metal basin, a fine file, and a strong clasp
knife with a point. For private store of extra
provisions on voyage (as intermediate
passenger) you can, if you like, take some pickles
and preserves, and curry powder, a bag of
fine sea biscuits, a bottle of Sainsbury's
raspberry syrup, a small filter, and a pestle and
mortar. For cabin furniture as few things as
possible; but be sure that all utensils are of
iron, or other unbreakable metal; that your
lamp is a candle swinging-lamp, or a small
plate-glass lanthorn; and don't forget a good
mop and a stable sponge. I don't recollect
anything else very material, except a pair of
sailor's boots, two pair of sailor's shoes, a pair
of country bumpkin's hobnailed ankle-jacks,
and a cobbler's long leathern apron. Take
care, I charge you, to stipulate with Saltash
and Pincher for the right of walking on the
poop-deck, at all events before breakfast.
You would do well to have twenty or thirty
sovereigns in your pocket on reaching
Melbourne. Yours, J. A."

June 4th.—Met Waits under clock in
Cannon Street, as per agreement, and
rattled down between roofs and chimneys
—arrived at Blackwall—Docks—round to
the quay where the Rodneyrig lay. She
had a much cleaner appearance, all pitched
and painted; but the ladders up the side
crowded as usual. Wondered if this was
ever to cease.

"Pray," said I to one of the head
warehouse-keepers—for there were three, besides
clerks and porters—"can you inform me
when the Rodneyrig will be ready to receive
goods in her hold? At present I see they
are hoisting up gravel and stones which have
been shot alongside, and canting all this into
her, which seems to me a sad waste of space,
besides time and labour—not that I wish to
hurry them by any means."

"They are getting in the ballast," replied
he, "and will be done by to-morrow—a few
cart-loads more."

"And then I can ship my goods?" said I.

"No; you can warehouse them here, while
they take in the water-casks."

"And after that, my goods?"

"After that, the ship's stores and the
passengers' stores, and Saltash and Pincher's
freight, and the owner's freight, and the
captain's freight—if he has any—and then
the general freight allowed to passengers—a
ton each."

"Thank you," said I. Down the ladder
to the intermediate deck, Waits and I, and
began to elbow our way along the narrow
passage between the little table-benches
and the cabin doors, looking for Number
Fourteen. Suddenly Isaac, who went first,
stopped and said—"The rascals!"

Looked up, and saw the number, with the
names of William Waits and Isaac Dawson
(obviously, or rather inferentially meaning me)
written on the card." This miserable narrow
strip!" exclaimed I, putting my head in.

Cabin three feet eight inches wide, which
was pretty equally divided between the
sleeping-places or berths, and the slip of
space between these and the partition which
separated it from the next cabin. Berths
placed one above the other; space between
the lower one and the deck little more than
a foot; so that this and such fraction of the
ship just mentioned as could be spared, was
all the room we both had for our domestic
arrangements—cabin furniture (!) luggage,
under-clothing, sea-clothing, extra provisions,
working apparatus, &c., for a four months'
voyage! Dreadful. Out of all reason. At
the other end of strip there was a scuttle in
side of ship, through the dingy glass of which
(about three inches and-a-half high by two
inches wide) we were enabled to discern
dismal impracticabilities of narrow abode.

June 5th. Found a note from Arrowsmith
lying on breakfast- table. Opened it hastily.
Had a presentiment of evil. It was just this:
"Dear Dix! don't fail to have all on board
the Rodneyrig by the sixteenth, on which
day she will sail. Yours, J. A."

What did this mean! Short and sweet, and
equally confounding! The Rodneyrig had
been advertised regularly in the morning
papers for the last fortnight, and the day for
sailing was always named on the twentieth.
Never dreamed of being ready a day sooner
—the sixteenth, and this was the fifth.
Jumped into cab, and drove off straight to
aunt. Aunt gone out. Waited, walking up
and down and about the room, as fast as
possible. Servant girl came up several times,
and stood listening outside the door. Thought
I had gone mad. Didn't care a pin what she
thought.

Aunt returned looking calm, and listening
to all I said with mild expression, and
composed smile. All settled instanter. Could
have forty pounds to-morrow, and the
remainder on the twelfth. Immensely relieved
—embraced aunt—begged pardon for wild
impatience—felt great access of elasticity.

Cab again, and in the field with clear
head—or as clear as could be expected.
Dashed off to Pickland's warehouse; crowded
as ever, or worse. Throng assembled round
the body of a "colonial cart," the wheels
of which were resting against wall to go
separately, body being used as a packing-
case. Brilliant idea, whoever it belonged
to. Two warehousemen carrying picks, and
spades, and shovels of different shapes, and
crowbar, large metal bason (for gold-washing),
broad iron plate full of holes, an
iron triangle (to hang cooking utensils over
fire), great iron kettle, an iron pot or
cauldron with cover, round iron box (they
said was camp-oven), all received by the
foreman, and packed in hay at the bottom of
the cart, while the clerk took notes of all that
was brought. Then came harness for a cart-horse,
long iron chain and two padlocks, a
wheelbarrow (made to fold up flat with its