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ship. She not only acts as a direct check on the husband, but she acts as an indirect check on
the officers of the ship, and particularly on any viciously disposed females who may be on
board.'
Mereweather was seasick, for the first and last time, on 2 February. Then on Sunday, 3
February, the ship moved off but soon anchored 'in glorious sunshine' off Margate, favourable
winds and tides being awaited before the ship could round the North Foreland and sail westerly
down the Channel and along the coast of southern England. Weather conditions were adverse,
however, and after an abortive sortie on 4 February the ship backtracked and anchored off
Deal, where for three days, from 5 to 7 February, the ship rode out a northwesterly gaie.
The howling of the wind through the cordage of the ship was unceasing,' wrote Mereweather, '
and most distressing to the ear... Above the roaring and whistling and howling of the wind I
could hear the sound of the sea breaking over the renowned Goodwin Sands, which were right
to leeward of us.'
By Sunday, 10 February, the ship was still detained by contrary winds, and the Rev
Mereweather held a service below the main deck - 'I first read the Psalms, then the two
Lessons, then the Communion Service, including a sermon... The people behaved most
admirably and responded most heartily. The First and Second Mate attended, but neither the
Captain or his wife came down.'
At last, on Tuesday, 12 February - two weeks after the passengers had embarked at
Gravesend - the wind changed. The ship weighed anchor and set sail.
The emigrants', wrote Mereweather, ' who were quite dispirited at laying at anchor on a
dangerous coast so many days in sight of their native country, are overjoyed to see the canvas
spread. I opened a school on board for the first time. A young woman, one of the passengers,
has goodnaturedly offered to superintend it. About ten children attended. Our arrangements will
not, however, be completed until the rest of the passengers come on board at Plymouth.'
Among those passengers wouid be the Honeycombe family, whose own departure, from
Plymouth, must have been much delayed by the tardy appearance of the Lady McNaghter. The
ship, after all, had officially left
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Gravesend on 1 February. One imagines the Honeycombes, having prepared and packed and
said most of their goodbyes, would be casting anxious eyes at the weather and perusing the
shipping news, while lodged in some unfamiliar, temporary biilet. When would their ship be in?
In fact it took the Lady McNaghten eight days to sail down the Channel and along the English
coast, driven hither and thither by continuous contrary winds.
At last, on the evening of 20 February, a pilot came on board, dad in voluminous black and
yellow oiiskins, thick jackboots and a face-conceaiing sou'wester hat. Then at dawn on
Thursday, 21 February, the ship sailed around the Breakwater and into the safe harbour of
Plymouth Sound. There she anchored, presumably among many other ships off Plymouth Hoe.
The poor people on board,' wrote Mereweather, 'some of them half-starved from sea-sickness
during their 19 days of beating down the Channel, were overjoyed to see the glorious sun
lighting with its first rays the fine harbour of Plymouth. Tempest tossed as i had been, I thoughl I
had never seen anything half so beautiful.'
He exhorted the passengers 'not to commit any excess' when they were allowed ashore to
purchase provisions and personal comforts, and to taste English ale and walk on English soil for
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