While I was quietly waiting at the hospitable mansion of my friend Mr Rotch expecting my intended fellow Travellers to breakfast I received a message from Capt. Hawkins requiring my attendance on board the vessel which was to convey us to Ireland and before I could reach Milford I had the mortification to see the packet under weigh. Mr Rotch furnished me with a boat and I soon reached them and found my companions Messrs. Dillwyn and Leach on board [p. 3]
The coldness of the weather drove me down into the cabin where I fell asleep and missed the Smalls, a rock about 8 leagues from the coast of Pembrokeshire on which a light is kept. The poor light keepers living in a box supported on a few posts in the midst of the ocean whence except in very clear weather no land is visible. On coming up again from the cabin the Saltees were in sight and we soon were near enough to remark their striking similarity to the country we had left.
The evening was fine and as the sun gradually disappeared behind the Waterford mountains my imagination was busied with the romantic scenery and the Alpine plants I was to discover in their recesses. After a long period of almost continued rain in [p. 4] South Wales, it seemed like a favourable omen to approach the land of clouds on such a delightful evening. The approach of night prevented us from seeing much either of the soil or scenery in the Waterford River. The Light house stands on a tongue of Limestone called Hook Point6 — otherwise all seemed to be of the argillaceous rock of which I had seen so much in Wales and was to see so much more in this country.
Three of the largest Rivers in Ireland, the Suire, the Barrow and the Nore unite to form this estuary which preserves down to its mouth the form and character of a river — it is bounded on each side by steep banks which want the variety as well [as] the richness of wood.
It was dark before we reached Cheek Point — where is a large dirty uncomfortable inn7 for the reception of the Packet Passengers. We had heard much of the strictness of search of the custom house officers. The searcher however was gone to bed and we were told our luggage must remain locked up for the night. [p. 5] This intelligence determined me to secure a small vallise containing what was necessary for the night and morning. My companions were obliged to apply for theirs and an under searcher undertook to deliver them. ‘We'll take your honour for the contents only just open it for forms sake’. Dillwyn mentioned a pair of shoes, which he said were half worn out ‘O we'll trust to your honour implicitly only just let us look at them’.