a Frigate after us. We 
 had the mortification to see five or six vessels taken by the 
 enemy that day, which were bound to New York, but did 
 not know of its Harbour being blocked up. 
 
 London, May 16th 1779. 
 
 Again I return to my favourite task. In our way up to 
 the Hook we met with a deal of rubbish floating down with 
 the tide, such as Hen coops, washing tubs &c, &c, which 
 Lieut. Lock said gave him great pleasure, as the ships under 
 Lord Howe were clearing their Decks for action, which he 
 supposed, and hoped, would commence the next morning. 
 Lieut. Lock seemed delighted to think that he had got in 
 time enough to have some share in the glory, and though he 
 were " to lose a Leg or a Wing ", to use the sea phrase " yet 
 it would be fighting against the faithless French " our long 
 and unnatural enemies. 
 
 As the day had been exceedingly hot and sultry the Ele- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 1 7 
 
 ments seemed to threaten a War above, we therefore made 
 as much haste as possible to our station. We went through 
 the midst of the Fleet, almost every ship of which hailed us, 
 asking " Whose Prize that was "? " from whence " &c. To 
 the first query our Lieutenant seldom gave any answer, being 
 very dubious of her becoming that of the ' Rose '. 
 
 The sight of so many interesting objects did not fail to 
 keep as many upon deck as could crawl out of their state- 
 rooms. I did my endeavour, but not without some assist- 
 ance, as my curiosity was too far excited not to wish to have 
 it gratified. I indulged it in asking the names of the differ- 
 ent ships as we passed them, and, was particularly pleased 
 to find the ' Experiment ' there, commanded by Sir James 
 Wallace, my Father's intimate and sincere friend ; he having 
 been promoted to that ship for the many, and signal services 
 which he had performed at Rhode-Island and at New York, 
 since the American War : particularly against the Batteries 
 in the North River, prior to the taking of the City of New 
 York from the Rebels in i jj6 in our- little Rise. 
 
 We flattered ourselves that a man of Sir James Wallace's 
 character and reputation might have some influence with 
 those in power, and, might possibly, prevent our vessel and 
 cargo from being libelled in the Court of Admiralty: We 
 mentioned this to our commander who promised to let Mr 
 Manson and my uncle have a boat early next morning in 
 order to try their eloquence with Sir James, Adieu. 
 
 May 1 8th 1779. 
 
 Memory like many other faculties of the Mind and 
 powers of the Body, only needs exercise to bring it to per- 
 fection ! My time is not my own. I am often under the 
 necessity of breaking off, perhaps at a most interesting part, 
 
l8 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 however, as I hate digressions fully as much as you do, I will 
 endeavour to resume the thread of my story. 
 
 The Squall which threatened us, now began to operate 
 in a most furious manner ; the Billows tumbled, Ships rolled, 
 and several boats were lost. The Wind was exceedingly 
 high, and thunder, lightening, and rain accompanied it. Our 
 Officers were all upon deck, attending the sails &c, fearing 
 we should run foul of some of our neighbours, which we were 
 frequently in danger of doing : but almost in the middle of 
 this scene of confusion they espied a boat making towards 
 our ship. With great difficulty she made the side of our ves- 
 sel. Mr Lock had strongly suspected all that day that Captain 
 Reid would send for him as soon as we anchored at the 
 Hook; nor was he far mistaken. Mr Hargood, Purser of 
 the ' Rose ' was in the Boat, and had orders to supersede our 
 friend, as Prize Master of the ' Providence ' ! Loth ! very 
 loth indeed were we all to part with this worthy man. 
 Whilst with us he seemed to render our situation as happy 
 and comfortable as circumstances would permit. Indeed, I 
 am inclined to think, and so did he, that this was the prin- 
 cipal reason of his being sent for, however he said " As I am 
 Lieutenant of the ' Rose,' I certainly ought to be on board 
 " of her, as there may possibly, be some work for me to- 
 " morrow amongst the French. Should Captain Reid lose 
 " one of his laced sleeves possibly I may get some trimming 
 " to mine ". You know the uniform of the Navy too well to 
 be at a loss to guess what he meant. It still continued to 
 rain excessively hard, but all our entreaties for Mr Lock to 
 stay till it was fair were ineffectual : he ordered his Cot, Bed- 
 ding and Chest to be collected as fast as possible, and set off, 
 first recommending his Successor as a very worthy young 
 man. We endeavoured to make ourselves as happy as we 
 could with our new Commander, but, as the Sailors say, he 
 did not seem to suit our trim much. He seemed to have a 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 
 
 l 9 
 
 greater hankering after the ' Loaves and Fishes ' than to ad- 
 minister consolation to the afflicted. Indeed there was one 
 very capital difference, Lieut. Lock could have taken him 
 under his arm. 
 
 Next morning the 12th of July, 1778 about five o'clock, 
 Mr Manson and Mr Rowand rose to go on their embassy to 
 Sir James Wallace, on board the ' Experiment ', but lo ! our 
 topsails were unfurled, the anchor weighed and all things in 
 readiness for sailing. What was our astonishment but we 
 needed not to have been surprised as Hargood had his in- 
 structions from Reid. A boat came alongside with a letter 
 from Mr Lock to Mr Allan containing directions for some 
 other things to be sent which he left behind, and expressing 
 his surprise at our Manouvres, but lamented that he could 
 not assist us or prevent any mischief which he feared threat- 
 ened us. Great as our disappointment was in our two Advo- 
 cates not getting on board the ' Experiment ', it did not 
 make us despair. We all, I say we for Miss Thorney and 
 I were always consulted, as we had shipped Indigo to some 
 considerable amount in our own names, and were therefore 
 Capitally concerned ; as I said before, we determined on_ 
 drawing up a Memorial, to Lord Howe. Mr Lock had as- 
 sured us that his Lordship was very free of access. The 
 Memorial was to set forth our manifold sufferings and per- 
 secutions, particularly that the Gentlemen had been banished 
 under the late Act of the Carolina Council and Assembly, 
 for not abjuring their King and Country for ever! Mr 
 Henry, who had often used his skill in Penmanship in 
 Charlestown, and with some success, undertook to draw up 
 our Petition, Memorial, or whatever else you may please to 
 call it — but as the clock has just struck seven, I must repair 
 to the tea-table at which I have the honour to preside. I am 
 as ever &c, — 
 
 
 
20 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 May 20th 1779 
 
 I believe I left our junto as busy and as eager for the 
 event, as the Members of the late Court Martials in Ports- 
 mouth Harbour in the Cabin of the ' Sandwich ' for the Trials 
 of Admiral Keppell and Sir Hugh Palliser. Our papers 
 being finished in a tolerable manner, giving his Lordship all 
 the titles which this country had so lavishly bestowed on him, 
 it was carefully deposited in a locker, till a convenient oppor- 
 tunity should offer to have it presented. 
 
 On Sunday morning we made some little way up to the 
 Capital, but the tide being spent and the wind lulled, we were 
 obliged to let go an Anchor, just "off Gravesend on Long 
 Island, where a number of Transports were riding. I be- 
 lieve it was called " Gravesend Bay ". Here we had time and 
 opportunity for Contemplation, Meditation and Reflection! 
 An English and French Fleet in full view of each other. 
 The Jersey shore on the Hudson River on our left, and one 
 of the most fertile and beautiful Islands in the World on our 
 Right. The rising grounds on the latter charmed me beyond 
 description. It was what I had never seen before, nor could 
 I see it for seventy miles to the Northward of Charlestown, 
 an hundred to the West, and to the Southward, not till we 
 reach the mountains in the West Indies : I said " Surely sick- 
 ness dwells not here! Agues wan nor Pleurisy fell dis- 
 ease " ! however in this I was mistaken as you shall see 
 hereafter. 
 
 Great must have been the consternation at New York, 
 for we saw above an hundred boats, I believe, coming from 
 thence to see the White Sheet flying, and thereby be con- 
 vinced whether or not these ships, were In-i-mi-cal — Gen- 
 eral Clinton, too, was apprehensive of the Rebels coming 
 down from Elizabeth Town, in the Jersies, to attack his 
 Lines near the Light-House, therefore he sent down a large 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 21 
 
 reinforcement, which passed us in Boats. To see so many 
 British Soldiers was really a treat to us, poor Exiles, whose 
 only crime was their attachment to that favoured and 
 glorious Isle! 
 
 When the Tide made we got another Pilot to carry us 
 through the Narrows ; a place which has made some figure 
 in the annals of the present War. We did not get through 
 till ten o'clock at night, therefore could not see the Fortifica- 
 tions, of which the Americans made so much boast, and of 
 which the British were so apprehensive. 
 
 My sickness began now to be a little alarming insomuch 
 that I could not go upon deck all Monday. Every one left 
 me to see the Town. Even poor Bella came to my bedside 
 intreating me to rise and see the Houses. I cared for noth- 
 ing but to be out of pain, and I wished for solitude. In July 
 1775 you were here? We had no Doctor, nor scarcely any 
 medicines. Old Mr Falconer prescribed in the evening. The 
 Dose was too strong: it was an Emetic! From eleven 
 o'clock at night till two in the morning did Miss Thorney 
 and Mrs Henry sit by me, holding my trembling hands and 
 applying restoratives to my nose. Surely I must not forget 
 their kindness, particularly that of the latter, who made up 
 her own bed for me, and when I was able to be moved, put 
 me into it. Luckily our beds were in the same state-room. 
 Towards morning I grew more composed, and sleep that 
 bounteous Alleviator of human woe, gave rest and ease to 
 my helpless, and I may truly say, shattered frame. The fa- 
 tigues which I had undergone after the great fire had nearly 
 cost me my life! Good God! Without Thy powerful aid, 
 could I ever have been able to encounter and overcome so 
 much trouble and distress? but that hand which lays the 
 burthen also gives strength to support it. Great trials were 
 and perhaps still are in store for me ! You, who know what 
 misfortunes and disappointments are, will feel for, and pity 
 
22 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 her — (No I hate to be pitied) for I still enjoy the present 
 moment, nor think my sufferings great, till they are past. I 
 say regard her who is and shall be yours, &c. 
 
 London, May 21st 1779 
 
 Although there are many breaks and interruptions in 
 ' this history of a captive Maid ' yet you must confess there 
 are not so many hiatus's as in ' Henry & Frances ' which you 
 and I had the pleasure of reading together some three or 
 four years ago, — but to my voyage : 
 
 On Monday the 13th of July we anchored off Staten 
 Island, and with the Afternoon's Tide we sailed from thence 
 and were safely moored in the Harbour of New York, very 
 near Red Hook. 
 
 As peace and quietness were absolutely necessary to my 
 recovery, the prospect of getting a Physician and the hope 
 of having those necessaries of which we stood so much in 
 need, helped greatly to alleviate my pain and distress. 
 About dusk of the evening Miss Thorney came down to my 
 room and told me there was a Boat alongside enquiring for 
 the vessel in which Miss Wells was, and that there were two 
 gentlemen in her who seemed to be Officers in the Army. 
 This, you may be sure raised my spirits. They soon came 
 on board and were ushered into the Cabin. Guess how 
 happy I was to find that one of them was Mr Robert Mc- 
 Culloch formerly Collector of the Customs at Charlestown? 
 We were all happy to see him, and really, I must say, that 
 he shewed a particular degree of attention to me, begged 
 leave to come into my room, and expressed great concern 
 for my illness and promised to send me a Physician next 
 morning — however I also administered the ' Cup of Conso- 
 lation ' to him. The last house I was in at Charlestown was 
 that of George Roupell Esq., the Collector. Mr McCulloch 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 23 
 
 was engaged to be married to his eldest daughter, Miss Annie 
 Roupell. The other gentleman was a Captain Lichtenstein 
 of Georgia. He came on board to see if Mr and Mrs Kin- 
 caid were with us. All the banished Loyalists were obliged 
 to go into the Army, who had taken refuge in New York, in 
 order to get a subsistence. In less than half an hour another 
 Boat- full was at the ship's side. Alexander Irving Esq., 
 Comptroller of the Customs at Georgetown. Captain Urqu- 
 hart and Captain John Bernard both formerly in the Caro- 
 lina Trade, with many others. What we wanted most they 
 gave us first viz: — Nezvs. That the proposals offered by 
 Great Britain, through the Commissioners, were rejected by 
 Congress; that by the evacuation of Philadelphia, nearly 
 thirty thousand people were added to York and Long Isl- 
 ands, and, that provisions were so excessively dear we should 
 scarcely be able to live, without assistance from Government. 
 As to Lodgings none were to be had. These were comforts 
 not unlike Job's but like him, we had seen too much affliction 
 to be cast down, or to suffer our fortitude to forsake us. 
 They also told us of a Boat having arrived about an hour 
 before us, from Charlestown, full to the brim with Tories. 
 We recollected to have seen a Brig sailing up to the Town 
 just ahead of us, and some of our Passengers said they be- 
 lieved she was the ' Eleonora ' commonly known for some 
 time in Charlestown as the Tory Brig. The Mob had once 
 assembled with Pitch, Tar and other Combustibles, to burn 
 her at the Wharf, but some person, more charitable, cut her 
 moorings and turned her adrift. I recollected immediately 
 that my picture was in the ' Eleonora ' ! She left Charles- 
 town the same day with us, steering S. W. for St. Eustatius, 
 and from thence the Passengers were to find their way to 
 Jamaica. This was rather ominous, but you shall have my 
 Shadozv, and with that you must be satisfied until Provi- 
 dence shall bestow on you the Original. 
 
24 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 That evening Mr Allan went on shore to give an ac- 
 count of the Prize to Admiral Gambier, who then Com- 
 manded the Port. He begged to know if he could bring 
 anything which would relieve or please me. As we had no 
 Port Wine nor fine Bread, I requested him to purchase some 
 for me, putting Two Dollars into his hand. The grateful, 
 honest creature would by no means consent to this, saying 
 " he would never forget the good things he had in my Fath- 
 er's House, when attending his Ship's Master Captain Hey- 
 wood of the ' Martin ', stationed some years ago on the 
 Carolina Coast. This comfortable refreshment, which Mr 
 Allan soon brought me, contributed greatly to my returning 
 strength, as I had taken no nourishment for four days. The 
 hopes of being on Terra Fir ma prevented us all from sleep- 
 ing- much. — Adieu. 
 
 London, May 27th 1779. 
 
 In my last I believe I brought my account to the 14th of 
 July, but, you must excuse me if I am not now so particular, 
 owing to many interruptions, one of which is a cough, which 
 I caught in December last, and which my Friends flattered 
 me that I should lose in the Spring. 
 
 Early next morning our visitors sent us a Boat, almost 
 laden with Currants, Cherries, Apples, fresh butter, and 
 Milk. To me, who had never seen any of the two first, you 
 may be sure they were very acceptable, although obliged to 
 restrain myself. Never, till then, did I so truly relish a little 
 acid. The sea voyage, bilge water, crowded ship, &c, were 
 excuses for demolishing the baskets of Fruit, however, our 
 feasting was soon put an end to, by Hargood, who came on 
 board, with an Order from Admiral Gambier, and a party 
 of Men, to carry every Male on board of the Prison Ship! 
 This was altogether unexpected and soon cast a damper on 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 25 
 
 our short lived joy. My Uncle asked Hargood " What was 
 to become of the Women and children?" "To go on 
 shore " returned he. " Where are they to Lodge ? " "Shall 
 they carry any Baggage with them " ? " Only a change of 
 Linen, and there are plenty of Tents on Long Island ". Thus 
 did this hateful Wretch, consider us poor unfortunate Crea- 
 tures! The Gentlemen, then, solemnly declared, that they 
 would not part from their Wives, Children and Property but 
 with their Lives! Never did I see Rage, with every other 
 distorting passion so pictured as in their Countenances! 
 The married Women too, shrieking and wringing their 
 hands ! It was too much, and a scene too melancholy to be 
 described with my pen. Miss Thorney and I still lay in bed 
 as silent spectators, for luckily we had neither Husband nor 
 Child to weep over. Our distresses were not yet too great 
 to be borne. Hargood finding his intended prisoners so ob- 
 stinate, discontinued his threats, and began to treat them as 
 children, by coaxing. " Pray go with Captain Brian (the 
 Commander of the Prison Ship) Gentlemen, it will be for 
 a few hours, just to comply with the Admiral's Orders ". 
 " Do " says Brian " Arrah ! my dear Sozds and ye shall 
 have my own Cabin if that will plase ye," and, in this I be- 
 lieve he was honest, for he said he thought we were ill used. 
 Hargood left us to get an Order signed by the Admiral him- 
 self, as the other was only given by the Secretary, James 
 Dick — an ungracious — but for many particulars of this 
 man's character and conduct I shall refer you to our Protest, 
 which every one of the Claimants on the ' Providence ' and 
 her cargo took before a Notary Publick at New York. In 
 the meantime Captain Bernard came on board. Seeing our 
 distress, he even shed tears, and turned about, ordered his 
 Boat alongside, steering directly for Whitehall-stairs. Colo- 
 onel Innes, formerly Secretary to Lord William Campbell, 
 when our Governor, lodged near that place. Mr McCulloch 
 
26 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 acted as Secretary to him : to the lodgings of Mr McCulloch 
 Bernard hasted with " Friendship's speed ". He had just 
 risen. They both flew to Colonel Innes, whom they found 
 in bed. He did not need much time or preparation, for put- 
 ting on his Dressing Gown & slippers, went directly to Han- 
 over Square, where Admiral Gambier's Quarters were. 
 This Gentleman was quite astonished and said he had that 
 morning signed an Order for us to be put on board of the 
 Prison ship, and, that his Secretary had signed two. At the 
 Colonel's representation of our case he signed our Release, 
 and sent off Messrs McCulloch and Bernard as light as Mer- 
 curies. As Hargood ascended one side of the ship with his 
 Mandate, our Deliverers came with theirs on the other. 
 Guilt and Disappointment both appeared in Hargood's face, 
 each striving for the mastery ! He went off in his Boat, and 
 steered his course to Sandy-Hook to give his greedy Master 
 an account of his fruitless Embassy; but I had almost for- 
 gotten one part of this Tragi-Comedy. Upon Captain 
 Brian's bringing the Second order from the Admiral's Sec- 
 retary Mr Dick, Mrs Henry and Miss Thorney dressed 
 themselves, and in spite or defiance of Hargood's orders to 
 the contrary, went on shore, enquired their way to the Ad- 
 miral's quarters and arrived there just a few minutes after 
 the two Gentlemen left the place. Admiral Gambier seeing 
 two well dressed, genteel Women in distress, and so well 
 able to describe tJiat of others, gave them another order for 
 the Release of the Prisoners, fearing our other friends might 
 not make so much haste. My Uncle gave them a letter to 
 your old friend Mr Rivington the Printer, requesting his as- 
 sistance in getting us Lodgings ; but, above all, to send me 
 a Doctor. The Ladies soon returned with joy in their coun- 
 tenances, nor were they sorry that they were not the first 
 Messengers, as we were all in high spirits to receive them. 
 — Adieu — More to-morrow. L. S. W. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 27 
 
 London, May 28th 1779. 
 
 I am just returned from viewing the grand Exhibition at 
 the Royal Academy in Pall Mall, consisting of Paintings, 
 Drawings and Sculpture, but as I am so far behind in my 
 Journal, I shall say very little at present, on these highly 
 entertaining subjects. 
 
 The remainder of that dolorous day we passed off pretty 
 well. Indeed the triumph we had gained over our Enemies 
 was a compensation for our Morning's Sorrow. Here you 
 may moralise, if yon please, as I have no time now, but of 
 this I had a plentiful share in my sick-room. 
 
 Next day, the 15th the Gentlemen dressed themselves in 
 their best American Clothes, some tivice seven years old, for 
 such was my Uncle's Coat, being married in it fourteen years 
 before. They went to the Court of Admiralty and heard the 
 unfortunate ' Providence ' and her cargo libelled. There 
 they saw several friends and enquired for Lodgings. Riv- 
 ington had written a fine flourishing letter, of which he is so 
 capable, to my Uncle, expressing a deal of friendship, &c, 
 but never performed the least thing, not so much as to call 
 on me whilst I was in New York, notwithstanding the atten- 
 tion my Father always paid to his letters of Introduction by 
 Gentlemen taking the Tour of America. My Uncle called 
 at his shop and told him that I did not now need a Physician, 
 Mr McCulloch having sent one the day before. The pres- 
 ence of this reverend son of aesculapius, and the release of 
 my fellow Passengers, contributed not a little to my recov- 
 ery, adding to them the wholesome diet and good medicines 
 which the Doctor prescribed and which we were able to pro- 
 cure being in Port. 
 
 In the evening our Friends returned with some Company 
 from the Town, from none of them could I learn anything 
 of Mr William Lowther or Family, and on whose Friend- 
 ship, alone, I had any dependence. 
 
28 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 I was now able to go upon deck. Our vessel lay just off 
 the King's Brew-House, on Long Island. We had here a 
 fine view of Livingston's elegant House and Farm : the 
 former converted into an Hospital for British Invalids 
 whilst its Owner is Agent for Congress in Charlestown. 
 Just behind the Brew-House and Hospital lies the Valley in 
 which the famous Long Island Battle was fought of August 
 1776. 
 
 The East River here makes a bend and forms Curliers 
 Hook. The Houses on each side of its banks. The Town 
 of Brooklyn, York Island and the adjacent country forms a 
 delightful Landscape. 
 
 New York, I must confess makes no figure from the 
 water : nothing to equal the order and regularity of the once 
 beautiful Bay Street of Charlestown! Every house for a 
 mile, three stories high ! You see there are few travellers 
 who are not attached to their native place and are ever 
 making comparisons with it. 
 
 Poor little Governors-Island is now a perfect waste and 
 ruin. The Rebels had made it an entire Fortification, which 
 the British have so completely demolished, as scarcely to 
 leave " a wreck behind ". You must recollect, however, that 
 American Forts are not built of stone. 
 
 Staten-Island produces nothing now, having Encamp- 
 ments constantly on it; the Inhabitants have almost all de- 
 serted it. It has one Fort, from which Signals of vessels ap- 
 pearing, are made to the town. When you saw these places 
 in 1775, they wore a very different aspect; but of all the 
 sights, to me, the most extraordinary was the great con- 
 course of Shipping ! All the British Navy to the Northward 
 of the West Indies, were assembled in this Port. By the 
 number of Troops in this Province you may form some idea 
 of the number of Transports there also, in Government 
 Service. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 20. 
 
 After waiting for three days, I heard of Mr Lowther. 
 He had been out in the country on business, and had just 
 heard of my arrival, and sent our Charlestown acquaintance 
 Mr Mickie, with his Respects, requesting I would make his 
 house my home during my stay in New York. Sorry was I 
 to part with Miss Thorney, as we had been so closely con- 
 nected for above a year ; but so crowded was Mr Lowther's 
 house, and so large their family that I had only one fourth 
 of an Apartment ! yet this was not singular, for many houses 
 in New York contain one hundred Inhabitants. 
 
 In the Afternoon of the 17th of July, I landed at the Fley 
 Market Stairs, attended by Mr Allan, Mr Manson, Mr 
 Henry and my Maid Bella. I could not help feeling myself 
 a little awkward, as I walked through the streets, as my 
 dress was so different from other Ladies, whom I met. The 
 pavement hurt my feet, and the motion of the Ship was still 
 in my head. 
 
 The first place we stopped was at the Store of our old 
 friend William Donaldson, who sent immediately for Mr 
 Mickie. There I met a Mr Spens who had lately seen my 
 Father, Mother, and family. My spirits were so high, and 
 I felt myself so happy, at being in a country, where I could 
 hear so much about Great Britain, that I believe they thought 
 me half-crazy. Mr Mickie soon arrived, and had ordered 
 his servant to get a cart for my baggage, and away we 
 trudged to No. 70 Cherry Street, St. George's Square. Mr 
 and Mrs Lowther received me with as much tenderness and 
 affection, as if I had been a returning Daughter, instead of 
 an acquaintance whom none of the family had ever seen ex- 
 cept Mr Lowther. I was introduced to their Daughter, Miss 
 Margaret, a fine young lady about seventeen. Their son, 
 Tristrim, whom you must recollect, and Miss Barbara, who 
 said she did not remember anything of you. Mrs Clarke, 
 Mrs Lowther's sister, and Mr Roome, cousin to Mr Low- 
 
30 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 ther, composed this agreeable family. Surely my Letters 
 are long enough. Adieu. 
 
 London, June 5th 1779. 
 
 No, I cannot write to-day! Anxiety, will sometimes 
 overpower me, yet, I will strive against it. My thoughts are 
 constantly engaged on one subject, nor can I obtain the least 
 consolation from any person here. I sometimes think my 
 ideas are deranged. Aid me by your counsel, to gain that 
 Philosophy so essential to human happiness, of bearing with 
 equal mind the ' Whips and scourges of the Times we live 
 in '. Farewell ! 
 
 London, June 16th 1779. 
 
 Shall I wait, as the Quakers do. till the Spirit moves me? 
 or set out at once, and persevere like a Christian ? I do not 
 call the Ouietists Christians, as you know they partake of 
 neither of the Sacraments — but — that point is settled. I am 
 called on to repair to my work. 
 
 6 o'clock and still light. 
 
 I have cut the forefinger -of my left hand, in preparing an 
 old gown for the silk dyer. No Pension for me, although 
 fifty pounds were added to the solitary hundred when my 
 sister came home : however, I have recovered my spirits 
 since the 5th and these they cannot take from me. My 
 Father says I have cut my finger on purpose, as I used to 
 do in Carolina, that I might not be obliged to sew ; but I can 
 still write; yet, I should not wish him to see the foregoing 
 page. He would congratulate me on my retrograde im- 
 provements ; it will vie with Champion's fine running hand. 
 It is also strange that vexation should so easily shew itself. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 31 
 
 My Mind is now at ease, that is to say " for this day I will 
 be contented " to-morrow may shift for itself. 
 
 June 19th 1779. 
 
 I once more resume an account of my Travels. The day 
 after my arrival at Cherry Street, Mr Spens, Captain Mc- 
 Culloch, Mr Rowand and Mr Irving invited Miss Lowther 
 and me to take a walk, as the environs of this city af- 
 forded many very pleasant ones. The place we viewed was 
 the King's Dock Yard, where an old Seventy-Gun Ship, the 
 ' Leviathan ' was fitting up, to assist in attacking the Comte 
 D'Estaing, or in guarding Sandy Hook. I was astonished 
 at the alacrity with which the business was carried on, and, 
 with what cheerfulness, Seamen from private Ships, &c, en- 
 tered as Volunteers. Blue Ribbon began to be scarce in New 
 York. Everybody considered the Blockade of this Harbour 
 such a daring insult, that I really believe one half of the In- 
 habitants wished themselves seamen that they might go 
 down and chastise the French. 
 
 As we ascended the Hill from the King's Watering 
 Place, I was rather fatigued, but, the delightful scenes which 
 presented themselves to my view rewarded my pains. The 
 first was a large Encampment of the Royal Artillery, with 
 several British and Hessian Infantry, indeed, it occupied my 
 whole attention. The regularity, neatness and order of our 
 Country Soldiers charmed me : but, the effluvia which came 
 from the Lee-side of the Hessian Camp was almost suffocat- 
 ing. All the Men smoke, and the Women too, added to the 
 column of Tobacco reek. The Germans are now become 
 almost as famous for their attachment to Music as the Ital- 
 ians. We observed several of the Men, who were not upon 
 duty, lying on the banks of the East River singing most 
 
32 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 melodiously in different parts. There were many groups 
 and I discovered many Treble Voices exceedingly fine. 
 Their Tenor and Bass were by no means despicable. 
 
 There are a great number of Redoubts both on the East 
 and North Rivers : but through General Howe's kindness to 
 the Rebels, they had sufficient time to dismantle them of 
 their Guns. 
 
 In a Valley, a little above the Dock Yard, is a neat Brick 
 House formerly the property of some of the Vans — but now, 
 converted into a Hessian Hospital. Near it is their Burying 
 Ground. We soon reckoned some thousands of Pounds out 
 of the British Coffers, by valuing every grave at five pounds, 
 sterling, the sum stipulated, for the loss of every Man by our 
 Cousin German Elector. 
 
 Would you believe my Ignorance ? As I came down the 
 Hill I struck my foot against a stone. Good patience said 
 I to Mr Irving, who could have put all these stones here? 
 for I then perceived a great number rearing their heads above 
 the grass. Mr Irving never forgot this story against me: 
 but I had my revenge; for the same evening, in coming 
 home, he pointed to the Jew's burying Ground, and asked 
 Miss Lowther what Fort that was. 
 
 I did not remain long without forming some agreeable 
 acquaintance — Loyalists, from all parts of America. Male 
 and Female, visited at Mr Lowther's. I was introduced to 
 a Mr Ingram of Virginia who was a School fellow of my 
 Uncle Archibald Rowand. He was drowned on the first of 
 January 1759 in coming over the Bar of Charlestown. He 
 was an excellent Swimmer, but being heavy laden with 
 cloaths he could not keep above water but half an hour. He 
 had a bowl of punch at his head drinking a good land-full. 
 From subsequent circumstances it was suspected the Captain 
 of the Schooner in which he sailed pushed him off the Poop, 
 when he was standing whitening a stick to walk the streets 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 33 
 
 that night with. His errand was to purchase his Wedding 
 cloaths in order to be married to an amiable young Lady in 
 Wilmington, North Carolina. There being no Watch- 
 Maker in that Town my unfortunate Uncle was entrusted 
 with many Watches to be repaired. Neither of which nor 
 his money were found in his Chest. The Master of the Ves- 
 sel said he had them all in his Pockets. He was just 22 
 years of age. 
 
 I had the pleasure of being intimate with a Mr and Miss 
 Hunter who were in Bermuda when you were there. The 
 latter said she saw you and your companions in Tribulation 
 at the Governor's Ball. It is rather surprising that you and 
 I should have fallen into the Jaws of the only two sharks in 
 the Navy. Captain Fanshaw told me that there was only 
 another besides Captain Reid who could have behaved so 
 to Loyalists, and that was Captain Jordan of the ' Galatea ' 
 I find now that it was the latter who took you whilst cruizing 
 off Bermuda. 
 
 In the course of a week my fellow Passengers were ac- 
 commodated on Shore. I again enjoyed the Society of Miss 
 Thorney. My Uncle and his son were very near me, but 
 their Board and Lodging was One Guinea a day! Mine, 
 with my servant would have been as much — think then the 
 value of the hospitality I enjoyed. I found employment. 
 My Uncle's old Stockings wanted constant repairs as well 
 as my own, and we had little money to buy more. Adding 
 to this a large chest of valuable Music with my best Apparel, 
 being put into the Bread-room for convenience was claimed 
 by Captain Reid as part of the Cargo! It was in vain to 
 urge my distress for cloaths and want of money. Lieut. 
 Lock said Reid suspected it to contain Plate and being under 
 Hatches would be condemned. 
 
 I was obliged to draw a Bill of Exchange on my Father 
 for necessary equipments in this Theatre of Fashion. Altho 
 
34 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 I thought myself very moderate, Dress and my Passage home 
 cost me One hundred Guineas. 
 
 It was now high time to lay in our claims on the ' Provi- 
 dence ' the twenty one days allowed, being nearly expired. 
 Accompanied by many friends of both sexes, Miss Thorney 
 and I set out for the Court of Admiralty in order to prove 
 our property, or rather to swear to the truth of our Mani- 
 fest, Bills of Lading, &c. and to sign a paper, which I think 
 our Attorney at Law, called a Charges. We did not feel 
 ourselves " so very bould ", as brother Jonathan says. The 
 Judge Major Bayard, seeing our confusion gave us leave to 
 withdraw. Mrs Lowther told me all the Gentlemen went up 
 to the Table to look at my name. It surely was no matter 
 of wonder to see a native of Charlestown write well, for 
 there bad writing was seldom seen and good writing sel- 
 domer praised ! Nothing has excited my wonder more since 
 I came to England than the labour, toil, and expense which 
 is bestowed on the plainest Education. I am thankful I was 
 born and bred on the Western shore of the Atlantic. I 
 should have died under the horrors of a Boarding School. 
 The Court is held in a room up two pairs of Stairs in the 
 City Hall, and is the same in which General Lee was so long 
 a Prisoner. 
 
 About ten days after I landed a dreadful fire broke out 
 amongst the King's Stores. Some of the Shipping were 
 burnt and not less than one hundred and twenty Houses 
 were consumed. To paint the consternation of the people 
 at that time is now impossible. The French Fleet seizing 
 everything which attempted to get into Port. Lord Howe 
 blocked up with his Fleet. Washington in the Jersies, and 
 another General, I believe Green, threatening to attack 
 Kingsbridge, this was enough, but to have Incendiaries 
 within the Town was too much, they were almost frantic; 
 which together with the unaccountable behaviour of the 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 35 
 
 Soldiery at the fire for two or three days that I was bewil- 
 dered — to think what it would end in. Every red coat 
 thought he had a right to Command. Even at Mr Lowther's 
 we were apprehensive, and I packed up my little all, fearing 
 that at last we must follow Hargood's advice and " Dwell in 
 Tents " One third of this populous City is now gone. The 
 fire in 1776 consuming the best part of the Broad Way and 
 those other fine streets at that end of the Town, with that 
 beautiful old Church called Trinity are gone! This was the 
 only Church in America built in the Gothic style. St. 
 Paul's Church still remains — two reasons may be assigned 
 for this, the first, not many houses being near it, the second, 
 the Steeple not being yet built. This and St. George's 
 Chapel, are the only places of Worship now open in New 
 York, excepting a Scots Presbyterian Meeting House. You 
 know their Loyalty all over the Continent. Our Pastor El- 
 ders and congregation were every one banished from Charles- 
 town. It was then I attended the Church of England 
 so closely that I gave great offence to the family of the At- 
 torney General and many other pious Tories, who insisted 
 that I went thither to pray for Congress — however that 
 might be, I gained a perfect knowledge of the Liturgy and 
 at this present attend Dr Fordyce's Chapel on Sunday morn- 
 ings and St. Bride's Church in the Afternoon. I know that 
 I must become a Lutheran in Jamaica, or else stay at home, 
 a habit which, however, fashionable there, I hope never to 
 acquire. The North Meeting-House of the Independents in 
 New York is converted into an Hospital for the Army, and 
 another, of the same sect, serves for a Riding-School. How 
 would Cromwell " gnash his teeth " were he to see this ? 
 perhaps harder than he does at present. God forgive me? 
 I have but one prejudice, and that is against those New- 
 England Presbyterians. I look upon them as the cause of 
 all our Misfortunes, and, yet, good shall come out of evil. 
 
36 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 I look upon myself as greatly benefitted by my sufferings! 
 Tis in the school of Affliction we must learn Wisdom. 
 Surely I have been satisfied and still can, be satisfied with 
 hard lodging, coarse Food and wretched cloathing: 'tis the 
 whims and caprices of others tempers which are so hard to 
 bear; this has made me always so afraid of Matrimony. 
 
 Mr and Mrs Tutnall of Georgia, but last from New 
 Providence, were taken by D'Estaing's Fleet, and sent into 
 Philadelphia. They were soon exchanged and sent to New 
 York. From them I received many acts of kindness and 
 hospitality. We now discovered that had we fallen into the 
 hands of the French it would have been a fortunate circum- 
 stance. Having a regular clearance from a Port of their 
 Allies we should have been permitted to proceed on our Voy- 
 age. Messrs Williams, Graham, Tunno and Tellfair ar- 
 rived about this time in the Packet on their way to Charles- 
 town and Savanna : they had letters for me from London 
 which threw me into the horrors for a whole month. 
 
 London, June 20th 1779. 
 
 You see how determined I am to persevere. I will not 
 let a day pass without adding something, however the task 
 is not altogether so unpleasant as some indolent people might 
 suppose, but to be sure it does require a little thought and 
 some recollection. If you would (not) stigmatize me with 
 the epithet of female Pedant, I should still write these sheets. 
 " Utili dulcet jucundum " pray send me a translation. I did 
 not travel far for the explanation of your French. Our Cook 
 maid was educated at a Boarding School and reads that Lan- 
 guage very well ; but I suppose you ' lived in hope ' before 
 I applied to her. 
 
 The excessive high price of Chaise hire prevented me 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 37 
 
 from taking many agreeable jaunts into the Country. I 
 wanted much to see the Camp at Haerlaem and even the Lines 
 at Kingsbridge, but the potent reason of poverty prevented 
 us. Yet we had learned to walk and often enjoyed ourselves 
 in that way. A party consisting of all our Passengers, with 
 several other Loyalists, just as idle as ourselves was one day 
 made to go to Greenwich, but, it being too far, we stopped 
 at a famous Tea House and Gardens, on the Banks of the 
 North River ; the finest, perhaps in all America : but why 
 detain you with descriptions of what you have already seen? 
 In our way we visited the great Fort on Bunker's Hill, built 
 by the Rebels. It commands the Town. What could have 
 tempted Washington to desert this Post? nothing but Brit- 
 ish Valour, and his well known Policy of never risking an 
 Engagement when he could make good his retreat. We 
 gained admittance into the inside of this Fortification. I 
 had no conception of such strength. The Cheveaux de Friz 
 on the outside seem to defy assailants, however they were 
 never put to the Trial. This Walk explained to us all the 
 Paradox of " Labouring to enjoy rest " Our sleep was per- 
 fectly sound that night. 
 
 Another Excursion I made with Miss Lowther, Mr and 
 Miss Hunter, was at five o'clock in the morning on the Banks 
 of the East River. Here I saw all the flat-bottomed Boats 
 belonging to the British for landing Troops. We break- 
 fasted at a House of Entertainment opposite the Wullbaugh 
 or Back, a small Harbour for shipping to ride in safety, par- 
 ticularly against the danger and risque of Fire, which so 
 alarms the people of this Town. The spot on which the 
 House stood was just at Curlier's Hook. I suppose you re- 
 member the eighteen hundred Connecticut Troops stationed 
 there, which were sent to intimidate the Yorkers in 1775: 
 The Encampment was pointed out to me, and with it a cu- 
 rious anecdote recurs to my memory. In 1776, when Lord 
 
3§ THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 Howe's Fleet lay off Sandy Hook there arose a dreadful 
 storm of Thunder, Lightening and Rain, such as I have 
 before described — insomuch that " brother Jonathan's heart 
 did quake " but he did not fail to implore the vengeance of 
 Heaven on his Enemies. The poor Britons struck their top 
 masts, let go more Anchors and rode out the storm. Some 
 ships put to sea and returned in safety ! but, how different 
 was the fate of the poor unenlightened Yankies, or rather 
 uneducated — Some glimmering of the science of Electricity 
 having beamed on them from their great Dr Franklin, they 
 actually stuck the swords in on the tops of some of their 
 tents, by way of Conductors, and went to rest, thinking 
 themselves in perfect safety; when lo! the faithless steel 
 brought more quick down Heaven's wrath ! Several offi- 
 cers were found dead in their beds. Nathan Childs, a native 
 of New England, was there at the time and attended two of 
 the Funerals ; and told this astonishing Tale to me in Charles- 
 town after his return. He congratulated himself on coming 
 to the Southward for his Education, and having " lived 
 amongst people of sense " for such he certainly thought my 
 Father and all of us. 
 
 As the year I am recording 1778 — was a marvellous one 
 to me, I shall record another accident which happened a few 
 days after the fire and seemed to threaten destruction to this 
 devoted Town. 
 
 We had several violent storms of Thunder, Lightening 
 and Rain during the Summer, not such as to the Southward, 
 which are over in an hour or two; these sometimes lasted 
 from ten o'clock in the forenoon until Midnight. This, Mr 
 Lowther ascribed to the course of the Rivers round York 
 Island. One day as we were reconciling ourselves to the bad 
 weather, we saw one or two flashes of Lightning, and in- 
 stantaneously, there was a sudden Crash as if the universe 
 had been dissolved. Every person in the room with me was 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 39 
 
 struck motionless. I was thrown from my chair to the floor, 
 and my basket of work I had been doing, over me. I soon 
 recovered and looked at my friends to see if any of them 
 were killed, or rather, if any were alive to speak to me. They 
 were employed in the same manner ; but those who were 
 strongest had immediate occasion to give their assistance. 
 Mrs Lowther had fainted. I cast my eyes to the opposite 
 side of the street, and saw Mrs Winslow's House, apparently 
 struck, as all the glass windows were shattered, and many of 
 the frames thrown in on the floor. A Negro cried out " Mrs 
 Winslow is killed " I flew through the rain to assist poor 
 Miss Winslow (this family were Loyalists from Boston) 
 when, turning to my left hand, I saw a column of Smoke 
 ascending behind Waltons large house, which reached the 
 Clouds. I was almost suffocated and the cry of Fire from 
 all quarters spread terror and dismay around me. I forgot 
 Mrs Lowther, Mrs Winslow and almost everything in this 
 World, till a Gentleman coming from a Wharf, informed us 
 that a Vessel called the " Morning Star " containing 200 
 Barrels of Gunpowder had been struck by the Lightning and 
 had blown up. I soon found Mrs Winslow at my Elbow. 
 She had heard we were killed. The explosion was so great 
 as to unroof most of the houses in the Town. At least that 
 side towards the East. You know all the roofs in York have 
 two sides, being Dutch roof, and covered with tiles or slates. 
 The Glass in all the East windows in our House were shat- 
 tered, excepting those in the room I slept in. I had always 
 peremptorily insisted on throwing up every sash at which 
 the rain did not come in. I had just gone down to the Par- 
 lour to comfort this kind family. I had also put every metal 
 article out of my pockets. They have very few Electrical 
 Rods here in comparison to those in Charlestown. Had half 
 the people been Masons and Glaziers they would have found 
 employment for a month. The Bed of the River was seen 
 
4-0 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 and the Shipping much damaged. Happily there was but 
 one Man on board of the vessel. The storm prevented the 
 Master and crew from leaving the Wharf, as they were just 
 ready to embark. Lord Carlisle was in the Ferry-boat com- 
 ing from Brooklyn. He saw the Glass Cupola on his House 
 demolished, and the windows sharing the fate of ours. He 
 ran past me, and calling all his domesticks, he enquired if 
 they had escaped without damage. 
 
 London, July ioth 1779. 
 
 My progress is so slow that I fear I shall never get to 
 my journey's end. 
 
 In September 1778 I received a kind and pressing invi- 
 tation from Colonel Archibald Hamilton and his Lady, to 
 pass the remainder of the summer with them at their Farm, 
 near Flushing on Long Island. A young Lady from Flush- 
 ing, who visited Miss Lowther, and some others whom I 
 knew were going in the Packet boat. Little did I then know 
 I was to pass through Hell Gates, to visit my Friends. I 
 had some objections to that dreadful place, but as Sir James 
 Wallace had ventured a few weeks before in the ' Experi- 
 ment ' of 50 Guns, I thought a small Sloop might. This cer- 
 tainly is equal to the " Scylla and Charybdis " of Ulysses 
 On the right the Pot, so called, from its roaring and boiling 
 like a Cauldron. On the left the Hogs-back, and only a 
 narrow Channel between. The day before a Packet had 
 been run on the latter ; the Passengers got on the Rock and 
 were soon got off by the next which passed, but the vessel 
 was lost, I think. 
 
 In the evening we anchored in Flushing Bay as the tide 
 did not suit for two hours later for us to get into the Creek 
 to go on Shore. Our Passengers were fifty in number, of 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 41 
 
 various degrees and denominations, but chiefly Quakers. 
 There was one of this Class, an old facetious Man from Al- 
 bany. He entertained us highly with his wit and humour, 
 together with some Almonds and Raisins he had brought 
 for the Ladies. In return I gave him some account of our 
 Carolina people, their manners, customs &c. He smiled 
 when I told him of the violent acts which had passed against 
 the ' Non jurors '. He said " We far surpassed our North- 
 ern brethern, and so we ought, being children of the Sun ". 
 This conversation, with a few songs from the Ladies be- 
 guiled the time very pleasantly. 
 
 About 9 o'clock we landed at the great Wharf. Mr Usk 
 and his party escorted me to the extremity of the Village, 
 and there I insisted on their taking leave, as I could with 
 safety place myself under the protection of Oliver Thorn the 
 Boatman. 
 
 Never was I happier to see friends than this family of 
 Mr Hamilton's. They had been in Charlestown for a great 
 part of the year 1771. Mr Hamilton was then a Captain 
 in the 31st Regiment of Foot. Every act of kindness which 
 we could shew strangers were most liberally bestowed on 
 them both in sickness and in health, of the former they had 
 by far the greater portion, and I was happy to find they 
 were not unmindful of it. Mrs Hamilton is Grand Daughter 
 to the good old Cadwallader Colden, so long Lieutenant 
 Governor of New York. When he persuaded the last Colo- 
 nial Assembly (They were called Provincial Assemblies) to 
 pass some Act favourable to the British Government, his 
 answer, was a repetition of the Hymn Nunc dimitis, a by- 
 stander cried out " Well done old Silver Locks ". 
 
 The next morning I was indulged with a Novel, though 
 pleasing sight. The Regiments which had been on the Ex- 
 pedition to Martha's-vineyard &c, had landed at White 
 Stone, which place is a few miles below Flushing, and were 
 
42 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 all marching by the Farm along the high road. The Colonel, 
 my Host, went out to see if he could recognise any old ac- 
 quaintance amongst the Officers. He soon sent in Col. Stir- 
 ling of the 71st or " Old Highland Watch " I turned my 
 attention to the window and saw several of the Subalterns 
 pulling the Peaches from the Hedge, and some of them had 
 mounted the Orchard Wall. Col. Stirling immediately or- 
 dered a safe-guard for the Farm, which was not unnecessary 
 as the Soldiers begin to be fond of what they have been so 
 long used to, namely Plunder? Col. Hamilton seeing the 
 Gentlemen so fond of Peaches asked them to walk into the 
 Farm House. (It had literally been a Dutch Farmer's 
 House, although now furnished like a Gentleman's) He 
 ordered in abundance of Fruit of all sorts then in season. 
 Col. Stirling started when he saw the first Officer enter, and 
 smiling said — " Your Lordship, I assume you, was the occa- 
 sion of my ordering the Safe-Guard, for I believe it was you 
 who first mounted the Wall ". He introduced him to us as 
 " Marquis of Lindsey ". He really looked like a Nobleman 
 more so than any I had seen in New York, excepting Lord 
 Cornwallis. In a few months after, or days I should rather 
 say this engaging youth succeeded to the Honours, Estates 
 and Titles, of his late Father, the Duke of Ancaster. He, 
 yesterday, July 9th 1779 resigned them to his Uncle, Lord 
 Robert Bertie. The young Duke died of a Putrid Fever, oc- 
 casioned by drinking Brandy and Champagne to a violent 
 degree. 
 
 The Military Travellers soon left us, and Colonel Ham- 
 ilton, his Brother-in-law Maj. Antill (John Antill, Broth- 
 er-in-law to Mrs Hamilton whose sister he married) and 
 several others, set out on a scouring party with Governor 
 Tryon to the Last End of Long Island, but I must break off. 
 T am going to Church, where I shall remember all who do 
 not pray for themselves, Adieu. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 43 
 
 London, July nth 1779. 
 In my last I despatched General Tryon with his Aid du 
 Camps and 1500 of the Queen's County Militia, of whom 
 Hamilton was Commandant to cram down the Oath of Alle- 
 giance in the Rebellious Counties to the Eastward. I was 
 rather surprised to see several packs of Hunting Dogs, in 
 the Retinue, but I was informed that after the business was 
 done of making King's Men of Rebels, they intended to have 
 some Hunting-matches on Hampstead and Bushy- Plains. 
 
 I spent my time very agreeably at ' Innerwick ' this was 
 the name of the Farm, so called from Mr Hamilton's Fath- 
 er's Estate in Scotland. I visited several of the Neighbours 
 particularly the family of " Ustick " to whom Miss Lowther 
 had introduced me. Their House stands on the top of a 
 beautiful rising ground, commanding the town of Flushing, 
 the Bay and opposite shore. My Curiosity led me to go up 
 to the Look-out on the roof of the House; of this con- 
 venience, or place of amusement, you know how fond all the 
 Yorkers are, as they never think a House finished without 
 a Look-out — from hence I had a distant view of Kings- 
 bridge, Hell gates and all the adjacent country. Flushing, 
 for an American village is by no means despicable. It has 
 a pretty little Episcopal Church and a Quakers' Meeting 
 House. A few Gentlemen's Houses help to beautify it a 
 little, particularly one of a Mr Cromlyne, built in the Caro- 
 lina taste, with Piazzas and Balconies. This place is famous 
 for having in its vicinage a Nursery of Fruit Trees, of 
 almost every Climate; besides a pleasant Garden and Tea 
 House for Strangers, kept by a Mr Prince. 
 
 In my walks to Mr Dupuystens, Mr Cornell's and others 
 whom I visited I was struck with many rural and country 
 scenes of which a Native of the Swamps of Carolina can 
 have no conception. I had often read of such things, but 
 
44 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 never had them realized before. The Stone Fences too — 
 quite different from our Pitch Pine Rails! To see the 
 Wheat springing up in September, and, that it was to be 
 covered with snow in the Winter ! This was a phenomenon 
 to me who had known Oats, sown in April, and ripen in June. 
 This was at John's Island — at Busby Estate. — Dr Carson's 
 and my Uncle Rowand has planted his Rice as late as July 
 and turned his Cattle into the Fields to glean after Harvest 
 in the month of October : — 'tis from this circumstance that 
 our finest Butter is made, just before Christmas, and, from 
 thence called ' Rice-field Butter '. I think the Poetical Epis- 
 tle written by my Father, and addressed to my Mother in 
 1773 — gives the best Idea of the Sylvan Scenes of my coun- 
 try, I ever met with. 
 
 London, July 18th 1779. 
 
 I at last began to be impatient at not hearing from York 
 since Lieut. Lock brought me a letter from Miss Lowther. 
 I expected our Admiralty Cause was come on — in short — I 
 was anxious to see an end of my peregrinations in America. 
 Ruminating one Morning at a Window which afforded a 
 view of a pleasant Meadow, a distant Hill, and the King's 
 high road I thought I saw a Gentleman driving a Whiskey, 
 whom I conjectured to be Mr Hunter. I was not deceived, 
 for he soon made his appearance. I recollected that he had 
 mentioned long before that he intended to make a visit to In- 
 nerwick. I introduced him to Mrs Hamilton as an acquaint- 
 ance of the Colonel's, who was then in the Fields. I asked 
 Mr Hunter when he thought the Embargo would be taken 
 off and when he intended to sail for Great Britain with his 
 sister? To the first he said, "All ships bound to Europe 
 were at liberty to sail from that day, for which purpose Sir 
 Henry Clinton had issued a Proclamation. Several Ships 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 45 
 
 had fallen down to the Hook, in consequence; and, that he 
 had taken his, and his sister's Passages in a Vessel bound to 
 Glasgow, and in three days would go on board." He then 
 gave me a letter from my Uncle, desiring my immediate 
 presence in Town as Judge Bayard had determined no more 
 delays should be admitted in our suit, for, on Monday it was 
 to be brought into Court. Guess then how happy I thought 
 myself? Mr Hunter proposed borrowing a riding horse 
 from Col. Hamilton and that I should take the Carriage and 
 set out for New York in the afternoon. The urgency of the 
 case made it necessary, and my friends consented; first 
 making me promise if I should be detained in that Province, 
 for the Winter, to make their house my home. My baggage 
 was soon got ready, and my Squire and I set out after din- 
 ner, accompanied by a Surgeon in the Army who had been 
 visiting a young Officer in his Regiment, Mrs Hamilton's 
 brother. I here learned to Nurse. This poor young Man 
 had a Fever twenty sercu days. The family were worn out. 
 I never watched in my life before, — but I gave great satis- 
 faction. It was here I first saw the precautions necessary 
 to prevent infection, by ventilating the sick-room and not 
 swallowing the spittle whilst near the Patient. 
 
 Our Route was through Jamaica Tozvnship. You have 
 seen it therefore will not detain you with a description, I 
 having only an en-passant idea of it at present, but I think 
 it makes a better appearance than most small, thorough-fare 
 towns in England. My attention was taken up with several 
 groups of French Naval Officers who had been taken by 
 Lord Howe's Cruisers. I could not help observing to my 
 Companions that they would certainly carry home some of 
 the Mania of Liberty to their own Country. — Jamaica has 
 but one street in it and that exceedingly broad and tolerably 
 well built. As it soon grew dark, I had it not in my power 
 to make any observations on the Country, especially as I had 
 
46 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 the charge of my own Neck, being obliged to drive my 
 Whiskey ; and, that too, over Rocky Roads which I never 
 before had seen ! Not like the road to the John's Island 
 Meeting-House, which Dr Carson used to say John Holmes 
 might play Marbles on. It was three Miles long. John was 
 • so proud to be made a Commissioner of the Roads that he 
 was determined to fulfil the Office well. On the summit of 
 a Hill, my Friends made me stop, and pointed to the Great 
 Atlantic, on which the mild but refulgent rays of a full moon 
 were shining. In the vale below I discovered an Encamp- 
 ment, near a beautiful Grove; and, on the other side of the 
 Hill, next the sea, was one continued scene of the domains 
 of Ceres ! 
 
 To make our Journey a little more romantick, as we 
 passed through a Wood, Mr Hunter hummed a tune, but 
 recollecting that I sometimes sung, he insisted on my trying 
 the new Song which I had so often attempted, but without 
 success, owing to the lowness of the Ceilings in New York : 
 the Echo of a Forest would certainly satisfy me, accord- 
 ingly I began " Shepherds I have lost my love " and went 
 through it with great applause, at least of my fellow Trav- 
 ellers ; the Trees and Shrubs, I believe the Screech Owl too, 
 might have added to the Audience. I have never sung it so 
 well since. 
 
 The Doctor left us at Bedford, a small village on the 
 road to Brooklyn. Glad was I when I entered the environs 
 of this last place. It looks well from the opposite shore : — 
 It is 17 miles from Flushing, and has made no inconsider- 
 able figure in the Campaign of 1776. 
 
 The Bells of the Men of War in the River rung for eight 
 o'clock as we entered the Ferry-Boat. I found many of my 
 friends assembled in Mr Lowther's Parlour. My Uncle con- 
 gratulated me on growing fat with the Country air and good 
 living I had enjoyed at Flushing. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 47 
 
 You see my Pen is almost worn out, and I assure you 
 my Eyes are with so much scribbling ; but should these sheets 
 afford you any amusement I shall think both my time and 
 labour well bestowed. Adieu. 
 
 London, July 20th 1779. 
 
 I began next clay to make speedy preparations for my 
 Voyage to this Country. Lieut. Lock's friendship still fol- 
 lowed us. We had heard that many Loyalists had applied 
 to Government for Passages in the Transports — but he cau- 
 tioned us against them as those were so leaky, and had been 
 so long in service they could not possibly stand the bad 
 weather we might expect to meet on the coasts of Ireland 
 and England. We determined to embark in a Merchant 
 Vessel — however I must be accused of Ingratitude, were I 
 to omit relating the very polite and generous behaviour of 
 Major Bayard, Judge of the Court of Vice-Admiralty at 
 New York. The Attorney General opened the suit on behalf 
 of James Reid Esq., his Officers and Crew. The next Court 
 day our Counsel were to deliver our Claim and make our 
 Defence. The Judge said he was already acquainted with 
 every circumstance which could be urged, on our part, and 
 was fully convinced by the Characters of the Witnesses, who 
 had been examined, that what we at first advanced was 
 Truth. He was also sorry to find that so many undue meth- 
 ods had been used to keep back Justice, and concluded with 
 passing sentence in the following words : " It is the decree 
 " of this Court that the ship ' Providence ' with her appur- 
 " tenances, Cargo &c, be restored to their Original Own- 
 " ers : — but must order that each party do pay their own 
 " Costs ". and concluded with wishing that it could be other- 
 wise. — but that there was some pretence for the ' Rose ' 
 
48 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 bringing us into New York, as we came from a Rebel Port. 
 He also added that " he was happy in having it in his power 
 that day " to restore honest Men their Property ". (His 
 Worship forgot Miss Thorney and your Humble Servant. I 
 suppose he thought we should not be pleased at being called 
 honest Women and therefore I forgive him, for we got our 
 poor little Fortune, of two or three casks of Indigo, which 
 was much lessened in value by our Law expenses &c, &c.) 
 
 At 12 o'clock this news was brought us, and before three, 
 our Passages, were taken on board the " Mary & Charlotte ", 
 Captain John Bernard of whom I have before made honour- 
 able mention. In three days I was ready to go on board, 
 but from delays, always attending Fleets, did not leave Town 
 until a fortnight after : however our hurry prevented me a 
 jaunt to Kingsbridge, planned by Mr Tutnall, though the 
 fault was more on their side, being in still a greater hurry 
 than we were, as they had the pleasure of tumbling about, 
 in the ' Rum Adventure ' Transport at Sandy Hook, getting 
 sea-sick, before hand, whilst I was frolicking about in Town 
 amongst the many cheerful young Friends and acquaintance 
 I had made. 
 
 If you remember I once expressed a desire of living in 
 New York? I am now totally off, that Scheme, for I would 
 rather go to — to — to the scorching Torrid Zone. I do not 
 like the place nor its climate. What it was I know not, but 
 what it is gave me a surfeit of every thing on the Continent 
 of America to the Northward of Charlestown. Various 
 reasons may be assigned for this opinion of mine — perhaps 
 spleen, vapours, pride &c, &c, no matter what — to escape 
 being satyrical I shall refer this, with many other particulars 
 'till we meet, either in these Northern Regions, or in that 
 clime where frost, snow or Boreas' chill-blasts never enter. 
 What a rhapsody for the 20th of July, say you? how could 
 I tantalize you ? I am sitting in a room where the Sun has 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 49 
 
 shone the whole afternoon, and where he still sheds some 
 feeble rays; and all the Windows are shut, whilst you are, 
 perhaps, panting for breath. 
 
 On Saturday morning (my Birth Day) October 17th 
 1778 my uncle, (Robert Rowand) his son, Charles Elliot, 
 and I took boat at the Albany Pier, to go on board our Ship, 
 which then lay in the North River, off the Battery. At 
 twelve o'clock we weighed anchor, and bore away for the 
 Narrows; and under no small apprehension of not getting 
 Down in time, as the Fleet had sailing Orders. Next morn- 
 ing, by daylight, we espied the ships getting under way, to 
 the joy of every one on board, as we had all considered New 
 York as our Prison for the ensuing Winter. I have since 
 heard that it was so severe that heavy Artillery and Ammu- 
 nition Waggons were transported to Jersey on the Ice of the 
 North River. The Wind changing, we had time to drop 
 Anchor in the midst of the Fleet at the Hook, about Noon. 
 As to myself, I kept my Birth day sorrowfully enough — 
 viz : — " in settling my accounts at the ship's side ". Sea 
 sickness is a great drawback to travelling by water. 
 
 July 30th 1779. 
 
 You see how inconstant and fickle I am! — Ten days 
 ago I thought I never should want inducement or leisure to 
 write to you, at least an hour every day, — but, I have been 
 sick, indeed very ill ; — but as I can only blame myself I had 
 no right to complain. Duty brought me here. I always 
 found myself worse after any sedentary employment. I 
 therefore seriously have set a resolution to re-establish my 
 health, without which every pleasure palls. Many pronounce 
 me in a deep decline. You w T ould not know me! Yet may 
 I hope these tedious years have not been spent in vain! 
 Surely not. I can now hear the iron /mud of Poverty, the 
 
50 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 proud man's contumely, the Whips and Scourges of the 
 times, &c, but, where was I in my Journal? 
 
 Commodore Brown hoisted his Flag on board of the 
 " Leviathan " and made the signal for all Masters to come 
 on board for their Instructions. At five o'clock p. m. of the 
 19th October we weighed Anchor, and I once more bid adieu 
 to the hostile shores of America. Our Fleet consisted of 
 nearly an hundred sail. Admiral Byron's Squadron of Sev- 
 enteen Sail of the Line, with some Frigates, waited without 
 the Bar to Convoy us safely off the Nantucket Shoals. 
 Never did I see such a Grand Sight ! Such a number of 
 ships under Sail ; and, what an amazing fine Harbour, is that 
 of the Hook ? We had not above ten Pilots in the Fleet. 
 
 In the cabin our Company consisted of several of my old 
 fellow Passengers : — to whom were added a Mr Morley of 
 Charlestown, who had formerly been a Coachman to John 
 Wilks, and Mrs Morley, who held the honourable station of 
 Cook to that great Patriot, also the Sexton of our Scots 
 Congregation : not forgetting Bella, my faithful attendant 
 and fellow sufferer. The sea had a worse effect on her than 
 on me. I promised myself very little pleasure or improve- 
 ment in the conversation of my fellow travellers, nor was I 
 disappointed. I wanted Miss Thorney. She was to follow 
 us in the ' Sally Cooper ' with Mr and Mrs Henry, but were 
 not ready, and did not overtake the Fleet for three days. 
 
 The first week of our Voyage we were becalmed, and 
 the second, baffled by contrary Winds. The third, we were 
 obliged, frequently, to ly to, for twelve hours on a stretch 
 for the dull Sailers, to come up, and others, who through 
 obstinacy, or carelessness, had ran foul of each other in the 
 night. In the first gale of wind we met with, we lost sight 
 of the ' Adventure ', Armed Ship, our Van-guard and ten 
 other Sails. At length we gained the Banks of Newfound- 
 land. The Sea-gulls and Penguins were pleasing sights to 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 5 1 
 
 ns. We then reckoned between Sixty and Seventy Sail of 
 Ships, and other Vessels. Here we waited almost two days, 
 getting Soundings, bringing up the Fleet, and catching Cod 
 Fish. Having so much Company, it did not seem as if we 
 were at Sea, where the wide expanse of Sky and Water soon 
 tires. Every day, excepting when we had a Storm, we spoke 
 to some of our Friends. We once came so near in calm 
 Weather, as to hold conversations without the speaking 
 Trumpet, and the time when (the ' Echo ' a ship in which 
 were some frolicksome persons) they began pelting us with 
 Turnips, which we returned with Apples. (Frolicking is an 
 universal phrase throughout America, Bahamas, and Ber- 
 muda in the West Indies.) 
 
 After we left the Banks we had very Stormy Weather 
 insomuch that, for three days together, we were obliged to 
 keep our Dead Lights in, and burn Candles, night and day 
 below. From this time we never had a Chair in the Cabin. 
 They were lashed to the Stern of the Ship, by my Uncle's 
 orders. The Deck of the Cabin was very wet from shipping 
 very heavy seas, which made their way, down the Stairs, 
 notwithstanding all our care. I could no longer keep above, 
 and once, on entering the Cabin, the Vessel gave a heel to 
 the Starboard Side, which set me running to leeward. My 
 Uncle who was in his bed, started up, with such agony in his 
 countenance, that I shall never forget it. The Chairs were 
 pushed under the beds with their feet outwards. He, nor 
 I, expected nothing less than that, one of the feet would 
 strike against the pit of my stomach! providentially my 
 whole body went against the bars, and there was I transfixed 
 with Terror! All the Passengers assisted in throwing the 
 chairs upon Deck, and we sat on Trunks during the rest of 
 the passage. 
 
 How do you think I made shift to pass my time? I can 
 assure you I was obliged to exert all my Philosophy ; which, 
 
52 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 together with the Guitar, made ' the heavy Hours ' support- 
 able. I have already told you that we had no conversation 
 and I detested cards. Frequently, for two or three days to- 
 gether, I have been obliged to keep my Stateroom, merely 
 for fear of having my bones broken. I was unable to sit up, 
 without being lashed to the bed or trunk on which I sat. I 
 kept the deck until the waves would come dashing over the 
 Quarters. 
 
 During my solitary hours, I often indulged in the pleas- 
 ing reveries of " future times " : — the happiness I should en- 
 joy the next time I went to sea. A thousand reflections 
 would crowd into my mind. The scenes of persecution, 
 fatigue and trouble I had left in Carolina. The various acci- 
 dents, mock Sieges, Skirmishes and battles which, I had been 
 almost a spectator of at New York. The pleasing prospect 
 I had of being, at the end of this Voyage, in a land of peace, 
 liberty and plenty, used frequently to make the leaden foot 
 of Time fly with Mercury's Wings. To paint the first would 
 take up too much of my precious time and paper, and my pen 
 must have the veracity of that of an Evangelist before e'er 
 I should be credited. Few people (on the Continent of 
 America) who have cherished a spark of Loyalty in their 
 breasts, but can bear ample testimony to these truths. 
 
 As to the political state of affairs, whilst I resided at the 
 Head Quarters of the British Army, you must be well in- 
 formed of, and I have already said enough. Only this much 
 I will add, that, sorry was every true friend to Britain to 
 see so valuable a Fleet and Army lie almost totally inactive. 
 
 Provisions were in great plenty in New York, although 
 excessively dear. All kinds of Meat at yd sterling, per 
 pound. Fish — none — as the French kept possession of the 
 fishing grounds. Fresh Butter I4d sterling per pound. 
 
 When Lord Howe, at last, undertook to go after Mon- 
 sier D'Estaing, with the assistance of a few stragglers from 
 
FROM CHARLESTOVVN TO LONDON 53 
 
 Byron's Fleet, to see what was going on at Rhode Island, 
 our hopes were at the highest pitch, but the gale of Wind 
 which dismasted the ' Apollo ' sunk then again to the lowest 
 ebb ! Again his Lordship assayed, and three or four Frig- 
 ates of the British, were burnt, and sunk, at Newport, for 
 no purpose whatever, but hold, you will say; how dare I 
 judge! What secret Orders might be sent out? America 
 is decreed to have her Independency, and our Admirals and 
 Generals are not to retard it if possible — Thre was a fine 
 view of the siege of Rhode Island at the Exhibition of the 
 Royal Academy. 
 
 I had the pleasure of seeing the ' Isis ' Man of War sail 
 up the Harbour of New York, with all her sails shot through, 
 like a Cullendar, and her Masts all splintered, in an engage- 
 ment, with a French Seventy four Gun Ship, thereby prov- 
 ing what British valour is, when put to the test. (The ' Isis ' 
 came through Hell Gates after the Engagement) The ' Ral- 
 eigh ' too, an American Frigate, I saw brought into Port in 
 triumph by the ' Experiment,' Commander Sir Jas. Wallace. 
 The ' Unicorn ' Captain Ford had engaged her, and was al- 
 most sinking, when the gallant and brave Knight, hearing 
 his favourite Musick, viz :— the report of Cannon, crowded 
 sail, hove in sight and ran in between the contending parties, 
 gave the ' Unicorn ' time to repair her damages, and made 
 the thirteen stripes strike to the Union. 
 
 Need I tell how many great Men I saw daily in that 
 Warlike City ? Lord Carlisle, Governor Johnston, Mr Eden, 
 Sir William Erskine, Lord Cornwallis, Sir Henry Clinton, 
 Lord Cathcart, Lord Rawdon, Lord Balcarras, Lord Drum- 
 mond and Sir James Baird. This last mentioned walked 
 through the Streets with his Bayonet hanging at his back, 
 stained with the blood of Lady Washington's Life Guards, 
 whom his party beset, and killed in a house in the Jersies. 
 
 Farewell. 
 
54 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 London, August 15th 1779. 
 
 After so long a cessation from this Labour I scarcely 
 know how to recommence it : — How I have been engaged 
 my Letters by the Packets, and other Opportunities, will in- 
 form you ; but the sole end in view, when I set out the differ- 
 ent excursions I have been engaged in was to reestablish 
 my health. 
 
 When I broke off, a deep impression was on my mind 
 of the only conversation I recollect, worth recording, during 
 my voyage. I shall never forget it. As every one who knew 
 me, also knew that I had a retentive memory, one day Jn. 
 Mills, the Sexton, whom I mentioned as one of our Pas- 
 sengers, asked me if I recollected a young Gentleman who 
 died some years ago in Charlestown, of the name of Wood- 
 rop? I told him " perfectly " and also that my Father was 
 a Mourner at his Funeral, that he died at night, and was 
 buried at eleven o'clock the next forenoon. On my Father's 
 taking off his hat-band, he expressed great uneasiness, and 
 said the body did not appear like a dead Corpse, there 
 seemed to be a bloom on the Countenance ! that he had men- 
 tioned this to Mr Andrew Robertson, Woodrop's uncle ; but 
 he declared he was actually dead. On asking him why the 
 Funeral was so hurried, and not put off till the evening, as 
 others in general were, he said " Mrs Robertson could not 
 bear the Corpse in the house as she had so many young Chil- 
 dren " Mills then asked me if I recollected nothing else. I 
 told him I did — About two years after, a report prevailed, 
 that Mr Woodrop was buried alive, but, on endeavouring to 
 gratify my Curiosity I never could get any information to 
 be depended on, and I, as well as many others, had given up 
 all further enquiries. Mr Mills then said in the presence of 
 my uncle. Mr John Wyat, and others who were listening to 
 our discourse. " I am now released from the solemn prom- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 55 
 
 " ise I made Mr and Mrs Robertson, of refusing- all infor- 
 " mation on that melancholy subject, to any person who 
 " should apply to me in Carolina. The dead could not now 
 " be raised ". He continued " As my predecessor Mr Pratt 
 " was very old and infirm, I assisted him in digging graves 
 " often, but was not long enough with him to be thoroughly 
 " acquainted with the situation of the Burying Ground, and 
 " could not tell, without much probing and searching, what 
 " Graves were ripe, for other interments. The funeral of 
 " another person being ordered at an early hour, he was 
 " obliged to dig the Grave at night. He had two black boys 
 " with him. The spade, in shaping the Grave, broke a piece 
 " off the side of a coffin. Mills said he then descended into 
 " the hole, and saw the backbone of a human Skeleton. This 
 " unusual posture for a dead person, surprised him not a 
 "little; so that, with the assistance of his boys, he opened 
 " the grave, uncovered the lid of the coffin, and found the 
 " deceased lying on its side, with the cheek bone in the palm 
 "of the hand! On the breast plate was painted George 
 Woodrop, died 1770 aged 22 or 23 years I forget which." 
 To this horrid tale, that seemed to harrow up our whole 
 nervous system I added, " that my Father visited the unfor- 
 ' tunate Youth, in his illness, at the request of Mr Robert- 
 ' son, to endeavour to rouse his Spirits : the fever being pro- 
 ' nounced nervous. He said to us when he returned, that 
 ' the Doctors say that little or nothing is the matter with 
 ' him " it is all on the mind. Every error of youth, every 
 ' transgression seems to sink him down, particularly his at- 
 
 ' tachment to that infamous Woman, S R " This 
 
 creature, lived many years, publickly, with Mr J S 
 
 the Merchant, and he afterwards married her. His brother 
 Robert disowned him. Before my Father left Charlestown 
 he obliged us to drop an acquaintance, at whose house Mrs 
 S visited. I again met her at Mrs Benfield's. She ac- 
 
56 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 costed me with great familiarity, she being the sister of the 
 woman with whom I had learned my Alphabet. After some 
 conversation, she took out her Watch. " Do you know that 
 Miss Wells ? " " No Madam, I do not " returned I. " Then 
 " you perfectly knew its first owner. It was given me by 
 " George Woodrop, a few days before he fell sick, of which 
 " illness he died." This shameless Woman never discovered 
 any emotion, or the least change of countenance. She was 
 still beautiful. I have been rather diffuse in this most re- 
 markable story. Here the Proverbs of Solomon are truly 
 verified. I need not say that I never resorted again to Mrs 
 
 Benfield's house. The unceasing entreaties of Mrs S to 
 
 visit her quite shocked me. 
 
 London, August 16th 1779. 
 
 About the 17th of November the 'Leviathan' made a 
 signal for the Fleet to heave to. The ships bound to St. 
 George's Channel were to separate from us. It was night 
 before this business was completed, as many Invalids, in- 
 tending to go to Chelsea Hospital were on board the Cork 
 Transports. We also took leave of my Friends, Mr and 
 Miss Hunter. As we approached the British Channel we 
 began to quake, for fear of being taken by French' or Ameri- 
 can Privateers : our Convoy was not able to defend us, and 
 so badly manned, that had it not been for the Captains and 
 Officers of the Frigates destroyed at Rhode Island, who were 
 Passengers, they never would have got their sails reefed in 
 a gale of wind, before the Masts had been carried away. 
 
 About the 20th we struck for soundings, and to our great 
 joy, brought up some English sand. The weather was fine, 
 and every thing bid fair for a good Land-Fall. 
 
 In the Chops of the Channel we espied a Vessel, like an 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 57 
 
 English Frigate, with the British Flag, coming down as if 
 just out of Port. She kept to leeward, but with great bold- 
 ness, as if she knew who and what we were. Our Commo- 
 dore ordered her to come under his Stern. He then sent a 
 snow to speak her. They both lay to for a considerable 
 time. The Commodore hoisted his topsails and bore down 
 upon them. No sooner did our unknown friend espy him, 
 than he crowded every inch of Canvass in his power, as fast 
 as possible and escaped. How eager were all the Ships to 
 crowd around the Convoy that night, and all the rest of that 
 Voyage, 'till that dreadful Channel-storm separated us; 
 some, alas for ever! 
 
 On the 2 1 st we could see only ten Ships, besides the Com- 
 modore, being enveloped in a thick fog, and driving with the 
 Current in a smart gale of wind. No observation could be 
 taken ; we guessed where we were. Next morning the wind 
 was higher, and the current stronger, as we approached the 
 shore. We could only carry our Courses, and our Captain 
 said we went at the rate of nine knots. About 10 o'clock 
 a.m. we saw the Man of War shifting his sails, as if going 
 to wear. Our Mate went aloft to look out for land. He 
 soon came down, saying " We must be within a League of 
 it " as he saw the Sea breaking over the Rocks, as high as 
 a Steeple ". We were steering directly in upon it ! " About 
 Ship ho ! " was the universal cry : — but as the Bells of St. 
 Brides' Church are just finishing their Chimes, I must defer 
 the conclusion of this matter till a more convenient season. 
 Adieu. 
 
 London, Sunday Evening. 
 
 I left our Fleet enveloped in a fog, and getting out to 
 sea as fast as possible. Due West was our course all that 
 day. Whenever we were within hail of any of our com- 
 
58 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 panions in distress, we asked their opinion concerning the 
 land we had made: but how various were their conjectures. 
 Some of them thought it Ushant, others Guernsey, the ma- 
 jority of the Masters in the Fleet concluded it to be one of 
 the Islands of Scilly, which was the case as we afterwards 
 found. Our want of Opportunities to make our Observa- 
 tions occasioned tin's uncertainty. We beat about, day and 
 night, at the Chops of the Channel until the 25th at noon, 
 when we, once more, saw r the cheerful light of the sun. The 
 quadrants were all in readiness and we blessed the memory 
 of the Inventors of those valuable Instruments. We again 
 saw Scilly and then bore away for the Channel. 
 
 During the tedious period of eight foggy days, what 
 were my reflections ! They almost bordered on impiety. 
 Oftentimes did I think myself tantalized, by being permitted 
 to accomplish that wish, which I had, for so many years in- 
 dulged, namely of coming to England : but that the door was 
 now shut against me! No wonder, said I, to the Captain 
 one day, that I was in my despondency, " that English peo- 
 ple begin to hang and drown themselves in the gloomy month 
 of November " One day more and I should have been 
 tempted to jump out of the cabin window. 
 
 A dreadful storm was brooding, and our Commodore 
 knowing that the ' Leviathan ' could stand no more bad 
 weather, crowded sail, and hasted for Plymouth, leaving us, 
 with six other sail, to the care of Providence — five of these 
 were wrecked that night and the following day! 
 
 In the afternoon we saw the lofty Coast of Cornwall, 
 happy sight to us, poor fugitives and Exiles. We soon made 
 the two Lights of the Lizard, and before bed time passed the 
 Eddy Stone and other Lights. On the 26th the wind rose 
 higher. The Iron bound Coast of England, our Lee shore; 
 and with all our skill could not keep three miles to wind- 
 ward of it : but I came upon deck. My heart leaped when 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 59 
 
 I saw a little Fishing Town near Dongenness. Here were a 
 great number of Dutch Ships riding. The Avarice of these 
 people make them thus expose their Lives and Property, and 
 they will not go into a safer Port, for the expense of paying 
 the Lights, which they must necessarily pass. We saw sev- 
 eral Dutch Wrecks lying near this place, which were as safe 
 as their neighbours but a week before. 
 
 We drove up the Channel at an amazing rate under close 
 reefed courses. My uncle wished to have landed at Ports- 
 mouth, but it was impossible to accomplish it. Whilst on 
 deck I saw the Race of Portland. The prospect we had of 
 soon being in the Downs cheering our drooping spirits, for 
 the Dead Lights were generally in and our candles used to 
 appear like the faint glimmering of sparks in a cavern, as 
 I came from above. 
 
 As I had not had a sound sleep for many nights ; about 
 12 o'clock I resigned my wearied mind and body to calm 
 repose. Happy me ! Little did I know our danger ! At one 
 o'clock the Captain and all hands were called to turn out : 
 None were able to steer the Ship but Bernard, and he was 
 lashed to the Tiller, otherwise he would have been washed 
 overboard, as the Waves were continually breaking over the 
 Quarter. A thick fog arose to " cheer the hopes " or rather 
 to depress the spirits of the desponding Mariners. / did not 
 awake until nine o'clock next morning, and asked, as usual, 
 for my breakfast, which was generally brought to my bed- 
 side. A sullen silence prevailed in the Cabin. At length 
 Mrs Weir answered me from her State room that " as I 
 never had been afraid before, it was now high time " Charles 
 awakened upon this, and asked me " why I had not called 
 " him before to get his breakfast " so true is the observation 
 that ' those who know no danger, fear none ' A dreadful 
 noise above, occasioned by the hauling of ropes with the at- 
 tendant Chaunt; the whistling of the Wind, the dashing of 
 
60 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 the waves against the sides of the Ship, all convinced me 
 that every thing was not as it should be; and the only as- 
 sistance which I could give, must be negatively, viz : to ly 
 still and say nothing ! No sooner had I formed this reso- 
 lution, that I heard the Captain call out, " Try the Pumps " 
 O! thought I, 'tis all over now, as I had never heard any 
 Pumping during the voyage before. I comforted myself 
 with this reflection, that I could never die with more in- 
 difference to the world than at that time, or even now. 
 
 August 20th 1779. 
 
 In about two hours every thing underwent a total trans- 
 formation. The Wind changed, which cleared away the fog 
 and discovered Beachy Head, only one league to leeward! 
 Happily for us, we did not know we were so near the shore. 
 Had the Storm or Fog continued half an hour longer, we 
 should have been wrecked on this dreadful Rock! We soon 
 found the way to the Deck, and we were glad to find our 
 Caboose was not carried away by the Seas we had shipped. 
 Fifty-six hours had elapsed since a fire had been lighted, and 
 a dish of Lob-scouse, made of stale meat and fowl, with 
 some sliced potatoes, required no sauce but hunger to make 
 it relish. 
 
 Miss Thorney recurred to my thoughts, I expressed my 
 happiness and satisfaction that she did not share our dan- 
 ger ; when the Captain told me that he had seen the ' Sally 
 Cooper ' that morning under bare poles, that Vessel being 
 too crank, to carry Sail in a gale of wind. 
 
 We soon made Dover, and, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon 
 of the 27th of November anchored in the Downs. 
 
 We were all drest to go on shore, intending to be in 
 London as soon as possible to save our Insurance, but the 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 
 
 6l 
 
 wind still continued too high for any of the Deal boats to 
 come off to us. The next morning, by five o'clock there was 
 one alongside. In stepping into it I had almost rested my 
 bones on the Goodwin Sands! The sea was still high, the 
 ship rolled, and had not Captain Bernard caught hold of me, 
 I should have fallen into the Sea. This threw me into such 
 a Tremor, as to make me confess I was really afraid. 
 
 Tho' we were but a League from the shore, we were 
 obliged to make a circuit of five miles; — the last three, we 
 sailed close-in-shore. Upon the beach stands a Castle called 
 Sundsdown — the Country retreat of some Naval Com- 
 mander. 
 
 The town of Deal looks tolerably well from the water. 
 Some of the Houses are so near as to be washed by the surf. 
 
 It is really curious to get on shore here. Every boat has 
 its own landing place and the Boatmen never encroach on 
 that of their neighbours, excepting in cases of great emer- 
 gency. As soon as the Partners on shore espy the little 
 Frigate, they get the Windlass and poles ready — not less 
 than three men go in the Boat, as they are often driven by 
 stress of weather on the coast of France, and go oftener, 
 I believe to smuggle Brandy. They have with them a large 
 rope which I mistook for a cable, this they throw upon the 
 Beach. It is immediately caught up and put into the Wind- 
 lass, and they turn it round so that we were actually wound 
 ashore, in the same manner as an Anchor is heaved. In this 
 business the people are obliged to be very expeditious, as the 
 dashing of the surge is so great and the waves come so fast, 
 that the boat is in imminent danger of being overwhelmed, 
 but should the rope break! We got a sample. Our backs 
 were well sprinkled with one wave breaking on the stern of 
 the boat : but o ! how shall I describe what I felt, when I first 
 set my foot on British ground? I could have kissed the 
 gravel on the salt Beach ! It was my home : the Country 
 
62 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 which I had so long and so earnestly wished to see. The 
 Isle of Liberty and Peace. 
 
 So great was the concourse of Passengers from our Fleet 
 at Deal, Dover and Margate, that not a Post-Chaise and 
 Horses were to be hired for that day, we therefore took up 
 our abode at the ' Three Kings ' a tolerably good Inn. 
 
 I soon found that I had not lost the use of my Tongue. 
 I was tired of a six week's silence. It is too much for any 
 Woman. A Gentleman accosted us in the street, enquiring, 
 if Captain Ferguson of the ' Burne ' were in the Fleet? As 
 none of the Gentlemen of our Party knew Capt F but my 
 Uncle, and he was gone on before with the Boatmen, I had 
 the temerity to speak. I was shocked at the incivility of my 
 Companions. I told him Captain Ferguson was removed to 
 the ' Venus ' and would shortly come home. He made many 
 apologies, but added that, he had a little Son under the Cap- 
 tain's care, whom he anxiously expected. Indeed the pleas- 
 ure I felt in giving this information was equal to his that 
 received it. Captain Ferguson is Uncle to the brave Lieu- 
 tenant Lock, and had educated him in the Sea Service. 
 
 We soon ordered breakfast, as our sail in the Downs had 
 given us an appetite. Our Encomiums on our fare were 
 " Bless me " says Mrs Weir, " How soft and white the bread 
 is " another " How good the Water " " How rich the Milk " 
 The butter was excellent and the Tea superfine! The Inn 
 Keeper himself attended us, but, methought he looked as if 
 he guessed we had not breakfasted for a week before. 
 
 The Gentlemen walked out to view the Fleets in the 
 Downs of which there were many, waiting for Convoy. I 
 was glad to rest a little in the dining room and compose 
 myself, but I did not get the motion of the Ship out of my 
 head for a week. I had the privilege of ordering Dinner. 
 Mutton is the only meat which I give the preference to, nor 
 did I know I liked that until Coneress issued their Mandate 
 
FROM CIIARLESTOWN TO LONDON 63 
 
 to their subjects, to " kill sparingly ". I had long wished to 
 taste fresh Herrings, of which this place affords a great 
 plenty. My catering met the approbation of the Company. 
 We neither needed provocative or invocative, hunger was 
 the sauce. 
 
 After dinner we walked out " to see the Place ". It has 
 three pretty good streets in it, but not calculated for Car- 
 riages, as two cannot pass. There is not a Horse Cart in 
 the town, nor any other Carriages but Post-Chaises, for 
 Travellers. 
 
 The King's Store Houses, which are here called " The 
 Buildings " make a good appearance on the Beach. Iiere 
 were lying a great number of Anchors, ready for the Navy, 
 should any ships be driven from their moorings. Do not 
 criticise my English. I believe they can only moor in a 
 river? Anchorage is better. This is an arm of the sea. 
 You must confess that I am a tolerable Sailor in Petticoats. 
 
 We then went to view Deal Castle. The strength of 
 this Fortress surprised me, it conveyed a very good idea of 
 the times in which it was built, but, they did not know in 
 those days the virtues of the Carolina Palmetto ! The Gov- 
 ernor of this Castle is the Marquiss of Caermarthen. There 
 are Apartments fitted up, in a convenient and elegant man- 
 ner for the reception of the Governor and his Lady. So 
 glad was I to be removed from " Wars Alarms " that I en- 
 vied them this bleak retreat : but, what is Grandeur without 
 Honour and Virtue? You know the fate of this unfortunate 
 pair? He was attached to a beautiful young Lady — the 
 Daughter, and Heiress of Lord Holderness falls in love with 
 him. His friends persuade him; he consents and marries 
 her? Soon tired of possession, she seeks another Lover in 
 Mr Byron. The Marquiss having too nice a sense of hon- 
 our, winks at his Wife's indiscretion, until the World calls 
 out. He is forced to be convinced and faints upon the dis- 
 
64 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 covery. A suit is commenced in Doctors' Commons. An 
 Act of Parliament for a Divorce follows. Whilst the Bill 
 is pending his Mistress dies. She sends him a Legacy. The 
 ring which he gave her as a token of his fidelity! Is not 
 this an excellent Fable for a play? But the present age can 
 testify its truth! Alas! Alas! That the example of the 
 Virtuous Pair on the Throne cannot influence the Nobility. 
 Let me creep along the humble vale, so it be in innocence 
 and peace. My eyes, my fingers, bid you Adieu. They all 
 give out. 
 
 London, August 26th 1779. 
 
 Are you not impatient to set me down in London, after 
 so tedious a voyage? Indeed, I was a little fatigued but, 
 with the rest and refreshments which Deal afforded us, we 
 got spirits enough to think of a journey. Before I take leave 
 of this place I must observe the very great cheapness of pro- 
 visions, and the moderate charges at the " Three Kings ". 
 My Uncle's share and mine of the Bill, including Charles, 
 did not amount to five shillings. Breakfast, Luncheon of 
 Bread Cheese and Ale, Dinner and Tea. Fees to the Waiter 
 and Chamber Maid were also divided and included. Firing 
 was also charged. As the Shops were filled with China, I 
 could not resist the temptation of purchasing some, being 
 extravagantly cheap ! 
 
 About 6 o'clock in the evening we procured a Post- 
 Chaise, and set out for Canterbury, leaving our fellow pas- 
 sengers to wait till fortune should favour them. There is 
 no Turnpike on the road from Deal to Canterbury, which 
 made our ride seem as if it were on American Ground. Not- 
 withstanding it was the latter end of November, and no 
 Moon-light, my curiosity was so great, that I persuaded my 
 Uncle to keep the Glasses of our Carriage down ! but I 
 laughed at the cold weather of this Country, at least what 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 65 
 
 I have seen of it, it is not near so cold as in Carolina. I was 
 pleased at going through a large tract of ploughed land, 
 where the wheat had been set. You know we have not much 
 of that kind of earth in our swampy country. I then turned 
 my eyes to the Starry Heavens ! I espied the Constellation 
 of the Plough which you first pointed out to me at the N. W. 
 door of my uncle Dr Well's Hermitage, at John's Island. I 
 soon observed the difference of the elevation of the Polar 
 Star in these high Latitudes. A train of thoughts rushed 
 into my mind composed of hopes and fears, joy and regret ! 
 but I refer you to my letters of August 23rd by the 
 " Thynne " Packet. 
 
 We passed nothing deserving notice but some neat Farm 
 Houses, and a man, hanging in a Gibbet. Stopped at a vil- 
 lage called Wingham, and the Passengers availed themselves 
 of the honest civility of the Country Host by quaffing a pint 
 of Kentish Ale out of a neat Silver Mug, whilst their horses 
 were baiting. You see nothing escaped my observation, al- 
 though I travelled in the night. What may you expect when 
 ' Phoebus lends his cheering rays " ? Would Apollo but lend 
 his Lyre? — or — you your Pen, for this is worn to the stump 
 and I have no knife to mend it. There would be no ascend- 
 ing the Hills in this neighbourhood if the " industrious hand 
 of Man " as Mason says, had not " with Spade and Pick 
 Axe " made paths through them. Chalk is easily worked. 
 Stumpy will not write another word : put on your spectacles 
 when you read this. Farewell ! 
 
 London, August 28th 1779. 
 
 We entered Canterbury about ten o'clock through a huge 
 Gate which seemed to be older and stronger than Magna 
 Charter. 
 
 The Suburbs, and most part of this eminent City seem 
 
66 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 to have a very Monastic Appearance. Time would not per- 
 mit us to visit the Cathedral, nor the Shrine of that ' blessed 
 Saint ' Thomas-a-Becket. 
 
 We drove to the King's Head Inn. We were shewn into 
 a neat parlour, and the Landlady with a couple of Waiters, 
 attended for orders. These civilities are always shewn to 
 Post Chaises, let the Passengers be what they may. The 
 difference from Deal, in regard to the Bills was great. A 
 plate of Steaks, with Pickles, Bread and Cheese &c, was 
 4/8. Lodging 2/7 which we afterwards found was an im- 
 position, as we took Post Horses from that House to the 
 next Stage. My apartment had more the appearance of one 
 fitted up for a Lady of Quality than for a poor American 
 Refugee, however, this is the road from London to Paris, — 
 but all Travellers make these observations on English Inns. 
 When compared to those of other countries, they are Palaces. 
 
 At five o'clock in the morning, Novr., 29th, we were 
 awakened by the sound of the bugle horn, belonging to a 
 party of the Scots-Grays, which were quartered in Canter- 
 bury. It was time to be travelling — got up and dressed. 
 Our Chaise was ready and we rode Post. About a mile 
 from the city was a small neat hut, with a handsome lamp 
 at the door, and a White Gate across the King's high road. 
 I was just going to desire the Postilion to dismount and open 
 it, when a gruff' looking fellow clapt his mouth to my side of 
 the chaise, and cried " Sixpence your Honour ". This was 
 the first Turnpike I had ever seen and is called ' Canterbury 
 Gate '. I now began to observe the great length of the twi- 
 light in these Latitudes; it was but six o'clock and we could 
 clearly discern the face of the Country. It yields great 
 plenty of Hops, if I might judge from the number of poles 
 which were tied up in the fields. They are not unlike the 
 tents which are in Encampments, for keeping the soldiers' 
 arms in. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 67 
 
 We passed through several villages, the names of which 
 I did not know, as my Uncle forgot to take his book of the 
 Post roads out of his Portmanteau. Now and then we lost 
 a little of the Prospects, as we could not always keep down 
 the Glasses, occasioned by several showers of ' English ' 
 rain, which overtook us. I was not a little surprised to see 
 so many large plantations of Trees, of various kinds, for 
 Timber, which abound in Kent. I thought myself in Amer- 
 ica. The chalk Hills continue many miles from the Sea, and 
 chalk is used here for Manure. 
 
 At nine o'clock we arrived at Sittingborn, seventeen 
 miles from Canterbury. Here we got a comfortable Break- 
 fast. The cleanliness and neatness of these Inns always struck 
 me, and the readiness with which the Traveller is accommo- 
 dated : in half an hour we were again in our Chaise. Our new 
 Driver seemed w-illing to convince us that he perfectly un- 
 derstood what a hurry we were in, so that he made the horses 
 fly through the town at such a rate, that I could only observe, 
 as we came out, a small Gothic Church on the right hand and 
 a one Bell Tavern on the left — very properly placed thought 
 I — Here is both the broad and narrow, Gates! — but my 
 Uncle and I took Solomon's advice and turned to neither, 
 but looked straight forward to London. 
 
 Nothing remarkable happened on this Stage, excepting 
 meeting several Country people going to Divine Service. I 
 was glad to see it, as it gave me the satisfaction to think that 
 I was once more in a Country where we could pray for our 
 Sovereign without endangering our Necks. 
 
 Faversham stands on the right hand, a few miles from 
 Rochester, on the side of a hill. At 12 o'clock we ascended 
 the eminence which commands a view of Rochester, Chat- 
 ham and Stroud, the River Medway and the most delightful 
 Country I ever beheld ! 
 
 As we wanted no refreshment at Rochester we were soon 
 
68 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 equipped with " a Chaise and Pair ". These words fly from 
 the Host to the Waiter and from the Waiter to the Ostler, 
 and in the twinkling of an Eye, the Postilion is on one of the 
 Horses. You need only be as quick in paying your shilling 
 a mile. We did not then know that 9d was the proper 
 charge. Lord North's late Tax of two pence has only made 
 them charge a shilling now. 
 
 We passed along not over, a neat Stone bridge which is 
 thrown across the muddy stream of Medway. I was sur- 
 prised at the foulness of this famed River, but found that it 
 is owing to the rich clay soil of the banks which it laves, 
 and the rains. Chatham Dock and Barracks are seen from 
 hence, indeed, the three towns join; Stroud and Chatham on 
 each side and Rochester in the middle. Some Regiments of 
 the Militia were quartered. I saw some of the Officers walk- 
 ing in the Exchange, over which is the Town Hall. Our Inn 
 was opposite. There is a great discent from this place, going 
 down which, we commanded one of the finest prospects, ac- 
 knowledged by judges in England. If the Almanack had 
 not told me it was November, I should have declared it to be 
 April or May : a much finer verdure appeared than those 
 months afford in any part of the Continent of America. I 
 do not remember any circumstance worthy of record, but, 
 meeting several Post-Chaises on the road with the Glasses 
 np, and the people in them muffled as if the whole Island of 
 Great Britain was covered with frost and snow. 
 
 As we approached Dartford, my Uncle bid me prepare 
 to have my Trunks seized on account of my smuggled china. 
 The Inn at Dartford was called the " Rose ", and was larger 
 and more commodious than any we had stopped at, but we 
 got a pair of jaded Horses from it, which dragged us seven- 
 teen Miles. As we ascended Gadshill I recollected Falstafr", 
 Prince Hal, Poins &c. It was their rendez-vous. There is 
 a grove of fine Trees on the top, or rather a Wood. Then 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 69 
 
 we approached Shooter's Hill and next Black Heath; as 
 famous for robberies in modern times as in ancient days. 
 We had a few guineas ready for those unlicensed Tax-gath- 
 erers. Here is a great house of Entertainment, at which 
 hangs the sign of a * green ' Man, where many Citizens go 
 out and spend this day i.e. Sunday. My Father belongs to 
 a club which often meets there. From Shooter's Hill I had 
 a fine view of the rich, the noble river Thames ! How justly 
 loved by the Poet as adored by the Merchant. We passed 
 through Greenwich and Deptford. The crowds of the City 
 began to shew themselves. We passed over London Bridge 
 and were set down at the Spread Eagle, in Grace Church 
 Street. From thence we took a Coach and drove through 
 Cornhill, the Poultry, round St. Paul's Church, down Lud- 
 gate and Fleet Street, into Salisbury Court, No. 47, where 
 my Father has lived ever since my Mother arrived. 
 
 As we passed the Churches, the Congregations were just 
 dispersing. The people poured out like Bees out of hives. 
 I will not fatigue you or myself with anything more at 
 present. I must dedicate another day to correct these sheets, 
 and, should they prove amusing to you, I shall desire no 
 greater reward. May Heaven guard and protect you and 
 grant you success in all your endeavours and undertakings. 
 
 My Father did not insure my Indigo. Unfortunately for 
 my Uncle, we did not arrive in London on the Saturday. 
 At nine o'clock in the evening his Policy was made out and 
 he has since paid the Underwriters Three hundred pounds. 
 
 Farewell, 
 
 L. S. Wells 
 
 PS- September 3d 1779 
 
 Ever since I wrote the above I have been confined to 
 my bed with a Fever. The Sun has set and I have just 
 risen to make up this packet. This will be a sufficient excuse 
 
70 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 for my sending it in such an incorrect state. Mrs McKenzie 
 sets out to-morrow morning for Bristol and does (not?) 
 return again to Town. If you will not take the trouble to 
 revise and correct the sheets, pray commit them to the flames 
 as soon as they have been read. X send the picture, which 
 was done by Bembridge, but it id not worth setting. 
 
 The physicians attend me and I am ordered to Bath and 
 Bristol. I would rather a voyage to the West Indies. Adieu. 
 
 L. S. W. 
 
 Flushing Novr. 22nd. 1794 
 
 My dear Son : 
 
 What pleasure I feel when I read in your uncles Let- 
 ters of the rapid progress you are making in your Educa- 
 tion, is easier to be imagined than described. I am sure 
 you will also improve in Virtue considering the worthy 
 examples you have before you. I sincerely hoped that e'er 
 now I should have embraced my dear child, but, though man 
 may appoint, 'tis God who disappoints, and, hitherto I have 
 met no disappointment but what has ultimately turned out 
 to the advantage of me or mine, the welfare of my family is 
 more to me than my own convenience and pleasure. Had I 
 proceeded in the Roselle some of us must have perished. 
 Had I rashly proceeded alone in my projected journey to 
 Edinburgh, I must have gone the same ground over again 
 with your Father, who will most assuredly land at Falmouth 
 about the end of March : — at least in all human probability. 
 Your little unknown Sister May is really a fine child, but 
 her Nurse was yesterday very sick with a pain in her side, 
 and Dr. Fox says that if I travel at this season. I may risk 
 both of their Lives. I am therefore compelled to remain in 
 this little country village in the West of England where it 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON JI 
 
 rains nine months in the year — but it is the same at Bristol. 
 Glasgow, and all the Western Coast of this Island. 
 
 I flatter myself that my Sister sent your Uncle John a 
 copy of a Letter of mine to your Uncle William Charles 
 \\ ells in London. I therein stated my reasons for educating 
 my Daughters at least 100 miles from the Capital. You will 
 see soon perhaps all of your Sisters — but rest contented till 
 your affectionate Father and Mother visit your Auld Reeky, 
 and then we shall plan every thing for the best ; besides which 
 we shall be aided and assisted by the good counsel of your 
 Uncles and Aunts. Tell them how much I respect and es- 
 teem them — and I sincerely hope that every unfavourable 
 impression they may entertain of us. may be removed, and 
 I hope your dutiful Carriage and Behaviour, will help to 
 bring about this desirable end. I have an elegant India 
 Chintz pattern for your Aunt Henderson, but I dare not risk 
 it by any other conveyance than my own Baggage — it is a 
 present from your Pappa to her. Mary & Nancy are in good 
 Health and desire their Love to you — and say they are quite 
 happy at School — They required a much stricter Governess 
 than any of my Sisters could have been, especially Mary — 
 They are a little broke in now, but they were as wild as 
 young Fillies. 
 
 There is a Lady now in Edinburgh, the Widow of the 
 late Hon. Frederick Maitland Esqr. of the ' Queen ' of 90 
 Guns — to her I owe much — I did myself the honour of writ- 
 ing to her from Cork in 1781. thanking her for her unmer- 
 ited and unsolicited Hospitality shewn to Miss Sutherland, 
 Miss Hilton and myself, then Miss Wells, at her House in 
 Gosport. 
 
 I left her youngest son Frederick in a White Frock en- 
 deavouring to wield his Father's sword. I had the pleasure 
 of drinking tea with him lately at the house of my Friend 
 Airs Wauchope dressed in his Uniform and gracefully orna- 
 
72 THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 merited with his own Hanger. I was truely happy to hear 
 of the happy settlement of so many of Mrs Maitland's chil- 
 dren, and" that Mr Bell, their late Tutor had taken Orders 
 and got a church. I invited young Frederick to come and 
 see me in Jamaica — Should you see my worthy Friend tell 
 her these particulars — If your Uncle thinks proper, call on 
 her : the countenance of such a character will do you 
 Honour — 
 
 Write me once a Week — Direct to Mrs Aikman, Post 
 office, — Falmouth. Farewell my dear Boy. 
 
 Louisa S. Aikman. 
 To Master Alexander Aikman 
 
 Care of Mr John Aikman 
 of Jamaica 
 
 Post Office 
 
 Edinburgh 
 
APPENDIX 
 
NOTES TO THE FOREGOING JOURNAL 
 
 By Authoress of Same 
 
 A preparation for trials and afflictions in old age fulfill- 
 ing the words of the prophet " Jeremiah " — " It is good to 
 bear the yoke in Youth." 
 
 The account of the fatal premature interment of Mr 
 George Woodrop (see page 54) made so deep an impres- 
 sion on my mind that I never forsook the apparently dying 
 or dead until interment. When I left Jamaica in 1801, I 
 reckoned eighteen Individuals who would have been sent to 
 an untimely grave, but for my prompt exertions and un- 
 wearied care. One in particular James Haughton, a youth 
 fourteen years old, in the year 1785. Animation was sus- 
 pended from seven o'clock in the morning until twelve 
 o'clock at Noon. It was occasioned by a constant bleeding 
 at the Nose. Two medical gentlemen were in attendance, 
 who pronounced him dead. His Mother came and looked 
 on him, as the Priest and Levite did on the Traveller in the 
 gospel. " I leave him in good hands." She returned in time 
 to dress for his funeral! I persevered, with the assistance 
 of Slaves in using the means recommended by the Humane 
 Society, and when this unnatural Parent returned, curled 
 
 and powdered, with a and a crow-coloured Silk gown 
 
 and Coat on, her Son was sitting up eating Sago from my 
 hands. The Doctors also returned, and with such a triumph 
 as I never felt before, I said " Gentlemen, he is worth more 
 than two dead men." In 1816, J. H. was living, had been 
 married twice and had several children. Fifteen years he 
 recollected that I had saved his life. The person to whom 
 
 75 
 
70 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 he said it observed he had taken a long time to find it out. 
 In a fortnight after his recovery, he passed me on my own 
 premises, without lifting his hat. Who would look for an 
 earthly reward after the ingratitude of the nine Lepers who 
 were cleansed by Him who went about doing good and left 
 us an example that we might follow. 
 1827. L. S. A. 
 
 "S. R. ." page 55 Journal. 
 
 In the year 1791 when my Mother was in Charlestown 
 Mrs S. was at the top of Fashion, and vied with the British 
 Consul's Lady in the elegance of her Equipage and expen- 
 siveness of her Routes and Entertainments. I need not add 
 that there were found plenty of people to admire and fre- 
 quent them. 
 
 John Mills, Sexton, (page 54 Journal.) 
 
 Mr John Mills is now a Professor of Musick in London, 
 and was many years a teacher in the Town of Marlborough. 
 He has a Wife and two Daughters. Mills put me in mind 
 of his forbidding the lids of the Coffins to be screwed at the 
 Funerals he had attended from our House. The Catastro- 
 phe of Mr Woodrop had made such a deep impression on 
 him, as to make him determine never to inter a corpse till he 
 thought the person dead. He had dispersed Company sev- 
 eral times. 
 
 Let my Son and Daughter read, mark and understand. 
 
 Louisa Susannah Aikman. 
 Chelsea April 9th 1802. 
 
 The following poetical letter is that which is alluded to 
 on page 44 Journal : 
 
 To Mrs Robert Wells, at Dr John Wells' John's Island, 
 South Carolina. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOVVN TO LONDON 77 
 
 To Crowds, to Dims, to Business confined, 
 The Body healthy, but perplex'd the Mind, 
 A single Minute scarcely in my power 
 To write, how shall I find then half an hour? 
 
 To you sequestred in the Marshy Shade 
 Agues and Fevers lurking in each Glade; 
 No Hills nor Dales the view diversify, 
 But one dead Flat fatigues the languid Eye. 
 The Nightingale, or sweetly warbling Thrush 
 Ne'er charm the Ear nor aid the Lover's wish ; 
 No limpid Brook nor gently purling Streams 
 To lull the Nymph to rest and pleasing Dreams ; 
 No velvet Fog — no gay enamell'd Green — 
 With living Daisies, to adorn the Scene; 
 No gurgling Fountains laughing Naiads trim ; 
 
 Here Afric's squalid Sons and Daughters grim ! 
 Rank Vegetation there, deep Mire and Mud 
 While yonder creeps the torpid, dingey flood, 
 Here the green Lake, Parent of fell Disease, 
 Are these the objects then that Mary please? 
 
 Your Will is mine, the sooner here the better 
 To all, good wishes — and so ends my Letter. 
 
 (Signed) Robert Wells. 
 
 Charlestown April 15th 1773. 
 
 My Father and Mother were both born in Scotland, in 
 the year 1728 and married in 1750. 
 
 The note on Page 3 Journal is wrong — by the following 
 Extract from Kelly's Universal Geography, it will appear 
 my first statement was right. It ought to be so, as I received 
 
78 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 my information from my father — but when in Charlestown 
 in 1807 my account was corrected by others. 
 
 " In 1695 a Scotch Company, having obtained from the 
 " English Government permission to trade to Africa and the 
 " East and West Indies, planted a Colony on the Isthmus of 
 " Darien, near the north west point of the Gulf. Here a 
 " fortress was erected called New Edinburgh, and the 
 " surrounding district was called Caledonia. The Indian 
 " princes were pleased at this, as they thought by the help of 
 "the Scotch, to. expel the Spaniards. For some time the 
 " Colony flourished, but at last the Company was ruined by 
 " the jealousy of the East India Company and the remon- 
 " strances of the Court of Madrid." 
 
 L. S. Aikman. 
 
 West Cowes, Isle of Wight. May 23rd 181 7. 
 
 Determined by my Father's Attornies that I should come 
 to England. I had now fulfilled my promise of " abiding 
 by his Property as long as " one stone stood upon another." 
 All was a heap of ruins — all burnt, excepting a large House 
 at the other end of the Town, which, with our lots and 
 Lands is since confiscated. The wreck saved out of the Fire, 
 was sold and with the money, twenty two Casks of Indigo 
 were purchased, which we hoped would realize £5000, Ster- 
 ling in London. I was six months in disposing of the prop- 
 erty, Slaves &c. — when to my astonishment, confusion and 
 dismay. I was served with a Mandate, forbidding my taking 
 it out of the Country. It was well known that it was in- 
 tended to liquidate my Father's British debts; and by a 
 Resolution of their Assembly in 1775, none such were to be 
 paid. Mr Lowndes was our Friend, and sent us early notice 
 of our danger, for had it been afloat, which many in the 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 79 
 
 Council thought, it had all been forfeited. The Carts had 
 been bespoke to take it on board next morning and it was 
 at Midnight we received our intelligence. What was I to 
 do in this dilemma? I could not go to a foreign country 
 without Specie, or what would procure it for me. I was 
 permitted to take three Casks. The size was not limited, we 
 therefore turned out the contents of five into three rum- 
 puncheons : but what a pittance was this to bring of our once 
 ample fortune ! Alas ! how poorly has our Loyalty been re- 
 warded! A pension of Sixty pounds was offered; but our 
 friend James McPherson Esquire refused it, saying, it was 
 not equal to what my Father used to give a Clerk in Amer- 
 ica. With difficulty we obtained a hundred and after my 
 sister's arrival fifty more was added but nothing else of a 
 pecuniary nature was ever bestowed on our Family. Lord 
 North once asked my Father how his Nervous Daughter did, 
 as all our Letters used to be opened and read at White Hall, 
 which operated so forcibly I was often afraid to write. The 
 Journal which accompanies this although addressed to a 
 well-known friend of yours and mine you have my permis- 
 sion to read. 
 
 I now conclude this long and tedious detail with the hope 
 of being able one day hence to talk over, not at your Fire- 
 side, but in the Torrid Zone, all these disasters, with a pleas- 
 ure which none can know but those who have served their 
 time in the School of Affliction ! I now know that Adver- 
 sity is the Parent of many virtues. 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 L. S. Wells. 
 
 Note. — As my Father succeeded in business as a Mer- 
 chant,* the Pension was reduced to Sixty pounds per 
 annum ; thro' the Speculations of some Correspondents in 
 Georgia and the injustice of others in the West Indies he 
 
80 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 was under the necessity of delivering up his effects to his 
 Creditors. He gave all, and I believe the debts are now en- 
 tirely liquidated ; but alas this second stroke was too much ! 
 A paralytic affection deprived him of his Mental Faculties 
 at the age of Sixty three, and three years after he died in 
 1794, leaving his Widow and two daughters totally unpro- 
 vided for — nor could the application of General James 
 Grant, Sir John McPherson or James McPherson Esquire, 
 obtain the smallest relief from Government. 
 Febry 23rd 1802. 
 
 L. S. A. 
 * Mr R. Wells who had resided in this country from the 
 beginning of the American War, had during it, been so suc- 
 cessful in business as to realize about £20,000 — but from 
 giving too great credit his circumstances became embar- 
 rassed about this time (1785.) Ex. from Dr Lister's 
 Memoir of W. C. Wells, Gentleman's Magazine Nov. 181 7. 
 
 The foregoing statement of monies received from Govern- 
 ment is erroneous. My Mother gave me the following par- 
 ticulars a few days ago, viz. 
 
 1 st Year (1775) £ 60 
 2nd. " (1776) £100 
 3rd " (1778) £150 
 4th " (1779) £150 
 Compensation for Confiscated property received from 
 Government. £1200 
 
 When my Father failed the Creditors allowed £170 for 
 the support of the Family and Government added £30 per 
 annum for two years only till the death of my Father, in 
 Lieu of a Salary enjoyed by him, in America, as Marshall of 
 the Vice Court of Admiralty in Charlestown. 
 
 L. S. Aikman. 
 Chelsea, August 13th 1802. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 8l 
 
 NOTES referring to Family of Authoress of foregoing 
 Journal, by W. G. Aikman. 
 
 On Sunday 13th April 1902 attended Morning Service 
 at St. Brides' Fleet Street London. After service looked for 
 and found the Monument referred to on page 83. Searched 
 the Church Register and made the following extracts. 
 
 1794 
 
 July 16 Robert Wells, Salisbury Square. 
 
 Late from America. Aged 66 
 
 Buried in Hearne's Vault. 
 1805 
 
 June 25 Mary Wells. Decline. Camberwell 
 
 Aged j j 
 
 Buried in Lady Jersey's Vault 
 
 18 1 7 William Charles Wells. Aged 60 
 
 Serjeants Inn. September 25. 
 
 Buried by W. Jenour. 
 
 Extract from the Obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine 
 of July 1794. 
 
 At his house in Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, aged 66 
 Mr Robert Wells, Merchant, formerly a printer of consid- 
 erable eminence at Charlestown, South Carolina, but had re- 
 tired thence into this Country, as a Loyalist, on the estab- 
 lishment of the new Government there. Mr W. was a man 
 of letters, and a poet, evinced by a travestie of Virgil*, which 
 he wrote and published whilst at Charlestown. He has left 
 a Son, a Physician, deservedly rising into eminence in Lon- 
 don; and two (three) Daughters. 
 West Cowes 1816. 
 
 L. S. Aikman. 
 
 * I think this was written by Roland Bagly, Ala. 
 
 L. S. A. 
 
82 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 Extract from the Obituary Gentleman's Magazine for 
 May 1804. 
 
 13th May. At his house in Brompton-Grove in his 89th 
 year John Savage Esquire. He was a native of Bermuda, 
 and was bred a Seaman but while still young settled as a 
 Merchant in Charlestown, South Carolina, where after many 
 years of great industry, he acquired a considerable fortune. 
 In 1775 from a desire to avoid witnessing the political strug- 
 gle which was then beginning in North America, he came 
 to this Country, in which he ever after resided. He was a 
 man of strong and sound sense, exemplary piety, primitive 
 simplicity of manners great temperance and unvarying 
 cheerfulness, of the most rigid integrity and unbounded 
 benevolence and charity. To his suggestion was owing the 
 restriction which is imposed on the British Slave Ships, with 
 respect to the number of Negroes they carry from Africa. 
 Notwithstanding his great age, his memory and other men- 
 tal faculties were entire, and till within a few days of his 
 death, he was capable of taking considerable bodily exercise. 
 Had it not indeed been for an acute disease to which the 
 Young are as liable as the old, what is termed by Surgeons 
 " an incarcerated hernia " it is probable that his life would 
 have been considerably prolonged. 
 
 The foregoing character of Mr Savage was written by 
 the late Dr William Charles Wells F.R.S. and of the Socie- 
 ties of London and Edinburgh and one of the Physicians of 
 St. Thomas Hospital. 
 
 West Cowes 181 6. 
 
 L. S. A. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 83 
 
 NEAR THIS PLACE ARE DEPOSITED 
 THE REMAINS OF 
 
 ROBERT WELLS, 
 
 WHO WAS BORN AUGUST IOTH 1 728, 
 
 AND WHO DIED JULY I2TH I794; 
 
 AND OF 
 
 MARY HIS WIFE, WHO WAS BORN DECEMBER 27TH 1 728, 
 
 AND WHO DIED JUNE 2IST 1805; 
 
 NATIVES OF SCOTLAND, 
 
 FOR MANY YEARS RESIDENTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 
 
 AND WHO CLOSED THEIR LIVES IN THIS CITY, 
 
 BELOVED AND REVERED BY THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 FOR THEIR DOMESTIC VIRTUES; 
 
 AND ALSO OF THEIR SON, 
 
 WILLIAM CHARLES WELLS, m.d. f.r.s. l.&e. 
 
 WHO WAS BORN MAY 24TH 1 757, 
 
 AND WHO DIED SEPTEMBER l8TH 1817; 
 
 A SKILFUL AND LEARNED PHYSICIAN, 
 
 AN INVENTIVE PHILOSOPHER, 
 
 A MAN OF SINGULAR WORTH AND HONOUR : 
 
 HE EXTENDED THE BOUNDARIES OF NATURAL SCIENCE; 
 
 AND EXHIBITED IN HIS CONDUCT, 
 
 AN UNION OF GENEROSITY WITH FRUGALITY, 
 
 OF HIGH-MINDEDNESS WITH PRUDENCE, 
 
 AND A STRICT AND SCRUPULOUS INTEGRITY, 
 
 ABOVE THE REACH OF SUSPICION AS WELL AS OF REPROACH. 
 
 LOUISA SUSANNAH AIKMAN 
 
 CAUSED THIS TABLET TO BE ERECTED, 
 
 AS A TRIBUTE 
 
 OF DUTY TO HER PARENTS WHOM SHE HIGHLY HONOURED, 
 
 AND OF AFFECTION TO HER BROTHER 
 
 WHOM SHE TENDERLY LOVED. 
 
84 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 This Tablet is erected in the Parish Church of St. 
 Bride, Fleet Street, London, under the superintendence of 
 J. B. Nichols Esquire, Editor of the Gentleman's Maga- 
 zine, and is inserted in the Number for June Vol. 91st and 
 14th New Series. The Epitaph or Inscription Dr Lister of 
 Lincoln's Inn fields did me the honour to write, dictated by 
 a friendship for my Brother of thirty years standing. 
 ' William! best of Sons, best of Brothers, farewell." 
 
 The following Extract from the Obituary of the Gentle- 
 man's Magazine for October 18 17 was made by W. G. 
 Aikman at Stirling's Library Glasgow, 23rd April 1902. . 
 
 William Charles Wells, M.D., F.R.S.L. and E Licen- 
 tiate of the Royal College of Physicians in London, and one 
 of the Physicians to St. Thomas's Hospital, was born in 
 Charlestown, South Carolina, in May 1757, and was the 
 second son, but fourth child of Robert and Mary Wells, both 
 natives of Scotland, who settled in Carolina in 1753. His 
 father who had been originally a merchant and afterwards 
 carried on the business of a bookseller and bookbinder, and 
 printer of a newspaper, with considerable success, appears 
 to have been possessed of more than common talents and 
 attainments, and his mother to have been generous and high- 
 minded: and both of them were the objects of his esteem 
 and gratitude, and tender filial affection, as long as he lived. 
 Before he was eleven years old he was sent to Scotland to a 
 considerable grammar school at Dumfries then kept by a Mr 
 George Chapman, where he remained nearly two years and a 
 half; and at the expiration of that time had finished the usual 
 course of studies pursued there. In the autumn of 1770 he 
 went to Edinburgh, and attended several of the lower classes 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 85 
 
 of the University. At this time he was first acquainted with 
 Mr David Hume and Mr William Miller, now better known 
 by the title of Lord Glenlee, who afterwards became two of 
 his most intimate friends ; and to his intercourse with whom 
 he was accustomed to attribute the most beneficial effects 
 upon his character, and for whose good offices he entertained, 
 in all circumstances, the most lively gratitude. He returned 
 to Charlestown in South Carolina, in 1771 ; and soon after 
 his return was placed as an apprentice with Dr Alexander 
 Garden, at that time the chief practitioner of Physic there, 
 and well known to Naturalists by his communications to 
 the Royal Society. During three years of the time he was 
 with him, he has said, that he studied so diligently, that, 
 though quite unassisted, he acquired perhaps more knowl- 
 edge than in any three subsequent years of his life. In 1775, 
 soon after the commencement of the American war, he left 
 Charlestown suddenly, and came to London. He had been 
 called upon to sign a paper denominated " The Associa- 
 tion ", the object of which was to unite the people in a re- 
 sistance to the claims of the British Government. He was 
 a conscientious and zealous friend to those claims, and could 
 not therefore sign the paper without a violation of principle ; 
 and this, neither the authority of his master nor the remon- 
 strances of his friends, could induce him to commit. In the 
 beginning of the winter of that year he went to Edinburgh, 
 and commenced his medical studies, with the view of taking 
 a degree. He was happy in the opportunity which this af- 
 forded him of cultivating his friendship with Mr David 
 Hume and Mr Miller, with whom he had kept up a corre- 
 spondence while he was in Carolina, and of gaining a third 
 most intimate and constant friend, the present Dr Robert- 
 son Barclay. He studied there three winters, and passed 
 his preparatory trials in the summer of 1778, but did not 
 then graduate. In the autumn he returned to London, and 
 
86 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 attended a course of Dr William Hunter's lectures, took in- 
 structions in practical Anatomy, and became a surgeon's 
 pupil at Bartholomew's Hospital. Early in 1779 he went 
 to Holland as surgeon to a Scotch regiment in the service of 
 the United Provinces. At first he passed his time agreea- 
 bly ; but, having received ill treatment from his commanding 
 officer, he, with that spirit and decision which characterised 
 him through life, resigned his commission, and on the day 
 on which he received his dismissal from the service chal- 
 lenged the officer who had ill treated him, and who had now 
 the meanness to attempt to punish him for military insubor- 
 dination, after he had ceased to be subject to military au- 
 thority ; but avoided exposing his own person to the danger 
 which would have arisen from accepting the challenge. Im- 
 mediately afterwards, in the beginning of the year 1780, he 
 went to Leyden, where he was principally employed in pre- 
 paring an Inaugural Thesis, which was published at Edin- 
 burgh in the autumn of that year, when he took the degree 
 of Doctor in Medicine; the subject of this Thesis was Cold. 
 At this time the friendship between him and Dr Lister com- 
 menced, which continued without interruption to his death. 
 They had been introduced to one another by their common 
 friend, the late Dr James Currie, the author of " Medical 
 Reports " and the biographer and editor of Burns. In the 
 beginning of 1781 he went to Carolina, which was then in 
 the possession of the King's troops, in order to arrange the 
 affairs of his family, and was there at the same time an 
 officer in a corps of volunteers ; a printer, a bookseller, and a 
 merchant, a trustee for some of his father's friends in Eng- 
 land for the management of affairs of considerable impor- 
 tance in Carolina; and on one occasion exercised at the 
 instance of the Colonel Commandant of the militia, the office 
 of Judge Advocate, in conducting a prosecution in a general 
 court martial of militia officers. In this prosecution he sue- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 87 
 
 ceeded, though opposed by two of the principal lawyers in 
 Charlestown, and maintained his composure and self-pos- 
 session in spite of every effort to load him with reproach, 
 and to intimidate him. It would not be easy to mention an 
 instance of greater vigour and variety of talent than the ex- 
 ercise, at the same time, of these numerous and different oc- 
 cupations displays. In December 1782, it having become 
 necessary for the King's troops to evacuate Charlestown, he 
 went to St. Augustine in East Florida. He here edited a 
 weekly newspaper, which was the first that had ever been 
 published in that country. On this occasion a circumstance 
 occurred, which exhibited in a striking manner the activity 
 and perseverance of his mind. He had brought from 
 Charlestown a printing press, which had been taken to 
 pieces in order to be transported more readily, and a press- 
 man. He had had no doubt that the pressman could easily 
 put the pieces together, but was now told that -this was the 
 business of a press- joiner, and that a pressman knew nothing 
 about the matter. He found among some books he had 
 brought with him one called a " Printer's Grammar ", con- 
 taining rude cuts of a printer's press; and by studying this 
 book diligently for several days, he succeeded with the help 
 of a Negro carpenter, in putting the press into working 
 order. He became captain of a corps of volunteers, and 
 manager of a company of young officers who had agreed to 
 act plays for the benefit of the poorest of the loyal refugees 
 from Carolina and Georgia ; and occasionally an actor him- 
 self. He had great success in Lusignan in Zara, and in 
 old Norval in Douglas; but did not succeed in Castalio in 
 the Orphan ; and failed, as might be expected by those who 
 knew him in Comedy. In 1784 he left St. Augustine, and 
 came to London and at that time became acquainted with 
 Dr Baillie, which acquaintance ripened into a most intimate, 
 steady, and affectionate friendship. In the spring of 1785 
 
88 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 he spent three months at Paris, and in the autumn of that 
 year fixed himself in London as a physician. His father, 
 who had resided in this country from the beginning of the 
 American war, had, during it, been so successful in busi- 
 ness as to realize about £20,000; but, from giving too great 
 credit, his circumstances became embarrassed about this 
 time. In consequence of this Dr Wells, at his first outset 
 as a physician in London, was obliged to borrow of one of 
 his friends £130 and to make subsequent loans of other 
 friends, until his debts amounted to £600. But these loans 
 constituted the whole of his debts ; and he never suffered a 
 tradesman who called for money to go away without it. He 
 scarcely took a fee for the first few years of his being in 
 London ; and he had been ten years in it before his receipts 
 from every source amounted to £250 per annum. In the 
 next five years he was enabled to pay off a part of his debt ; 
 and he had the satisfaction, before his death, of having dis- 
 charged his whole debt, interest as well as principal ; of hav- 
 ing realized something that must be called a capital, though 
 a very small one; and of being in the receipt of an income 
 from his practice, which to a person of his moderate wants, 
 and a bachelor, was abundant. It should be mentioned, that 
 he never omitted to pay the income and property taxes with 
 the most scrupulous exactness ; and that during a part of the 
 time in which his income was very confined, he allowed an 
 annuity of £20 to a relation in dependent circumstances. 
 
 In 1788 he was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Col- 
 lege of Physicians in London, and was one of those Licen- 
 tiates who in 1793 addressed a letter to the President and 
 Fellows, claiming admission into the College, and founding 
 their claim upon the charter by which the College was in- 
 corporated. Soon after the decision upon this Claim in the 
 Court of King's Bench, in the case of Dr Stanger, he ap- 
 plied in 1797, to the College for admission to an examina- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 89 
 
 tion, in order that, if his fitness should be ascertained, he 
 might be admitted a Fellow. This application was in strict 
 conformity to a bye-law, by which from the stress which was 
 laid upon it by Lord Kenyon and the other Judges and by 
 Mr Erskine, the leading Counsel for the College in Dr 
 Stangers case, it was believed that the College would be 
 governed. He was not admitted to an examination. This 
 gave occasion to his very able Letter to Lord Kenyon. 
 About four years ago he received a message from the Presi- 
 dent of the College, enquiring if he had any desire to become 
 a Fellow, to which he answered that he had none. 
 
 In 1790 he was appointed one of the Physicians to the 
 Finsbury Dispensary, and remained so until 1798. In 1793 
 he was admitted into the Royal Society of London. In 1798 
 he was elected Assistant Physician to St. Thomas's Hos- 
 pital ; and in 1800 became one of the Physicians. In this last 
 year, 1800, he was seized with a slight fit of apoplexy. This 
 determined him to adopt a most abstemious mode of living ; 
 so that when he was at home, which was perhaps four or five 
 days in the week, he lived upon milk and vegetable sub- 
 stances, and took a very small quantity of these : he had no 
 subsequent attack of apoplexy. From the time however, of 
 his recovery from that ailment, his health was disordered in 
 various ways, unconnected with his previous illness, and per- 
 haps unconnected with one another. In 181 2 he com- 
 menced some experiments, with a view of throwing light 
 upon the nature of Dew, a subject which had long engaged 
 his attention. A breathlessness and palpitation of the heart, 
 and swelled feet, took place while he was employed in mak- 
 ing these experiments ; so that for a time he was obliged to 
 interrupt them. Immediately on this interruption he wrote 
 out a short statement of the facts he had ascertained, and the 
 opinions he had formed, respecting the production of dew, 
 and deposited it with a friend, lest death should surprise him, 
 
90 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 and the produce of his ingenuity and labour should be lost. 
 He returned to his pursuit with eagerness, while his health 
 was still precarious. When his enquiries were completed, 
 he set about writing his Essay with anxious assiduity, doubt- 
 ful of his living to finish it, and fancying, as he has ex- 
 pressed it, that each page he wrote was so much gained from 
 oblivion. The mind of every generous reader must sympa- 
 thise with him in his anxiety while his work was going on, 
 and in his satisfaction when it was completed ; though it 
 should not be believed, that his name would have been in 
 danger of being forgotten, if it had not had this additional 
 claim to remembrance. His Essay upon Dew was published 
 in August 1814, and in that year he was admitted into the 
 Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 181 6 the President and 
 Council of the Royal Society of London did him the honour 
 of adjudging to him the gold and silver medals on Count 
 Rumford's donation, for his Essay on Dew. It was impos- 
 sible for him not to be highly gratified by this satisfactory 
 testimony to the success of his anxious labours. From 1814 
 to the commencement of his last illness, his health in some 
 respects improved — he was more active, had more strength, 
 and higher spirits ; but he remained extremely thin, and was 
 constantly affected with an inability to lie upon the left side, 
 and with swelled feet, and occasionally with palpitation of 
 the heart, and breathlessness. In the beginning of the pres- 
 ent year he observed that he frequently, as if by an invol- 
 untary act, made a deep and sudden inspiration ; but no other 
 symptom of disorder was observed by him until the begin- 
 ning of June. He was then several times affected at night 
 with violent pains in his right side while he was lying upon 
 that side, which went off when he turned upon his back. On 
 the 10th or 12th he had one of these attacks. On the 14th 
 he went on a visit for a few days to a friend in the country, 
 and was as cheerful, and apparently as well as usual. On 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 91 
 
 the next day he had no disposition to walk, but exerted him- 
 self remarkably to amuse a large company at dinner; in the 
 evening he was languid and drowsy, went to bed earlier, and 
 slept longer than he was accustomed to do. On the next day 
 he returned to town. He at that time laboured under an in- 
 flammatory affection of the chest, and it was feared that 
 when this abated, an effusion of fluid into some part of the 
 cavity of the chest might take place ; but it was believed that, 
 though his recovery might be slow, and not complete, he 
 would ultimately recover, and enjoy life on terms on which 
 it would have been a blessing. This continued to be the 
 opinion of his medical friends, Dr Baillie, and Dr Lister, 
 till the 8th of August when he was suddenly seized while he 
 was sitting up, with the sensation of a tremulous motion in 
 the chest, which he referred to the heart, from which time 
 his pulse intermitted. After this no expectation was enter- 
 tained of his recovery. His life was continued until the 
 evening of the 18th of September; and until very near its 
 termination his mind was clear and active, and his spirits 
 calm and cheerful. 
 
 The following is a list of his writings in a chronological 
 order; In 1780 and 1781 he published several small political 
 things without his name. In the latter part of the year 1780 
 he published an account of Mr Henry Laurens, some time 
 President of the American Congress, in the form of a letter, 
 under the signature of Marcus, to the printer of the Public 
 Advertiser. 
 
 In 1 78 1 he wrote a political paper of some importance, 
 by the desire of the Commandant of the Garrison of Charles- 
 town, the present Gen. Nesbitt Balfour, on the following oc- 
 casion. Men of rank in the American service after having 
 been taken prisoners and sent to their homes under their 
 military paroles, used to make no scruple to appear again in 
 arms against the British Government. The object of this 
 
92 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 paper was to show, by an appeal to military usage, and the 
 nature of the thing itself, that such conduct subjected them 
 to the punishment of death. The Commandant directed the 
 frequent publication of this paper in the public newspapers ; 
 and it is probable that it was owing to this warning that 
 Gen. Balfour and Lord Moira thought themselves justified 
 in putting to death a Colonel Haynes, the propriety of which 
 act was afterwards a subject of debate in the British Par- 
 liament. 
 
 In 1792 " An Essay upon single Vision with two Eyes." 
 In 1794 two letters, in reply to Dr Darwin's remarks in his 
 " Zoonomia " upon what Dr Wells had written in his 
 " Essay upon Vision ", on the apparent rotation of bodies 
 which takes place during the giddiness occasioned by turn- 
 ing ourselves quickly and frequently round. These are con- 
 tained in the Gentleman's Magazine for September and 
 October. 
 
 1795 a Paper, upon the influence which incites the mus- 
 cles to contract in Mr Galvani's Experiments. 
 
 In 1797, " Experiments upon the Colour of the Blood " 
 These two are published in the Philosophical Transactions. 
 
 In 1799, "A Letter to Lord Kenyon relative to the 
 conduct of the Royal College of Physicians of London, in 
 the case of Dr Stanger ". 
 
 In 1800, " Some Account of the Life of Mr Anthony 
 Lambert, formerly of Calcutta " ; and also, " Some Account 
 of Mr George Wilson, apothecary, of Bedford Street, 
 Covent-Garden." 
 
 In 1802 " A Biographical Sketch of Dr George For- 
 dyce ". 
 
 In 1804 " A short Account of Mr John Savage, formerly 
 of Charlestown ", and in 1809, " Biographical Memoirs of 
 Dr David Pitcairn ". The five preceding publications ap- 
 peared in the Gentleman's Magazine. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 93 
 
 In 181 1, "Some Experiments and Observations on 
 Vision." This was published in the Philosophical Transac- 
 tions. 
 
 In 1813, "A Biographical Sketch of Dr Andrew Mar- 
 shal." This was published in the Gentleman's Magazine. 
 
 In 1814, " An Essay upon Dew." 
 
 In 181 5, "An Answer to Remarks in the Quarterly 
 Review upon the Essay on Dew ". In the same year, " An 
 Answer to Mr Prevost's Queries respecting the Explanation 
 of Mr B. Prevost's Experiments on Dew." 
 
 In 1 816, "A Short Letter on the Condensation of Water 
 upon Glass " These three last appeared in Dr Thomson's 
 " Annals of Philosophy." 
 
 Almost all his writings upon Medical subjects are con- 
 tained in the second and third volumes of the " Transactions 
 of a Society for the Promotion of Medical and Chirurgical 
 Knowledge " 
 
 The titles of these writings are : — 
 
 1. " Observations on Erysipelas " 
 
 2. " An Instance of an entire want of Hair on the 
 Human body ". 
 
 3. " Observations on the Dropsy which succeeds Scarlet 
 Fever ". 
 
 4. " A Case of Tetanus, with Observations on the Dis- 
 ease ". 
 
 5. "A Case of Aneurism of the Aorta, communicating 
 with the Pulmonary Artery." 
 
 6. " A Case of considerable Enlargement of the Caecum 
 and Colon ". 
 
 7. " A Case of extensive Gangrene of the Cellular Mem- 
 brane between the Muscles and Skin of the Neck and Chest." 
 
 8. " On Rheumatism of the Heart ". 
 
 9. " On the presence of the Red Matter and Serum of 
 the blood in the Urine of Dropsy, which has not originated 
 in Scarlet Fever ". 
 
 10. " Observations on Pulmonary Consumption and In- 
 
94 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 termittent Fever, chiefly as Diseases opposed to each other ; 
 with an attempt to arrange several other Diseases, according 
 to the Alliance or Opposition which exists between them, 
 and one or other of the two former". 
 
 Besides these, there is a case of Aphonia Spasmodica 
 described by him and communicated by Dr Carmichael 
 Smith, in the second volume of the " Medical Communi- 
 cations ". 
 
 He left behind him many papers; but in the beginning 
 of his illness he directed all which then existed, with one ex- 
 ception, to be destroyed. The paper which he excepted re- 
 lated to the difference of colour and form between the White 
 and Negro races of men, and will be published. His other 
 papers might have been of great use in accomplishing the 
 literary projects he had formed. One of these, which he had 
 thought of at times for 40 years, was to show that there is 
 a material difference in the manner in which we acquire our 
 ideas of the primary and secondary qualities of matter. He 
 was reading, with a view to publishing upon this subject 
 when he was attacked by his fatal illness. He had also an 
 intention of composing several papers upon Vision which he 
 would have presented to the Royal Society, the chief of 
 which would have treated of those phenomena of light which 
 have been denominated by authors, coloured shadows, or 
 ocular spectra. When this should have been done, he in- 
 tended to have collected all his writings upon Vision into 
 one volume, and to have inscribed it, as a tribute of grati- 
 tude, to the memory of Robert Wells, his father. It is not 
 known that he had any other distinct literary projects; but 
 there can be no doubt that his collections upon Medical sub- 
 jects, which were very large and numerous, would have 
 afforded, in his hands, the materials of many interesting and 
 useful publications. 
 
 It would be difficult to delineate fully, and to appreciate 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 95 
 
 exactly, the character of this eminent person. His literary 
 productions have made him well known as a learned and 
 skilful Physician, as an acute and inventive Philosopher and 
 as a perspicuous, vigorous, and elegant Writer ; but those 
 who knew him personally estimate him much more highly 
 than those who are acquainted only with his writings. His 
 powers of mind were strong, acute, comprehensive, and ver- 
 satile. He was capable of the most close and long continued 
 attention, and of directing this attention at pleasure. His 
 knowledge was profound, accurate, various, and ready for 
 use. He was not so exact and minute a classical Scholar as 
 English Public Schools and Universities produce, nor a deep 
 Mathematician ; but he had read some of the Greek and most 
 of the Latin Classics with great attention, wrote Latin easily 
 and correctly, and had made himself master of the elemen- 
 tary books of the inferior branches of Mathematicks. He 
 was well acquainted with Natural Philosophy, and particu- 
 larly, as his writings show, with Optics, and had learned by 
 reading, the facts of Modern Chemistry. He was an acute 
 Metaphysician, and intimately versed in the theories of Mor- 
 als and Politicks. He knew with great minuteness History, 
 ancient and modern, civil and literary; was practically as 
 well as theoretically acquainted with Commerce, and had 
 studied Political Economy with considerable attention. But 
 his mind was remarkable, not so much for being stored with 
 particular facts, as with general principles ; and the readiness 
 with which new observations were referred to and judged 
 of by those principles, was a matter of surprise to those who 
 heard him converse. He had studied Belles-Lettres with 
 great success. He was familiar with the best writers in the 
 English language, and wrote it himself with great purity 
 and with singular perspicuity; and, when the occasion called 
 for it, with force and elegance. His taste was in an ex- 
 traordinary degree correct ; and it is probable that it owed 
 
96 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 its correctness, in a great measure, to the habit he was in, 
 of exercising it upon every piece of composition which came 
 before him. He seldom read any thing, even in manuscript, 
 without noticing in the margin, not only the errors in fact 
 and reasoning, but those in style. 
 
 He was highly interesting in conversation, not only from 
 the information he conveyed, but from the vivacity and 
 acuteness of his remarks ; he was fond of making it an exer- 
 cise of talent, a sort of intellectual fencing match, a trial of 
 skill, a contest for mastery, as well as a means of promoting 
 benevolence and knowledge. 
 
 In active life he was remarkable for promptness and de- 
 cision, which on all great occasions were united with much 
 prudence and caution. He was laboriously diligent; eager, 
 and steady in his pursuits, and less satisfied with any pres- 
 ent success, than cheered by it in his attempts to obtain 
 greater. He was frugal, yet liberal ; high-minded, and un- 
 willing to be obliged, perhaps uneasy under obligation, but 
 most grateful for kindness; resentful, yet placable; irascible, 
 and indulging his feeling when it arose from trifling causes, 
 but exercising the utmost self-command under very great 
 provocation, if the occasion was important, and propriety re- 
 quired it ; indignant at insolence and oppression and regard- 
 less of all personal consequences in the expression of his 
 indignation, but submissive to the appointments of Heaven, 
 and calm and cheerful under the sufferings which flowed 
 from them : a sense of duty was the paramount feeling in 
 his mind, to which hatred and love, fear and desire gave 
 way; and which danger and difficulty served only to make 
 more active and vigorous. 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 97 
 
 Extract Memoir from Life of Dr. Wells. 
 
 I was born in Charlestown, South Carolina, in May 1757, 
 being the second son but fourth child of Robert and Mary 
 Wells both natives of Scotland. My Mother bore many 
 children afterwards, none of whom lived more than a few 
 years, except one Helena a daughter, who now resides in 
 London ; my brother died about twenty years ago ; my two 
 eldest sisters Louisa Susannah Aikman and Pricilla Wells 
 survive. 
 
 Robert Wells had been bred a bookseller and bookbinder 
 when a youth in Dumfries. In Charlestown he added to 
 these occupations that of a Printer of a Newspaper, for 
 which he was well qualified from his previous education, 
 being a good Latin Scholar, and particularly well read in 
 History and the belles-lettres. He had besides studied his 
 own language grammatically, and wrote it with great cor- 
 rectness and purity. He succeeded in Charlestown and sent 
 my elder brother nearly five years older than myself to a 
 considerable grammar-school at Dumfries which was then 
 kept by a Mr George Chapman. 
 
 I was sent from Charlestown to Dumfries School before 
 I was eleven years old. I remained at it two and a half years 
 by which time I had finished the course of studies usually 
 pursued there. His correspondent in Scotland then sent me 
 to Edinburgh, in the autumn of 1770 
 
 I returned to Charlestown in 1771 and a few months 
 afterwards was placed as an apprentice with Dr. Alex. Gar- 
 den the chief practitioner of physic. When I had resided 
 with him somewhat more than three years the American 
 Rebellion broke out in New England. 
 
 My Father whose conduct as the printer of a newspaper 
 had become extremely offensive to the people of Carolina 
 
9© APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 from his constantly maintaining the cause of royalty, found 
 it prudent to leave that Country and to return to Great 
 Britain. Soon after he went away, public matters became 
 worse and I was desired with others to sign a kind of state 
 paper there, " the Association " which as it appeared to me 
 to be an open act of rebellion, I positively refused to do. I 
 therefore determined to leave the country also, but my 
 services were now of considerable importance to my master, 
 who was at the same time one of my Father's attorneys, my 
 Mother's Brother (Robert Rowand) was also one of his at- 
 torneys ; and these two along with my elder brother, strongly 
 resisted the execution of my design, but my Mother who was 
 a third attorney, a woman of an enthusiastic turn of mind, 
 declared that the first public act of my life should never 
 disgrace me; she therefore in spite of the attempts of the 
 others sent me off to England about three months after my 
 Father had parted from her. I arrived in this country in 
 the autumn of the same year 1775 and was most kindly re- 
 ceived by my father, and applauded by him for my conduct. 
 
 In the beginning of winter of same year (1775) I went 
 to Edinburgh and commenced my regular medical education, 
 strengthening my firm friendship with Mr D. Hume and 
 Mr Miller (now Lord Glenlee) with whom I had kept up 
 a correspondence while in Carolina. I studied three win- 
 ters in Edinburgh and in the course of that time gained a 
 third intimate friend — Dr Robertson Barclay. I passed my 
 preparatory trials for the degree of doctor in medicine in 
 the summer of 1778; but did not at that time completely 
 graduate. In the autumn I returned to London, and at- 
 tended a course of Dr William Hunter's lectures and took 
 instructions in practical Anatomy. 
 
 In the autumn of 1780 I returned to Edinburgh and 
 published my Thesis (upon 'Cold') and received the hon- 
 our of being made Doctor in Medicine. While I was at 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON 99 
 
 Edinburgh at this time, I formed a fourth intimate friend- 
 ship namely, one with the present Dr Lister of London. 
 
 In consequence of my Brother's arrival from England, 
 I embarked at St. Augustine for Great Britain in May 1784. 
 As soon as I returned to London I began to seriously study 
 my profession to fit myself for the exercise of it, and in con- 
 sequence cultivated the acquaintance of medical persons. In 
 this way I became acquainted with the present Dr Baillie and 
 soon after contracted with him an intimate friendship which 
 now constituted the fifth, and has been the last I have ever 
 formed. 
 
 The next spring I spent three months in Paris and 
 about Midsummer 1785 I returned to London. In the au- 
 tumn I had the name of Dr Wells affixed upon the door of 
 a lodging which I had hired. 
 
 It must not be regarded as an instance of the weakness 
 of an old man's mind, my desiring that my body may be de- 
 posited in Lady Jersey's Vault in St. Bride's Church, imme- 
 diately above that of my mother, and in contact with it, as 
 hers is now placed with respect to that of my father ; for it 
 has been my wish for many years past, that this should be 
 done. I have, indeed, never been desirous to conquer any 
 natural feelings, when their indulgence led to no harm; on 
 the contrary I have always regarded such indulgence, as 
 highly conducive to the softening of the original hardness 
 of my character. 
 
 August 22nd 181 7. 
 My father was a man of great sobriety himself, and re- 
 stricted me, while I was a boy, from drinking anything but 
 water; and I never, in any posterior part of my life, have 
 had the least desire to taste any stronger liquor, except in 
 compliance with the ordinary customs of society. In 1782 
 I became president of a Club in Florida, and agreeably to 
 
 LOFC. 
 
IOO APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 the custom of the country, thought it necessary to make my 
 subjects intoxicated. In this attempt I necessarily became 
 somewhat intoxicated myself, but still in a less degree than 
 the others, from proceeding more cautiously. During the 
 other six days of the week, though living constantly in so- 
 ciety, I drank nothing but water, nor did I ever afterwards, 
 even before my health became infirm in 1800 desert this 
 practice, except I was in Society. 
 
 My father, though naturally a passionate man, in all the 
 ordinary affairs of life conducted himself with the greatest 
 prudence, except in the case already mentioned, when he 
 was induced, by too great ease of temper, to swerve from 
 it. My Mother was much his inferior in point of common 
 sense, and had a strong tendency to act a little romantically. 
 
 I resembled them both, not only in person but disposi- 
 tion ; and in consequence of my resemblance to my Mother 
 in this latter circumstance, began early to show signs of a 
 certain waywardness of disposition. 
 
 Extracts from a letter of Dr IVilliam Charles Wells. 
 
 Going to Charlestown in 1783 upon some family con- 
 cerns, I was arrested there and thrown into goal ; a few days 
 after my arrival, in violation of a flag of truce with which 
 I had entered the country. Such at least was the opinion of 
 Governor Tonyn, who had given that flag; for as soon as 
 my arrest was known in Florida he sent a commissioner to 
 Carolina, Mr Wyllie, the present Chief Justice of the Ba- 
 hama Islands, to demand my release. In the meantime, a 
 publication appeared respecting me, signed by the goaler in 
 whose custody I had been placed, which began thus : " Will- 
 iam Charles Wells, a political sinner of the first magnitude 
 in this land, and now suffering but a very small proportion 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON IOI 
 
 of those pains and penalties which his high crimes and mis- 
 demeanours have so justly deserved in the common goal 
 of this metropolis," &c. Nature had not formed nor had 
 education trained me, to submit with silence to oppression. 
 By means of money, I got a letter inserted in one of the 
 Charlestown newspapers, the following extracts from which 
 will show to your Lordship, whether my sentiments then 
 partook of disloyalty. 
 
 Charlestown, in Goal, July 17, 1783. 
 
 " I left this place in August, 1775, purposely to avoid 
 signing a paper, at that time handed about under the title 
 of "An Association." I returned to it in January 1781, when 
 in possession of the British Army and left it again with those 
 troops in December 1782. I am, I ever was, and I ever shall 
 be, a subject of Great Britain. 
 
 " In what respect, therefore, I can be a ' political sinner 
 of the first magnitude in this land,' and what are these ' high 
 crimes and misdemeanours ' which I have committed, I can- 
 not well conceive. If indeed to wish well to my Country 
 while contending with the powers, and to be ready at all 
 time to lay down my life in support of its honour and in- 
 terests, be a crime, I cheerfully plead guilty to the charge." 
 
 " For a freeman to be deprived of his liberty, and lodged 
 in a common goal, to be kept constantly locked up in a room, 
 whose ceiling is in that condition that the rain pervades it 
 in every shower, sometimes in such quantity that it must be 
 carried out in pails, and whose only window looks to the 
 north, a quarter of the heavens from which the wind never 
 blows when the weather is sultry, and which not being 
 glazed, obliges him to exclude the cheerful light of day, at 
 the same time that he shuts out the storm,* lastly, to be 
 without the conversation of his friends, whom the dread of 
 
102 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 popular resentment prevents from visiting him ;* * if these 
 sufferings are but a small portion of what he is to bear he 
 can look forward to nothing but Death as the full expiation 
 of his crimes. Grant him but the choice of the mode, and 
 he will thank Heaven for the opportunity of demonstrating 
 his attachment to his Sovereign. Let but thousands witness 
 that his last prayers were for his country's prosperity, and 
 it will afford him more exquisite happiness in the extreme 
 moments of his life, than good men enjoy when angels sing 
 requiems to their departing souls ". 
 
 * Thunder-storms occur almost daily in South Carolina, 
 in the months of July and August, and almost always pro- 
 ceed from the North or North-west. 
 
 * * Mr John Harleston, and his wife, Mrs Elizabeth 
 Harleston, persons of rank and fortune in Carolina. I had 
 received many civilities from them during my stay in 
 Charlestown, while it was a British garrison, and had on my 
 part, done them some small service. But small as this was, 
 it sank deep into their noble natures, and constituted a debt, 
 unused as they were to receive obligations, which seemed to 
 them inextinguishable. On my return to Charlestown, with 
 the flag of truce, they insisted upon my staying at their 
 house, but it was during my imprisonment that the energy 
 of their friendship was chiefly conspicuous. No one day of 
 the three months which it lasted passed away, without my 
 receiving from them repeated instances of kindness, such 
 as I could have expected only from those, who were 
 bound to me by the closest ties of blood. This conduct 
 would at any time have merited my utmost gratitude; but 
 when I consider the circumstances under which it occurred, 
 my feelings altogether unman me. Mr. Harleston's estate 
 had been heavily amerced by the legislature of South Caro- 
 lina ; and at that period, when the affairs of the State were 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON IO3 
 
 regulated by the narrow principles of a petty corporation, 
 nothing could tend more to frustrate his hope, that the fine 
 would be taken off, than his showing attention to any one 
 in my situation. The reins of government also were then 
 so feebly held, that the populace almost daily wreaked their 
 vengeance upon such as had fallen under their displeasure. 
 One night, during the anarchy, a mob surrounded Mr Har- 
 leston's house, threatening to destroy it on account of his 
 behaviour to me. He was from home but his wife, with the 
 spirit and dignity of a Roman matron went out to the rioters, 
 and told them that her husband and herself had done noth- 
 ing towards me but their duty, and that they should not be 
 prevented from continuing to perform it, by any menace 
 whatever. One of those persons is since dead, the other still 
 exists an ornament to her sex. Excellent woman! enjoying 
 in affluence, in the midst of thy children, and their children, 
 the calm evening of a well-spent life, and looking forward 
 with a firm hope, inspired by our holy religion, to another 
 and a better state, though thou seemest already to possess as 
 much happiness, as is compatible with the infirmity of our 
 present natures, it may yet afford thee some momentary sat- 
 isfaction to know, that neither distance of place, nor inter- 
 vention of time, hath lessened my sense of thine unspeakable 
 goodness ; and that, at this moment, my bosom heaves and 
 my eyes drop tears, while I reflect, that without thy tender 
 cares concerning me, when sick and in prison, and far re- 
 moved from those, whose duty it was to render me service 
 under such distress, I might long ago have been numbered 
 with the dead. 
 
 Extract from Gentleman's Magazine 1824 
 
 July 6. In Mapledon-place, Burton Crescent, Helena 
 Wife of Edward Whitford Esq. She was the youngest 
 
104 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 daughter of Mr Robert Wells and Mary his wife, both na- 
 tives of Scotland, who settled in Carolina in 1753 an d sister 
 of Dr W. C. Wells of whom we gave &c., &c., &c. 
 
 Mrs Whitford was the author of some works of consid- 
 erable merit. Constant ia Neville or the Young West In- 
 dian, a Novel in 3 vols. (See Gent's Mag. vol. LXX, p. 
 663.) The Stepmother, a novel 2 vol. 12 mo. Letters to 
 Young Females 12 mo. Thoughts on Establishing an In- 
 stitution for the Support and Education of impoverished 
 females. 8 vo. 1809. 
 
 Extract from the Autobiography of the late Sir Benjamin 
 Brodie, Bart. 
 
 I may take this opportunity of mentioning another so- 
 ciety to which I at this time belonged. It was founded in 
 the year 1793, by John Hunter and Dr. Fordyce, under the 
 name of a ' Society for the Promotion of Medical and Chir- 
 urgical Knowledge.' It was originally composed of nine 
 members, with a provision that it might be increased to 
 twelve, but that it should never exceed that number. When 
 they were so kind as to elect me into it, in 1808, Fordyce, 
 John Hunter, and Dr John Hunter, three of the original 
 members, had been removed from it by death. The existing 
 members were Dr. Baillie, Mr Home, Dr. (afterwards Sir 
 Gilbert) Blane, Dr. John Clarke, Dr. Robertson Barclay (a 
 son of Dr. Robertson, the historian), Dr. Wells, Mr. (after- 
 wards Sir Patrick) Macgregor, Mr Wilson, Dr. David Pit- 
 cairn, and Dr. Lister. The society had already published 
 two volumes, and another was being prepared for publica- 
 tion. We met at dinner once in a month (except during 
 the summer) at Slaughter's coffee-house in St. Martin's 
 Lane. The papers communicated were first read, and then 
 discussed and corrected after dinner. Dr. Wells, who acted 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON IO5 
 
 as secretary, was the most active member, and took a great 
 deal of trouble even in correcting the literary composition of 
 the papers. The third and last volume of their transactions 
 was published in the year 1812, and contained one short 
 paper of very little value contributed by myself. From this 
 time the society continued to exist merely as a dining club, 
 Dr. Wells having resigned the secretaryship, to which, 
 though it had become little more than a nominal office, I 
 succeeded. The meetings, however, were very regularly at- 
 tended, and were, to myself at least, very useful and instruct- 
 ive. In the year 181 7, Dr. Wells, who had always been a 
 person of delicate health, became affected with a serious ill- 
 ness, which after some months terminated fatally. Not long 
 before his death, he addressed through me, a letter to the 
 Society, which I still possess, proposing, as it was not prob- 
 able that they would ever publish another volume, that the 
 society should be dissolved. I suspect that he was appre- 
 hensive that, if it continued to exist, its future volumes 
 would not maintain the reputation of those which had pre- 
 ceded them. However that might be, the Society acted on 
 his suggestion, and on June 2, 1818, the formal dissolution 
 of it took place, it being agreed that the book containing the 
 minutes of their proceedings should remain in my hands. 
 
 Dr. Wells was one of the most remarkable persons with 
 whom it has been my lot to be personally acquainted. He is 
 too well known by his writings, among which his ' Essay on 
 Dew ' deserves more especial notice, for it to be worth while 
 for me to speak of him as a philosopher; but I may venture 
 to give some account of him otherwise. He was never mar- 
 ried but lived by himself, with (I believe) only a single 
 maid-servant, in a small house in Serjeants' Inn, Fleet 
 Street. Although he had paid great attention to his profes- 
 sion, and had ample opportunities of studying it as a physi- 
 cian to St. Thomas's Hospital, he had never more than a 
 
106 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 very limited practice. For this, indeed, he was in many re- 
 spects very unfit : having dry and, in general society, un- 
 gracious manners, and being apt to take offence where no 
 offence was intended. Yet he had great kindness and 
 warmth of heart mixed up with these less amiable qualities, 
 and while he was greatly respected by those who really knew 
 him, he was even beloved by the very few with whom he was 
 intimate. His autobiography, which is prefixed to the post- 
 humous edition of his works, is very characteristic, and, 
 when I read it, reminded me very much of that of David 
 Hume, to whom, indeed, as to the character of his intellect, 
 he bore a considerable resemblance, however different he 
 may have been from him in some other respects. 
 
 On the side of the Tomb referred to on page 107 is the 
 following inscription : 
 
 J. H. S. 
 
 Louisa Susannah 
 
 Wife of Alexander Aikman 
 
 of Jamaica 
 
 Obit. Nov. 29th 1 83 1 
 
 Aetat 76 
 
 Copy from Register of Burials in Northwood Church 
 
 Burials in the Parish of Northwood in the County of South- 
 ampton in the years 1818 and 1831. 
 
 w . By whom the 
 
 Name Abode . • 1 Age Ceremony was 
 
 performed 
 
 W. Nickson, 
 1818 — Susanna Aikman W. Cowes Nov. 24th 27yrs. Curate of 
 
 (No. 124) Cowes 
 
 183 1 — Louisa Susannah 
 Aikman Cowes Deer. 5th 76 yrs. J. Breeks 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON IO/ 
 
 Extract from Gentleman's Magazine December 1818 
 Page 573. 
 
 181 8 Nov. 17. At Prospect House, West Cowes, Isle 
 of Wight, in her 27th year, Susannah, fifth daughter and 
 seventh child of Alexander Aikman, Senr. Esqr. of the 
 Island of Jamaica. " An unspotted life is old age." 
 
 In the Parish Church yard of Northwood, Isle of Wight, 
 stands an Altar Tomb of Portland Stone, surrounded by an 
 Iron railing, on which is the following Inscription. 
 
 Beneath lies interred all that was mortal of Susannah, 
 fifth Daughter and Seventh Child of Alexander Aikman and 
 Louisa Susannah, his Wife, of the Island of Jamaica. Her 
 meek and quiet spirit returned to him that gave it Nov. 17th 
 1818 in her 27th year. " An unspotted life is old age." 
 
 " Stranger, these dear remains contained a mind " 
 " guileless as infant's and as angel's kind." 
 
 In the memorable Storm of Novr. 17th and 18th 1795, 
 she escaped shipwreck, together with her Father, Mother, 
 and infant Sister when above 2000 of their fellow creatures 
 met a watery grave near the back of this Island. " Those 
 that go down to the Sea in ships, that do business in great 
 waters, these are the works of the Lord and his wonders in 
 the deep! — but — He brought them to their desired Haven. 
 
 An affectionate Mother raised this humble 
 Monument to her departed Saint whose 
 pilgrimage ended here. 
 
 In a distant land a Son and five daughters 
 have gone down to the silent Tomb! Of such 
 is the Kingdom of God. 
 
108 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 This Manuscript I desire may be preserved for my 
 Grandson Alexander Wells Aikman whom I have brought 
 up from early infancy, and who is now in his fourteenth 
 year. 1821. 
 
 L S A 
 
 West Cowes. Isle of Wight 
 
 Extract from the Register of Burials (kept at Spanish 
 Town, Jamaica) in Half- Way Tree Parish Church Grave- 
 yard Kingston Ja. 
 
 Charlotte Aikman. 1st Wife of Alex. Aikman Junr. 
 Buried 9th November 1810 Aged 29 
 
 Alexander Aikman Jr. King's Printer. Buried 10th 
 April 1 83 1. aged 49 
 
 Alex. Aikman Sr. Planter. Buried 6th July 1838. 
 
 aged 83 
 
 Louisa Susannah Aikman. Daughter of Alex. Aikman 
 Jr. Buried 9th April 1841. 
 
 Mary Bryan. 2nd Wife of Alex. Aikman Jr. Buried 
 8th October 1850 aged 63. (Buried in A. Aikman Jr.'s 
 grave.) 
 
 A. A. Jr. was married to Mary Bryan 10th Jan. 18 14. 
 St. Andrews Reg. Vol. 2 Fol. 127. 
 
 Baptisms 
 Children of ~\ Alexr wdls Aikman born Ilth Feb l8o8 at Great Ya r- 
 A. Aikman Jr. \ mouth England 
 
 and Charlotte AmeHa Aikman « 2nd Dec . l8o9 
 
 Aikman. J 
 
 Mary Ann Aikman born 9th Jan. 1815 
 
 Louisa Susannah Aikman " 24th May 1822 
 Eliza Aikman (Hitchins) " 25th April 1825 
 William Bryan Aikman " 22nd Oct. 1826 Bap- 
 
 tised 25 June 1827 
 Susannah Wetherell Aikman " 17th June 1829 Bap- 
 tised 2nd Dec. 1829 
 Robert Wetherell Aikman " 17th Nov. 1830 Bap- 
 tised 20 May 1 83 1 
 
 Children of 
 
 A. Aikman Jr. 
 
 and 
 
 Mary Bryan 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON IOQ 
 
 Extract from Gentleman's Magazine, Supplement to Vol. 
 
 CI, Part i. 
 
 1 83 1 April 11. In Jamaica, aged 47, Alexander Aik- 
 man, Jur. Esq. printer to his Majesty and the Hon. House of 
 Assembly in that Island, and proprietor and editor of the 
 Royal Gazette. He has left a widow and eight children: 
 and his father, whom he succeeded in business still survives. 
 
 Extract from the Obituary of the Gentleman's Magazine 
 for December 1831, p. 571; made by W. G. Aikman at 
 Stirling's Library, Glasgow on the 24th day of April 
 A.D. 1902. 
 
 1 83 1 Novr. 29th. At West Cowes, aged 76, Louisa- 
 Susannah, Wife of Alexander Aikman Esqr. formerly King's 
 Printer, and Printer to the Assembly of Jamaica, and for 
 many years a Member of that house. She was born in 
 Charleston, South Carolina, the second daughter of Mr Rob- 
 ert Wells, by Mary, eldest child of John Rowand, Merchant 
 of Glasgow (a descendant of the unfortunate family of 
 Ruthven, Earls of Gowrie, who relinquished that name for 
 Rowand) and was sister to W'illiam Charles Wells, M.D. 
 F.R.S. L. and E of whom memoirs are given in our vol. 
 LXXXVIII ii 380, 467 ; and whose monument in St Bride's, 
 Fleet Street is engraved in our Vol XCI i, 505. The death 
 of Mrs Aikman's Eldest Son, Alexander Aikman Esqre. 
 Printer to the House of Assembly was recorded in our last 
 supplement p. 650. She has left two surviving daughters : 
 Mary married in 1808 to Jas. Smith of St Andrews Ja- 
 maica and has a son and two daughters; and Ann-Hunter 
 married in 181 1 to John Enwright Surgeon R. N. who was 
 lost at Sea in 181 7, leaving two Sons. 
 
IIO APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 Extract from the Gentleman's Magazine for 
 June 1821 by W. G. Aikman. 
 
 tvt tt i_ Tune 21 
 
 Mr Urban. J 
 
 As you have been always desirous of showing respect 
 to departed worth and professional talent, I beg you to insert 
 the annexed representation (see Plate III) of a Tablet lately 
 erected in St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, to the memory 
 of Dr William Charles Wells, a learned and skilful physi- 
 cian, and a frequent contributor to your Monthly Miscel- 
 lany. Soon after his death in 181 7, a valuable Memoir and 
 masterly character of him appeared in your vol. LXXVII, 
 ii, p. 467, from the pen of the same kind Friend,* who dic- 
 tated the accompanying Epitaph. At the foot of the Monu- 
 ment is a copy of the Medal presented to Dr Wells by the 
 Royal Society, on Count Rumford's donation for his Essay 
 on Dew. It is to be regretted there is no portrait extant of 
 this lamented physician. 
 
 Mr Robert Wells (the Father of Dr Wells) and spoken 
 of in the Epitaph, is noticed in your Magazine Vol LXIV 
 p. 677 and also in Vol. LXXXVII ii, p. 467. He was a 
 man of high honour, tried integrity, and of considerable lit- 
 erary attainments. He and his family suffered severely for 
 their loyalty during the American War. Three daughters 
 still survive; the eldest Mrs Aikman (whose filial and fra- 
 ternal affection is here conspicuous) ; the second Griselda, 
 unmarried; the youngest, Mrs Helena Whitford, has dis- 
 tinguished herself by several publications of considerable 
 merit. 
 
 Yours &c. 
 
 J. B. N. 
 
 * Dr Lister 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON III 
 
 Copied by W. G. Aikman from Monument in Half Way 
 Tree Church, Kingston, Ja. in April 1902. 
 
 Sacred to the Memory of Mrs Charlotte Aikman the 
 wife of Alex. Aikman Jr. Esqre. Printer to His Majesty 
 and to the Honourable House of Assembly of this Island 
 and second daughter of Robt. Cory Esqre. Attorney at 
 Law of Yarmouth Norfolk England who departed this life 
 universally beloved and lamented on the 8th day of Novem- 
 ber 18 10 in the 29th year of her age. In grateful remem- 
 brance of her many virtues and as a testimony of his sin- 
 cere and affectionate regard her afflicted husband hath 
 erected this monument 
 
 Extract from Obituary of " The Gentleman's Magazine " 
 for November 1838. Vol. X New Series p. 556. 
 
 1838 July 6. At Prospect Pen, St Andrews, Jamaica, 
 aged 83, Alexander Aikman Esqr. proprietor of Birnam 
 Wood and Wallenford in St George's Parish, and late 
 Printer of the Jamaica Royal Gazette. 
 
 He was born at Barrowstoun-ness, Co. Linlithgow on 
 the 23rd of June 1755, the second son of Andrew Aikman 
 and Ann Hunter (the only child of William Hunter and 
 his Wife Margaret Aynsley). He left his native country 
 for South Carolina at the age of sixteen, having previously 
 made a voyage to Danzic. After his arrival at Charleston, 
 he apprenticed himself to Mr Robert Wells, a bookseller and 
 printer of a newspaper, the father of William Charles Wells, 
 M.D. F.R.S. L. and Ed. of whom a long memoir will be 
 found in the Gentleman's Magazine for Nov. 181 7, and an 
 
112 APPENDIX THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE 
 
 engraving of his monument in St Bride's, Fleet Street, 
 erected by his daughter Mrs Aikman in that for June 1821. 
 
 The American Revolution caused Mr Aikman to leave 
 that Country; and after some wanderings, he fixed his resi- 
 dence in Jamaica; where in 1778 he established a newspaper 
 called the " Jamaica Mercury " which title, two years after, 
 the government patronage having been obtained, was altered 
 to that of " The Royal Gazette " under which it still con- 
 tinues to be published. He likewise became printer to the 
 House of Assembly and King's Printer and having resigned 
 those offices to his son Alexander, he was for many years a 
 member of the House of Assembly, as representative of the 
 parish of St George. After his son's death in 1831, he for 
 a short time resumed his business and the conduct of the 
 Royal Gazette, but on a favourable opportunity occurring, 
 he made his retreat from all commercial anxieties. He was 
 a truly honourable, worthy and charitable man; and his 
 death is much lamented. Mr Aikman visited Great Britain 
 in 1795 (in which voyage he was taken by a privateer, and 
 had to repurchase his property at Philadelphia) in 1801, in 
 1803, and in 18 14, but from that time had remained at 
 home. 
 
 He married at Kingstown, Jamaica, Jan. 14th 1782, 
 Louisa Susannah, second daughter of his former master Mr 
 Robert Wells. This lady had for four years been his fellow 
 dark in her father's office at Charleston. She joined him 
 from England after no little peril, having twice attempted the 
 voyage: on the first attempt she was captured by the French, 
 by whom she was detained for three months in France, and 
 on the second by a King's ship, in consequence of taking her 
 passage in a slave vessel. By this lady who died on the 29th 
 Nov. 1 83 1, (and of whom a brief memoir will be found in 
 the Gentleman's Magazine vol. CI pt. ii, p. 571) Mr Aikman 
 had two sons and eight daughters, of whom the only sur- 
 
FROM CHARLESTOWN TO LONDON II3 
 
 vivors are Mary, the wife of Mr James Smith, of St An- 
 drews, Jamaica, and Ann-Hunter, the Widow of John 
 Enright, Surgeon R.N. His younger son Robert died an 
 infant. His elder son and successor in business, Alexander 
 Aikman Esqr. died on the nth April 183 1, (see Gentleman's 
 Magazine CI, i, 650) leaving a numerous family. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Active, privateer, n, 12. 
 
 Adventure, ship, 50. 
 
 Aikman, Alexander, mentioned, 107; 
 his death, 108, n 1; sketch of, 
 in. 
 
 Aikman, Alexander, Jr., death of, 108, 
 109, 113; his family, 108. 
 
 Aikman, Alexander W., mentioned, 
 108. 
 
 Aikman, Amelia, birth and baptism, 
 108. 
 
 Aikman, Ann H., marries John En- 
 right, 109,113. 
 
 Aikman, Charlotte, mentioned, 108; 
 death of, in. 
 
 Aikman, Eliza, birth and baptism, 108. 
 
 Aikman, Louisa S., see Wells, Lou- 
 isa S. 
 
 Aikman, Mary, marries James Smith, 
 109, 113. 
 
 Aikman, Mary A., birth and baptism, 
 108. 
 
 Aikman, Robert W., birth and bap- 
 tism, 108. 
 
 Aikman, Susanna, death of, 106, 107. 
 
 Aikman, Susannah W., birth and bap- 
 tism, 108. 
 
 Aikman, W. G., notes on the Wells 
 family, 81. 
 
 Aikman, William B. birth and bap- 
 tism, 108. 
 
 Allan, Mr., master mate of the ship 
 Rose, 14, 24. 
 
 Ancaster, Duke of, mentioned, 42. 
 
 Antill, Major John, in expedition to 
 Long Island, 42, 43. 
 
 Apollo, ship, 53. 
 
 Ash, Cato, mentioned, 3. 
 
 Bagly, Roland, mentioned, 81. 
 
 Baillie, Dr., mentioned, 87, 91, 99, 
 104. 
 
 Baird, Sir James, mentioned, 53. 
 
 Balcarres, Lord, mentioned, 53. 
 
 Balfour, Gen. Nesbitt, mentioned, 91, 
 92. 
 
 Barclay, Dr. Robertson, mentioned, 
 85, 98, 104. 
 
 Bayard, Robert, judge Court of Ad- 
 miralty, N. Y., 34, 45, 47. 
 
 Bedford, L. I., mentioned, 46. 
 
 Benfield, Mrs., mentioned, 55, 56. 
 
 Bernard, John, Captain in Carolina 
 trade, 23; Captain of ship Mary and 
 Charlotte, 48. 
 
 Bertie, Lord Robert, mentioned, 42. 
 
 Blane, Dr. Gilbert, mentioned, 104. 
 
 Brian, Captain, commander of the pris- 
 on ship at New York, 25, 26. 
 
 British Army, retreat through New 
 Jersey, 12; defeated at Monmouth, 
 N. J., 12; in possession of New York 
 city, 17; reinforce Sandy Hook, 20; 
 loyalists join the army at New York, 
 23; evacuate Philadelphia, 23; con- 
 vert Livingston house in Brooklyn 
 into hospital, 28; Royal artillery, 
 with British and Hessian infantry, 
 encamped in New York city, 32; 
 use churches for hospital and riding 
 school, 35; at Kingsbridge and Har- 
 lem, New York, 37; fiat-bottomed 
 boats for landing troops, used by 
 the, 37; in expedition to Martha's 
 Vineyard, Mass., arrives at White- 
 stone and Flushing, L. I., 41, 42; 
 evacuate Charleston, S. C, 87. 
 
n6 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Brodic, Sir Benjamin, extract from his 
 
 autobiography, 104. 
 Brooklyn, N. Y., King's brew house, 
 
 28; Livingston house used as hospital 
 
 for British soldiers, 28; site of Battle 
 
 of Long Island, 28. 
 Brown, Commodore, at New York, 50. 
 Bryan, Mary, death of, 108. 
 Bunker Hill, N. Y. city, erected by the 
 
 American army, 1776, 37. 
 Byron, Admiral John, his fleet at New 
 
 York, 50, 53. 
 
 Camilla, ship, 12. 
 
 Campbell, Lord William, Royal Gov- 
 ernor of S. C, 25. 
 
 Canterbury, England, cost of board 
 and lodging at the King's Head Inn, 
 66; regiment of Scots-Greys quar- 
 tered in, 66. 
 
 Carlisle, Earl, his residence in New 
 York struck by lightning, 40; men- 
 tioned, 53. 
 
 Carson, Dr., mentioned, 46. 
 
 Cary, Robert, mentioned, 111. 
 
 Cathcart, Lord, mentioned, 53. 
 
 Chapman, George, mentioned, 97. 
 
 Charleston, S. C, scarcity of goods in, 
 1 ; thorns of the orange tree used as 
 pins, 2; celebration of the defeat of 
 the British fleet and troops in 1776, 2; 
 wreck of the ship Rising Sun, at, 3; 
 the Rev. Archibald Stobo holds di- 
 vine service in 1700, 3; St. Michael's 
 Church, 5; collectors of customs, 22; 
 loyalists banished from, 35; prema- 
 ture burials in, 54, 55, 75; British 
 army evacuate, 87; newspaper 
 printed in 1758, 97; property of 
 loyalist amerced, 102. 
 
 Chesapeake Bay, Md., French fleet in, 
 12. 
 
 Childs, Nathan, mentioned, 38. 
 
 Clarke, Dr. John, mentioned, 104. 
 
 Clarke, Mrs., mentioned, 29. 
 
 Clinton, Sir Henry, orders troops to 
 Sandy Hook, 20; mentioned, 44, 53. 
 
 Coffin Land, S. C, 3. 
 
 Colden, Cadwallader, Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor of New York, 41. 
 
 Connecticut troops in New York city, 
 1776, 37; use swords for lightning 
 conductors, several officers killed, 
 
 38. 
 
 Corlears Hook, New York city, tavern 
 
 at, 37- 
 
 Cornell, Mr., of Flushing, L. I., men- 
 tioned, 43. 
 
 Cromlyne, Mr., of Flushing, L. I., 
 mentioned, 43. 
 
 Currie, Dr. James, mentioned, 85. 
 
 Darien Colonists, 3, 78. 
 
 Dartford, England, 68. 
 
 Deal, England, 63. 
 
 Dick, James, secretary to Admiral 
 
 Gambier, 25. 
 Donaldson, William, mentioned, 29. 
 Drummond, Lord, mentioned, 53. 
 Dupuysten, Mr., of Flushing, L. I., 
 
 mentioned, 43. 
 
 Eleonora, ship, arrives at New York, 
 
 23- 
 
 Elizabethtown, N. J., American army 
 at, 20. 
 
 Enright, John, surgeon, 109, 113. 
 
 Erskine, Sir William, mentioned, 53. 
 
 Experiment, ship, 17, 18; passes 
 through Hell Gate, N. Y., 40; cap- 
 tures the Raleigh, 53. 
 
 Falconer, Captain, taken prisoner, 1. 
 
 Fanshaw, Captain, mentioned, 33. 
 
 Faversham, England, 67. 
 
 Ferguson, Captain of ship Venus, 62. 
 
 Flushing, L. I., residence of Col. Archi- 
 bald Hamilton, 40; British troops at, 
 42; churches, residences, and tree 
 nurseries, 43. 
 
 Ford, Captain of the ship Unicorn, 
 
 53- 
 
 Fordyce, Dr. George, sketch of, men- 
 tioned, 92, 104. 
 
 Fort Johnston, S. C, 2. 
 
 Fort Moultrie, S. C, 2. 
 
INDEX 
 
 II 7 
 
 Fort Sullivan, S. C, defeat of the Brit- 
 ish at, 2. 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, mentioned, 38. 
 
 French fleet in Chesapeake Bay, Md., 
 12, 36; officers captured, 45. 
 
 Galatea, ship, ^^. 
 
 Gambier, James, Admiral, British 
 Navy, in command of port of New 
 York, 24, 26; his headquarters, 26. 
 
 Garden, Dr. Alexander, mentioned, 
 • 85, 97. 
 
 Georgetown, S. C, collector of cus- 
 toms, 23. 
 
 Governor's Island, N. Y., fortifica- 
 tions destroyed by the British army, 
 28. 
 
 Graham, Mr., mentioned, 36. 
 
 Greenwich, N. Y. city, mentioned, 37. 
 
 Hamilton, Alice, granddaughter of 
 
 Cadwallader Colden, 41. 
 Hamilton, Col. Archibald, his resi- 
 dence at Flushing, L. I., 40, 43; in 
 command of Queens County, N. Y., 
 Militia, 43. 
 Hanover Square, N. Y. city, Admiral 
 
 Garnbier's headquarters, 26. 
 Hargood, Mr., purser of the ship Rose, 
 
 18, 24, 25. 
 Harlem, N. Y., British camp at, 37. 
 Harleston, Elizabeth, mentioned, 102. 
 Harleston, John, loyalist, of Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 102. 
 Haughton, James, saved from prema- 
 ture burial, 75. 
 Head, Sir Edmund, purchases the ship 
 
 True Briton, 4. 
 Hell Gate, N. Y., 40. 
 Henry, Mr., and wife sail from 
 Charleston, S. C, 1; mentioned, 50. 
 Heywood, Captain, commander of ship 
 
 Martin, 24. 
 Hilton, Miss, mentioned, 71. 
 Holmes, John, mentioned, 46. 
 Howarth, Col. Robert, mentioned, 2. 
 Howe, Lord Richard, orders British 
 cruisers to New York, 12, 13; his 
 
 fleet in a storm at Sandy Hook, 38; 
 captures French officers, 45; his dis- 
 asters in pursuit of the French, 53. 
 
 Hume, David, mentioned, 85. 
 
 Hunter, Mr., mentioned, ^^> 37, 44, 
 45. 46. 
 
 Hunter, Dr. William, mentioned, 98, 
 104. 
 
 Ingram, Mr., of Virginia, 32. 
 
 Innes, Alexander, Colonel S. C. Roy- 
 alists, 25, 26. 
 
 Irving, Alexander, collector of customs 
 Georgetown, S. C, 23. 
 
 Isis, ship, 53. 
 
 Jamaica, L. I., mentioned, 45. 
 Jamaica, W. I., persons saved from 
 
 premature burial in, 75; newspaper 
 
 established, 1778, 112. 
 John's Island, S. C, Presbyterian 
 
 church, 3, 46. 
 Jordan, Captain, commander of ship 
 
 Galatea, ^^. 
 
 Keppel, Admiral Augustus, mentioned, 
 
 20. 
 Kincaid, Mr., purchases the ship True 
 
 Briton, 4; wife, mentioned, 23. 
 King's Brew House, L. I., 28. 
 Kingsbridge, New York City, British 
 
 army at, 34, 37. 
 
 Lambert, Anthony, life of, mentioned, 
 92. 
 
 Laurens, Henry, president of Con- 
 gress, 91. 
 
 Lee, Gen. Charles, prisoner in New 
 York city, 34. 
 
 L'Esperance, ship, name changed to 
 the Providence, 1. 
 
 Leviathan, ship, 50, 56, ^8. 
 
 Lichtcnstein, Captain, of Georgia., 23. 
 
 Lindsey, Marquis of, Captain in Brit- 
 ish army at New York, his death, 42. 
 
 Lister, Dr., composes inscription for 
 the Wells family tablet, 84; men- 
 tioned, 91, 99, 104. 
 
n8 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Chapman, George, mentioned, 84. 
 
 Livingston, Philip, his house in Brook- 
 lyn used as hospital for British sol- 
 diers, 28. 
 
 Lock, Lieutenant of the British ship 
 Rose, 7; prize master of the cap- 
 tured ship Providence, 8; returns to 
 the ship Rose, 18; mentioned, 44, 
 
 47- 
 Lowther, Barbara, mentioned, 29, 37, 
 
 40, 43. 44- 
 Lowther, Margaret, mentioned, 29. 
 Lowther, Mrs., mentioned, 39. 
 Lowther, Tristrim, mentioned, 29. 
 Lowther, William, mentioned, 27, 29; 
 
 his residence in New York city, 
 
 29. 
 Loyalists, leave Charleston, S. C, 1, 
 
 23, 35; join the British army at New 
 
 York, 23. 
 
 McBride, Lieutenant of the British 
 ship Rose, 8. 
 
 McCulloch, Robert, collector of cus- 
 toms, Charleston, S. C, 22, 26. 
 
 Macgregor, Patrick, mentioned, 104. 
 
 Maitland, Mrs. Frederick, mentioned, 
 
 7 r - 
 Maitland, Frederick, Jr., mentioned, 
 
 Manson, Mr., owner of ship Provi- 
 dence, sails from Charleston, S. C, 
 with his family, 1. 
 
 Marshal, Dr. Andrew, sketch of, men- 
 tioned, 93. 
 
 Martin, ship, 24. 
 
 Mary and Charlotte, ship, 48. 
 
 Mickie,.Mr., mentioned, 29. 
 
 Middle Dutch Church, New York 
 City, used as a riding school for the 
 British army, 35- 
 
 Miller, William, mentioned, 85, 86. 
 
 Mills, John, mentioned, 54, 76. 
 
 Monmouth, N. J., defeat of the British 
 army at the battle of, 12. 
 
 Morley, Mr. and Mrs., mentioned, 50. 
 
 Morning Star, ship, struck by lightning 
 at New York, 39. 
 
 Nautilus, ship, 12. 
 
 New York City, British cruisers or- 
 dered to, 12; occupied by the British 
 army, 17; loyalists in, join the Brit- 
 ish army, 23; prison ship, 25; Ad- 
 miral Gambier's headquarters, Han- 
 over Square, 26; Court of Admiralty, 
 27; residence of Mr. Lowther, 29; 
 King's dockyard, 31; encampment 
 of Royal artillery, British and Hes- 
 sian infantry, 31; redoubts, 32; Hes- 
 sian hospital, 32; Jews' cemetery, 
 32; board and lodging, one guinea a 
 day, 3^; city hall, 34; Gen. Charles 
 Lee, a prisoner in, 34; fire in King's 
 stores, 34; the fire of 1776, 35; 
 churches used as hospital and riding 
 school, 35; one-third of the popula- 
 tion leaves the city in 1776, 35 ; forti- 
 fications in 1776, 37; flat-bottomed 
 boats used by the British army for 
 landing troops, 37; Connecticut 
 troops in, 1776, 37; severe storms, 
 38; houses and vessel struck by light- 
 ning, 39; Dutch roof houses, 39; 
 abundance of provisions, 52. 
 
 North Dutch Church, New York City, 
 used as a hospital for the British 
 army, 35. 
 
 Palliser, Sir Hugh, mentioned, 20. 
 
 Parker, Sir Peter, in command of Brit- 
 ish fleet at Sullivan's Island, S. C, 2. 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., evacuated by the 
 British army, 23. 
 
 Pins, thorns of the orange tree used 
 as, 2. 
 
 Pitcairn, Dr. David, memoirs of, men- 
 tioned, 92, 104. 
 
 Powell, Captain, privateer, active, 11. 
 
 Pratt, Mr., mentioned, 55. 
 
 Prince, William, of Flushing, L. I., 
 mentioned, 43. 
 
 Prosper, ship, 4. 
 
 Providence, ship, sails from Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 1 ; captured by British ship 
 Rose, 7; cargo of the, 7; arrives at 
 Sandy Hook, 13; at Gravesend, 
 L. I., 20; at New York, 22; passen- 
 
INDEX 
 
 119 
 
 gers placed under arrest, 25; re- 
 leased, 26; cargo libelled, 27; court 
 decides that the ship and cargo be 
 restored to the owners, 47. 
 
 Queens County, N. Y., militia, in ex- 
 pedition to east Long Island, 43. 
 
 Raleigh, ship, 53. 
 
 Rawdon, Lord, mentioned, 53. 
 
 Reid, James, Captain of the British 
 ship Rose, captures ship Provi- 
 dence, 7; rude behavior of, 7, 9, 10, 
 18, ^^; his claims for the capture of 
 the Providence, 47. 
 
 Rising Sun, ship, with Darien colo- 
 nists on board, wrecked at Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 1700, 3. 
 
 Rivington, James, printer in New 
 York, 26. 
 
 Robertson, Andrew, mentioned, 54, 55. 
 
 Rochester, England, 67. 
 
 Roome, Mr., mentioned, 29. 
 
 Rose, British ship, captures the ship 
 Providence, 7. 
 
 Roupell, Annie, mentioned, 23. 
 
 Roupell, George, collector of customs, 
 Charleston, S. C, 22. 
 
 Rowand, Archibald, death of, 32. 
 
 Rowand, Charles E., sails from 
 Charleston, S. C, 1, 49. 
 
 Rowand, Robert, sails from Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 1, 49; mentioned, 97. 
 
 Rum Adventure, ship, 48. 
 
 St. Augustine, Fla., 87, 99. 
 
 St. Bride's Church, London, n, 35, 
 99, no. 
 
 St. George's Chapel, N. Y. City, ser- 
 vices held in, 1776, 35. 
 
 St. Michael's Church, Charleston, 
 S.C.,5. 
 
 St. Paul's Chapel, N. Y. City, escapes 
 fire of 1776, 35. 
 
 Sally Cooper, ship, 50, 60. 
 
 Sandwich, ship, 20. 
 
 Savage, John, death of, 82; sketch of, 
 92. 
 
 Scotch Colony at Darien, 3, 78. 
 
 Scotch Presbyterian Church, N. Y. 
 City, services held in, 1776, 35. 
 
 Sea Island, S. C, called Coffin Land, 3. 
 
 Smith, Dr. Carmichael, mentioned, 
 94. 
 
 Smith, James, mentioned, 109, 113. 
 
 Smith, Mary, mentioned, 109. 
 
 Spens, Mr., mentioned, 29. 
 
 Stanyarne, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. 
 Archibald Stobo, 3. 
 
 Stanyarne, Joseph, son-in-law of Rev. 
 Archibald Stobo, 3. 
 
 Staten Island, N. Y., British army en- 
 camped on, 28. 
 
 Stevens, Richard, Captain of ship 
 Providence, sails from Charleston, 
 S. C, 1, 4; his vessel captured, 7; 
 appears before Court of Admiralty 
 at New York, 34; court decides in 
 favor of, 47, 48. 
 
 Stirling, Col. Thomas, arrives at 
 Flushing, L. I., with his regiment, 
 the 71st, or Old Highland Watch, 42. 
 
 Stobo, Rev. Archibald, holds divine 
 service at Charleston, S. C, 1700, 3. 
 
 Stobo, Elizabeth, great-granddaughter 
 of Rev. Archibald Stobo, 3. 
 
 Stranger, Dr., mentioned, 87, 92. 
 
 Stroud, England, 67. 
 
 Sullivan's Island, S. C, defeat of the 
 British at, 2. 
 
 Sutherland, Miss, mentioned, 71. 
 
 Swift, ship, 16. 
 
 Tellfair, Mr., mentioned, 36. 
 
 Thorn, Oliver, mentioned, 41. 
 
 Thorney, Frances, sails from Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 1, 5; ship in which she is 
 a passenger captured, 7; part owner 
 of indigo on board captured vessel, 
 18; arrives at New York, 24; re- 
 ceives value of indigo, 48; sails for 
 England, 50. 
 
 Tonyn, Patrick, Governor of Florida, 
 100. 
 
 Trinity Church, N. Y. City, destroyed 
 in the fire of 1776, 35. 
 
120 
 
 INDEX 
 
 True Briton, ship, 4. 
 
 Tryon, Gov. William, in expedition to 
 
 Long Island, 42, 43. 
 Tunno, Mr., mentioned, 36. 
 Tutnall, Mr. and Mrs., of Georgia, 
 
 taken prisoners by the French fleet, 
 
 exchanged, sent to New York, 36; 
 
 mentioned, 48. 
 
 Unicorn, ship, 53. 
 
 Urquhart, Captain, in Carolina trade, 
 
 23- 
 Usk, Mr., mentioned, 41. 
 Ustick family, of Flushing, L. I., 
 
 mentioned, 43. 
 
 Venus, ship, 62. 
 
 Wallace, Sir James, commander of the 
 ship Experiment, 17, 18; passes 
 through Hell Gate, N. Y., in the ship 
 Experiment, 40; captures ship Ra- 
 leigh, 53. 
 
 Walton, William, residence in New 
 York, 39. 
 
 Wauchope, Mrs., mentioned, 71. 
 
 Washington, Gen. George, mentioned, 
 
 37- 
 
 Washington Life Guards, killed in ac- 
 tion in New Jersey, 53. 
 
 Weir, Mr., and wife sail from Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 1. 
 
 Weir, Mrs., mentioned, 59, 62. 
 
 Wells, Griselda, mentioned, no. 
 
 Wells, Helena, mentioned, 97; death 
 of, 103; list of her works, 104. 
 
 Wells, Mary, death of, 81; tablet 
 erected to the memory of, 83. 
 
 Wells, Miss, mentioned, 71. 
 
 Wells, Dr. John, mentioned, 76. 
 
 Wells, Louisa S., portrait facing title 
 page, sails from Charleston, S. C, 1; 
 regrets the want of British manu- 
 factures, 1; escapes drowning, 2; 
 ship in which she is a passenger cap- 
 tured by the British ship Rose, 7; 
 arrives at Sandy Hook, 13; part 
 owner of indigo on the captured ship 
 
 Providence, 18; arrives at Graves- 
 end, L. I., 20; at Staten Island, 22; 
 at New York, 24; describes harbor of 
 New York, 28; guest of Mr. Low- 
 ther, 29 ; describes lower part of New 
 York, 31; cost of dress and pas- 
 sage, 33; appears before the Court of 
 Admiralty, N. Y., 34; does not favor 
 New England Presbyterians, 35; 
 regrets that the ship Providence was 
 not captured by the French, 36; visits 
 the fortifications of New York, 37; 
 describes violent storm of thunder, 
 lightning, and rain in New York, 39; 
 visits Col. Archibald Hamilton and 
 family at Flushing, L. I., 40; de- 
 scribes the town of Flushing, L. I., 
 43; returns to New York, 45; court 
 decides in her favor for claim of part 
 of the cargo of captured ship Provi- 
 dence, 47, 48; prefers residence in the 
 torrid zone to New York, 48; sails 
 for England, 49; arrives at Deal, 
 England, 61; describes the latter 
 town, 63; arrives at Canterbury, 
 England, 65 ; her journey to London, 
 67-69; saves many persons in Ja- 
 maica, W. I., from premature burial, 
 75; erects tablet to the memory of 
 her parents, 83; epitaph on tomb- 
 stone, 106; sketch of, 109; marries 
 Alexander Aikman, 112. 
 
 Wells, Priscilla, mentioned, 97. 
 
 Wells, Robert, poetical letter to his 
 wife, 44, 77; birth and marriage, 77; 
 pensioned, 79; death, 80; account of 
 moneys received by him from the 
 government, 80; tablet erected to his 
 memory, 83; bookseller in Scotland, 
 97; printer of newspaper in Charles- 
 ton, S. C, 97, in; his family, 
 no. 
 
 Wells, William C, mentioned, 71, 82; 
 tablet erected to his memory, 83; 
 biographical sketch of, 84; list of 
 works compiled by, 92; extract from 
 memoir of his life, 97; extracts from 
 letter of, 100. 
 
INDEX 
 
 121 
 
 Whitestone, L. I., British troops at, 
 
 41. 
 Whitford, Helena, death of, 103; list of 
 
 works by, 104. 
 Whitford, Edward, mentioned, 103. 
 Wilks, John, mentioned, 50. 
 Williams, Mr., mentioned, 36. 
 Wilson, George, sketch of, mentioned, 
 
 92. 
 
 Winslow, Jane I., home in New York 
 struck by lightning, 39. 
 
 Winslow, Miss, mentioned, 39. 
 
 Wilson, Mr., mentioned, 104. 
 
 Woodrop, George, premature burial of, 
 54, 55, 56, 75, 76. 
 
 Wyllie, Mr., chief justice Bahama Isl- 
 ands, 100. 
 
 Zebra, ship, 12. 
 
W 56 
 
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