all these beauties, found ourselves exposed on the quarter-deck to
uncommonly cold and piercing weather. An unintermitting violent
shower of rain has driven me into the cabin, where I am now
endeavouring to divert a gloomy hour by giving you the description
of a pleasing one.



CHAPTER II.



London, 2nd June.

This morning those of us who were fellow passengers together in the
great cabin, being six in number, requested to be set on shore in a
boat, a little before the vessel got to Dartford, which is still
sixteen miles from London. This expedient is generally adopted,
instead of going up the Thames, towards London, where on account of
the astonishing number of ships, which are always more crowded
together the nearer you approach the city, it frequently requires
many days before a ship can finish her passage. He therefore who
wishes to lose no time unnecessarily, and wishes also to avoid other
inconveniences, such as frequent stoppages, and perhaps, some
alarming dashings against other ships, prefers travelling those few
miles by land in a post-chaise, which is not very expensive,
especially when three join together, as three passengers pay no more
than one. This indulgence is allowed by act of parliament.

As we left the vessel we were honoured with a general huzza, or in