Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Map of Sierra Leone
- Editor's Introduction
- Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Dedication
- Preface
- Letter I
- Letter II
- Letter III
- Letter III [sic]
- Letter IV
- Letter V
- Letter VI
- Letter VII
- Letter VIII
- Letter IX
- Editor's Comment
- Letter X
- Journal
- Letter XI
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XII
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XIII
- Letter XIV
- Editor's Comment
- Letter to Henry Thornton
- Appendix
- Editor's Comment
- The Journal of Isaac DuBois
- Alexander Falconbridge An Account of the Slave Trade
- Index
Letter II
from Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Map of Sierra Leone
- Editor's Introduction
- Anna Maria Falconbridge Narrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the years 1791–1792–1793
- Dedication
- Preface
- Letter I
- Letter II
- Letter III
- Letter III [sic]
- Letter IV
- Letter V
- Letter VI
- Letter VII
- Letter VIII
- Letter IX
- Editor's Comment
- Letter X
- Journal
- Letter XI
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XII
- Editor's Comment
- Letter XIII
- Letter XIV
- Editor's Comment
- Letter to Henry Thornton
- Appendix
- Editor's Comment
- The Journal of Isaac DuBois
- Alexander Falconbridge An Account of the Slave Trade
- Index
Summary
SPITHEAD, Jan. 12, 1791.
My dear Friend,
Contrary winds prevented us from proceeding directly out of the channel, and made it necessary to put into this place. We have been here two days, but I am told there is an appearance of the wind changing, and that it is probable we shall make the attempt to get away some time this day; therefore I shall think it best not to defer performing my promise of writing to you, lest we sail, and I am disappointed.
We embarked at Gravesend between eleven and twelve o'clock, the night after I wrote you. Every thing seemed in dreadful confusion; but this I understand is commonly the case on board ships when on the eve of sailing: besides the captain had several friends who came from London to bid him farewell.
You may guess that my mind, in spite of all the resolution a young girl is capable of mustering, could not be undisturbed; but I would not give way to any melancholy reflections, and endeavoured to smother them as often as they intruded; although I must confess they sometimes caught me off my guard, and my heart for the moment was ready to burst with the thoughts of what I had to encounter, which was pictured to me by almost every one in the worst of colours.
However I went to bed, and being much fatigued, was in hopes every care would be buried for the night in delightful sleep; but in this I was disappointed, for although my eyes were closed as soon as I got my head on the pillow, yet it was not of long continuance.
I had slept perhaps two hours, when the shocking cries of murder awoke me: I did not at the instant recollect where I was, but the first thoughts which occurred upon remembering myself on ship-board were, that a gang of pirates had attacked the ship, and would put us all to death.
All the cabin was by this time alarmed; the cries of murder still continuing while the captain and others were loudly calling for lights…
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Anna Maria FalconbridgeNarrative of Two Voyages to the River Sierra Leone during the Years 1791-1792-1793, pp. 13 - 15Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2000