Diary: James P. Stabler, 1827 (Volume 4)

and from the very gales that have sent many of my fellow creatures to a watery grave! -

I have been blessed with comparative health - And since I left my own home have had but a few hours indisposition ([shorthand]) of any kind - I have travelled nearly eight thousand miles in the short space of three months - and heard but little from my home and from ties that are tender and "near & dear" and am now 50 near the end of the journey that I almost feel at home : - -

3rd day Morning 9 Mo 4th

This morning at half past two we were under way with a wind N N W to head up thru the narrows - where we now are constantly tacking about - with a light wind and slothful pilot who makes up his want of professional energy by nonsensical gab -- "Haul away my lads - my sons - my fair fellows &c." repeating the expressions at the end of almost every sentence - The narrows now appear to come close a head and the "[suspension]" before us - so, she is "first at last, having been behind, before" and "no ways backenard" in going forward - Notwithstanding our mast has been "tickled" for a [??], and "tickled" by the man at the Helm to pitch poor Frank about.

Tolls 6. [symbol] 2/6 & 3/6 V 2d [symbol] 1^d

16 chains of 5 bars Ea & length of ea 9ft 9in & 3 inches wide by 1 inch

Mr Telford Engineer Straits of Menai

2 carriage roads of 12 feet ea & a foot path of 4ft in the centre

6 connecting links at ea point 1ft 6 in by 10 inches & [??] one inch -- secured by bolts each weighing [5lbs]

[drawing of suspension bridge with measurements]

Bangor Bridge

[back cover of book]