Had I not been
very sea-sick, the sight would have been exciting enough, as I sat
wrapped in my oilskins on the bridge; [but] in spite of all my
efforts to talk, to eat, and to grin, I soon collapsed into
imbecility; and I was heartily thankful towards evening to find
myself in bed.
'Next morning, I fancied it grew quieter and, as I listened, heard,
"Let go the anchor," whereon I concluded we had run into Holyhead
Harbour, as was indeed the case. All that day we lay in Holyhead,
but I could neither read nor write nor draw. The captain of
another steamer which had put in came on board, and we all went for
a walk on the hill; and in the evening there was an exchange of
presents. We gave some tobacco I think, and received a cat, two
pounds of fresh butter, a Cumberland ham, WESTWARD HO! and
Thackeray's ENGLISH HUMOURISTS. I was astonished at receiving two
such fair books from the captain of a little coasting screw. Our
captain said he [the captain of the screw] had plenty of money,
five or six hundred a year at least.
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