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two hours and more did we wander among the ruins, up on high wherever a staircase would lead, & found much to admire, in its graceful arches & tall trees. Though larger than Tintern & Valle Crucis Abbey, it will not compare with either for beauty. It was a great treat to us to meet with friends at ?even this distance from home. They took us in their carriage as far as the ferry, where we bid them goodbye & walked into Southampton. The wind being fair for Ryde & our inn being very full of election people we were induced to take a sailing boat for the voyage to the island instead of waiting for tomorrow's packet. We left the pier at a quarter to 7 the man promising to land us at Ryde by 9. Before arriving at Calshot however the tide turned & although the breeze was fresh & quite in our favour, darkness came on & the large harvest moon, now almost its full, was our only light for an hour or more. It was 10 before we could reach the pier & the boatman after taking his vessel round it, was unable to run up to it for fear of breaking his bowsprit. For half an hour were we kept in a state of uncertainty about landing, on this an uncomfortable one too, for we had not bargained to spend the night in the open air. At last after much vociferation a little boat came out & we were soon landed on the ?island stairs. Gelf's hotel did not often receive 2 visitors who were so glad to find themselves under its roof as we were. 5 .

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