a fine prospect of Caernarvon Bay; but before the
evening closed, the sky was overcast, and the wind
got up, so that we were under the necessity of
taking in a great part of our sails; and several of
us began to be very sick.

In the course of the night, which was very dark,
the wind became contrary; and it was with great
difficulty we got through the narrow part of the
Channel, near St. David's Head

, without fairly
putting back towards Liverpool. The passage
was not accomplished, without several times tack-
ing from one coast to the other; and, could I have
had the management, I would gladly have put the
ship into Milford Haven, and did advise the Captain
to do it. However, we had cause to be thankful
that we got well out of this narrow sea, although
not without imminent danger of losing our cabin-
boy, who was washed overboard as he was carry-
ing the knives and forks from the caboose to the
cabin; but, in passing through the railing, he got
entangled among some ropes which hung from
the rail, and was thus providentially preserved.
Nearly our whole stock of table knives and forks
were lost, which was a great inconveniency to us,
especially being just at the commencement of our
voyage; however I did not regret the loss of the
knives and forks, seeing the boy's life was preserved.
This accident made so strong an impression upon
the poor lad, that he never recovered his spirits
during the voyage.