In a word, the gale increased
to a storm of wind and rain, attended with such a fog, that we
could not see the town of Leith, to which we were bound, nor even
the castle of Edinburgh, notwithstanding its high situation. It
is not to be doubted but that we were all alarmed on this
occasion. And at the same time, most of the passengers were
seized with a nausea that produced violent retchings. My aunt
desired her brother to order the boatmen, to put back to
Kinghorn, and this expedient he actually proposed; but they
assured him there was no danger. Mrs Tabitha finding them
obstinate, began to scold, and insisted upon my uncle's exerting
his authority as a justice of the peace. Sick and peevish as he
was, he could not help laughing at this wise proposal, telling
her, that his commission did not extend so far, and, if it did,
he should let the people take their own way; for he thought it
would be great presumption in him to direct them in the exercise
of their own profession. Mrs Winifred Jenkins made a general
clearance with the assistance of Mr Humphry Clinker, who joined
her both in prayer and ejaculation. -- As he took it for granted
that we should not be long in this world, he offered some
spiritual consolation to Mrs Tabitha, who rejected it with great
disgust, bidding him keep his sermons for those who had leisure
to hear such nonsense.
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