Many of the reflections,
and the political parts, I omitted, but all the narrative they were
delighted with; especially the descriptions of the Puritans, and the
sermons and harangues of the Round-head soldiers. The gallantry of
Charles, Dr. Radcliffe's plots, the knavery of "trusty Tompkins,"- in
fact, every part seemed to chain their attention. Many things which,
while I was reading, I had a misgiving about, thinking them above
their capacity, I was surprised to find them enter into completely.
I read nearly all day, until sundown; when, as soon as supper was
over, as I had nearly finished, they got a light from the galley;
and by skipping what was less interesting, I carried them through to
the marriage of Everard, and the restoration of Charles the Second,
before eight o'clock.
The next morning, we took the battens from the hatches, and opened
the ship. A few stifled rats were found; and what bugs, cockroaches,
fleas, and other vermin, there might have been on board, must have
unrove their life-lines before the hatches were opened. The ship being
now ready, we covered the bottom of the hold over, fore and aft,
with dried brush for dunnage, and having levelled everything away,
we were ready to take in our cargo.
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