There were two statues in
armor or antique costume on the hither side of the gateway, and two old
paintings on the other. This, so far as I know, is the only remnant of
the old wall of Southampton.
On Monday the morning was bright, alternating with a little showeriness.
U----, J-----, and I went into the town to do some shopping before the
steamer should sail; and a little after twelve we drove down to the dock.
The Madeira is a pleasant-looking ship enough, not very large, but
accommodating, I believe, about seventy passengers. We looked at my
wife's little stateroom, with its three berths for herself and the two
children; and then sat down in the saloon, and afterwards on deck, to
spend the irksome and dreary hour or two before parting. Many of the
passengers seemed to be Portuguese, undersized, dark, mustachioed people,
smoking cigars. John Bull was fairly represented too. . . . . U---- was
cheerful, and R----- seemed anxious to get off. Poor Fanny was
altogether cast down, and shed tears, either from regret at leaving her
native land, or dread of sea-sickness, or general despondency, being a
person of no spring of spirits. I waited till the captain came on board,
--a middle-aged or rather elderly man, with a sensible expression, but,
methought, with a hard, cold eye, to whom I introduced my wife,
recommending her to his especial care, as she was unattended by any
gentleman; and then we thought it best to cut short the parting scene.
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