The Susan Burney Letters Project

Susan Burney's journey from England to Ireland, October 1796 [SOURCE]

Monday, October 31st [1796], between 3 and 4

Safe landed at Dublin will I know suffice to my beloved Fanny and my Mrs Locke shd it not be possible for me to say more - We have had a tedious passage of above one and forty hours, and I am yet wondering to find myself alive to tell it. We embarked Saturday eveg at 9 o'clock, and were not landed here till after two this afternoon-- The first moment I cd hold my pen and find my crumpled Paper, wch I had in readiness, I began two letters --one to my dearest Father, and the other this present -- The mayor is gone to enquire where Mr Kiernan has taken our lodgings, and is to bring me -- My Norbury! --we are sitting at the Marine Hotel, which stands on the Quay, where we landed. I sent my last to my Mrs Locke, which was finished at Gwindy in the desolate Isle of Anglesea, from Holyhead, hoping the news of my landing might arrive to you only a day later - but alas our dreadful long passage will render it much longer - at least two I fear--I did not forget the laudanum and coffee for myself and party -- but alas -- half an hour after we were in the packet I was seized wth that dreadful sickness no other sickness can equal, and suffered in an encreasing degree till we reached shore --Never able to take anything whatever the whole time, and what is much more extraordinary poor Susan, my poor little girl and even Willy were all so sick that except a dish of tea and a biscuit they refused all kind of nourishment, tho' the Major had laid in a sufficient sea store, and the passengers were good natured and liberal in offers of supply. Susan was nearly as ill as myself, and poor Fanny part of the time suffered severely, which I had not expected -- My Willy's sickness was that of a child -- soon over -- yet never sufficiently so for him to wish to eat anything - he bore the inconvenience with extraordinary patience dear fellow -- making no outcries or even complaints -- had our passage been from Parkgatewith this unfavourable westerly wind we shd have been three days longer everybody tells us -- and I think such a passage must have carried me at least to a final one -- how wonderful that after such suffering a little weakness and qualmishness would alone remain. -- Why does not my Norbury come -- yet I am glad to have nearly finished a letter to my dearest Father, and written thus much to my Fanny and all my beloved Friends around her: whilst I have the power -- when that dearchild comes I can only add a concluding line -- and if he is much longer I find I must hasten this away not to lose the mail -- perhaps I shall have a letter from my Fanny, or my Mrs Locke, or both from Mr Kiernan's -- what a comfort that will be. Except the wind during our passage all has been fortunate during our journey -- the weather invariably fine -- no rain except on one day, and not the shadow of an unpleasant accident.

[1] [link to FB chronology]

[2] William Locke (1732-1810) and Frederica Augusta Locke, née Schaub (1750-1832), of Norbury Park, Surrey, former neighbours and friends of SBP and MP. Frederica Locke became FB's closest friend. SBP's and MP's son Norbury was born at Norbury Park when SBP went into premature labour while visiting the Lockes.

[3] [link to CB chronology] {letter extant?}

[4] [link to MP chronology]

[5] George Kiernan, MP's brother-in-law, a Dublin apothecary.

[6] Charles Norbury Phillips, 1785-1814, eldest son of SBP and MP. Named after Norbury Park, the estate of the Locke family, where he was born.

[7] [link to map]

[8] [link to map]

[9] [link to map]

[10] John William James Phillips, 1791-1832, youngest child of SBP and MP.

[11] [link to MP chronology]

[12] Frances Phillips, 1782-1860, eldest child of SBP and MP.

[13] John William James Phillips, 1791-1832, youngest child of SBP and MP.

[14] Twelve miles north of Chester on the Dee estuary, and one of the embarkation points for passengers sailing to Ireland.  In late December 1799 SBP was to land there on her return journey from Ireland, and died there on 6 January 1800. [link to map]

[15] Charles Norbury Phillips, 1785-1814, eldest son of SBP and MP. Named after Norbury Park, the estate of the Locke family, where he was born.

[16] [link to CB chronology]

[17] [link to FB chronology]

[18] [link to FB chronology]