Note 1 — Chapter I

With very trifling exceptions there was no railway traveling in England at that time, and only one steam vessel, the Hylton Jolliffe, sailed between Newcastle and the Metropolis, so that George Dalziel made the journey in a small trading vessel of some three or four hundred tons burden. The weather being calm and warm for the season, the little ship went pleasantly along until it had performed about half the journey, when, through negligence on the part of the chief mate, who was in charge at the time, the vessel was allowed to run aground upon a sand bank when nearly opposite Yarmouth. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and the ship was quickly surrounded by a great many fishing boats offering their services to take out part of the cargo, and so lighten it sufficiently that it might float again when the tide rose. This was done, and having gone a little further out to sea, the cargo was again put on board and the ship sailed away to London, where she finally cast anchor in the Thames nearly opposite the Tower, on a bright, fresh, Sunday morning, having occupied nearly a whole week in the journey.