“We started from the Blackwall pier
(East India Docks) at 1.30pm & after a short farewell & a pleasant little trip we arrived at Gravesend at 3.45 where we stopped for the night. Arthur & I went on shore for a couple of hours to see his father off & to take our last glass of bitter & after a very good tea & supper (combined) prepared by the cook we all turned in at 11.15 thus bringing our first day on board to a close.
During the night
we managed to catch a few cockroaches
of which there seem to be any quantity. As yet there are no signs of seasickness”
Above is an image of A.Whelen’s hand writing telling of the cockroaches.