Monday July 31st
I rose about 5 O'Clock from a horribly hard Straw Mattress, all the better Beds having been preengaged by other Company, & found {MS page 98} that two Packets had just arrived one of which would sail again as soon as the tide served. At
1/2 past 9 the following passengers embarked on board the Berwick Packet, Capt. Steele — A Conought Lady with her Nursery Maid & 5 Children & her Brother who served as their Escort; a very pleasant rattling young Man of Fortune named Croker from Mallow106 with his Servant; a younker on his way to Marlow College;107 our party consisting of Mr. Wilder, Mr. Leach & myself. The Vessel immediately dropt down the River, & passed between the two small Towns of Passage in Waterford County, & Ballyhack in the County of Wexford, which are prettily situated on the opposite shores of the River. We soon afterwards passed Duncannon Fort which is a strong fortification built on a projecting Rock,108 & on the other side of the River we saw New Geneva Barracks109 forming an extensive Range of Buildings. Till we had passed the Fort the sailing had been delightful, but the Haven there becomes much wider & the Tide & Wind sitting in opposite directions occasioned a heavy Sea which made the Packet rowl & pitch so terribly that before we passed the Light House {MS page 99} at Hook Point every Passenger was Sea Sick except myself. I held out & kept on Decks till after five O'Clock, when the same befell me, & with an emptied Stomach I soon after went to Bed.