William Gravell diary, 1863-1867.

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me I inquired of some one when the ship was likely to sail; to this I could get no definite answer, but the person thought that it was not likely that she would sail for another week at least. Under circumstances so discouraging as this I scarcely knew what to do; ascertaining the name of the real agents I went to see if they could give any more definite informa- tion of the time of sailing. The only information they could give me was that she certainly would not sail before Wednesday or Thursday. I was now in a fix and my plans probably frustrated for by the time the ship started every means of exit might be closed. I was besides very short of money, on account of the numerous expenses I had not calculated upon. Being situated thus, and having several days to spare I did not see that I could do anything else but return home which I finally concluded to do.

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With a feeling of disappointment, vexation and mortification, I retraced my way through the streets which I was now pretty well acquainted with, to the depot and procured a ticket for Philadelphia via the Jersey City Railway. Before I left the ship to go to the merchants office, I took the precaution of stowing away my baggage in the bunk which I intended to occupy, and where I left it in apparent security; but all the way home I was haunted with the idea that I had done wrongly in doing so and that I had left it in the power of anyone who might feel disposed to remove it. This idea so strongly took posession of my mind that I was exceedingly uncomfortable all the way home, and indeed miserable until I returned on Monday morning and found it safe where I had placed it. I arrived at home about seven o'clock in the evening. They were all very much surprised at my return and of course could

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not surmise the cause, but when they heard the reason, they were per- fectly satisfied with what I had done. Sunday morning was passed in making some additional preparations, which owing to haste and ignorance I had omitted in the first attempt, but which I now made by the advice of John Fleming whose assistance I found to be very valuable; which he, being an old navigator of the Atlantic was well competent to give. Every thing being ready I made the start again on Sunday afternoon about 3 o'clock and was accompanied to the Kensington Depot by Papa and Fleming. Here I bid Papa good-bye and Fleming concluded to accompany me to New York and see me safe on board of the ship. We reached New York about eleven o'clock at night after a very rapid passage across New Jersey and put up at a Hotel on the wharf; we arose early and having

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breakfasted at a restaurant in the neighborhood, we proceeded directly to the vessel, and I was inexpressedly overjoyed to find every thing as I had left it on the Saturday before. We then had a conversation with some of the officers of the ship, but they seemed so very doubtful of the time of sailing, and recommended so strongly another vessel of the same line which was going direct to London, that we con- cluded to call upon the owners and effect an exchange, which they un- hesitatingly did; but in doing so, they gave me to understand that I had been swindled and was perfectly justified in taking proceedings against the persons who sold me the ticket, but they thought it would not be advisable, owing to the consequent loss of time. In this we fully concurred, and furnished with a passage by the Plymouth Rock for London, we at once proceeded to trans- fer my baggage to that vessel which was lying in the vicinity, and which

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we accomplished with very little dif- ficulty. On reaching the Plymouth Rock, we noticed what was entirely absent from the vessel we had just left; and that was a busy sense of life and activity usually attending [Crossed out text] the departing of [End crossed out text] a ship about starting on a long voyage. The warf along- side was piled with merchandise, which a number of men were engaged in stowing away in the hold and we at once added ourselves to an excited little knot of people who were engaged in shuffling their baggage about the deck and stowing it away in the cabin below. By the time that I had secured a berth, and got my baggage safely placed within it, it was time for John Flemming to leave to secure his train. I accompanied him to the depot, and assisted him to procure his ticket and then farewell. Now I felt lonely indeed, the last link and association was gone, and I was alone in the