At length they were fairly started on their voyage, which from the crowded state of the river, and the excessive timidity of the writer, must have been vastly perilous. ‘Our vessel, though it set sail with a fair wind, and gently fell down the river towards her destined port, yet once or twice was nearly striking against other vessels in the river, to her own injury; but, by the care of the steersman and sailors, she was timely prevented.... There was no spectacle more affecting, in all the little voyage, than the bodies of those unhappy malefactors which were hung up, _in terrorem_, on the margin of the river Thames. Surely these was some of the execrable characters whom Justice pursued, who, though “they escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffered not to live. _Acts 28.--4._” ... Having passed these spectacles of horror, a fair wind and flowing tide smoothly carried us towards the boundless ocean.... ‘When we drew towards the conflux of the river Thames there were two objects that attracted our notice: the one, the King’s guardship, placed there for the purposes of good œconomy, the other a large painted vessel which floated on the surface of the water, and is called a buoy. While we were passing the king’s ship, I heard the report of a cannon, and saw the flash of the charge at some distance; and, on inquiring the reason of such a circumstance, was informed it was customary for every ship which passed, by way of obedience, to lower her topsail; but the firing of the gun made them hasten to show their obedience, for fear of a more unfavourable salute; for, though a flash of powder might give us some alarm, the discharge of a ball might make us _feel_ the effects of disobedience.... Hitherto the generality of our company appeared to carry jollity and mirth in their countenances; but now we began to see the blushing rose die in the sickly cheek, and several of our passengers began to feel the sickening effects of the rolling sea; they withdrew from their mirth, and in pleasure crept into a corner, and silently mourned their lost pleasures in solitude.... Thrice happy the souls who are by divine grace made sick of unsatisfying delights, and compelled to withdraw from unsatisfying objects, and seek and find permanent bliss in the friendship of Immanuel! ‘There had been the appearance of affability and good-humour kept up among the passengers of our vessel, and a reciprocal exchange of civilities had passed between them; our bad tempers were for awhile laid aside, and we seemed mutually agreed to make each other as innocently happy as our present. If the same mode of conduct was observed through the whole of our department, how would the ills of life be softened, and the ties of society sweetened!...