Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-10
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY.
VOYAGE OF THE BROTHERS LAWRENCE
AND GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE
ISLAND OF BARBADOES IN l151.

hard winds, squalls of rain and calms,
Hhich were so sudden and tlighty we
;urst not 90 under any but reefed sails.
A Hoop that for the TWO preceding days
wss in sight of us hung out sigual,
but whether distressed or not we were
uncertain. IT distressed wewere incapa
nle of relieving them by the contrary
winds.
October 2l.-This day was not much
Inferior to the foregoing. We were
obliged to lay to al u. ID. until p. u
October %. Light and wavesing
winds with large rumoling sea, ruu-
ping many ways. All hands busily ell
gagged rtftting the rigging which rad
suffered much in the preceding storms.
October 23.-Wind in the east with
ine and regaling weather, Found our
supply of bread almost eaten up by
weavil and maggots.
October 24 Fresh breezes; made q
ack to the eastward.
October 25.-Contrary winds, with
qralls of rain.
October 26.-Light and shifting winds
with rains succeeding
October 2S.-Fresh gales of wind.
Unbent, mended and set the main top.
sail.
November Waverrg gales.
November 3 This morning arose
with agreeable and encouraging assur-
4rces of certain steady trade wind
which after near five weeks If bnlleting
ard bei g tossed by fickt and merci-
less ocean as glsddeniug news.
November -Regsling aud gentle
gales. Hazy weather aud rnin. Found
the land plain by appearing AT about
three leagues distance, wneu by our
r ckonings we should have been
near one hundred aud fifty leagues
to the windward We were to the
leeward about the same distance aud
lad We been but three or four leagues
more we should have been out of sight
Of the island aud probably not have
discovered our error in time to have
gained land for three weeks or m ore.
So ended the voyage out of the two
Virginia brothers. In the Journal from
which the foregoing observations were
taken was also carefully noted by
Washington on each day OF the voyage
the latitude and longitude and the
courses and distances made by the
schooner, in as methodical a manner
as if he had been himself the sailing
master. And doubtless before anchor
was cast in Carlisle bay he was as con
versant with nautical terms and knew
us much about making and taking in
sail and finding latitude and longitude
as many sea faring man OF years OF
experience.
On landing at Bridgetown the
brothers were kindly entertained in the
household of Major Clarke, the COM
mandant of the Notifications Of Car
Isle bay, by whom they were intro
duced to the governor and other prom
inent citizens of the town. Every
where the utmost cordiality and hospi-
tality were extended to them. Dun
ners, teas, parties, theatricals and
other entertainments were given IN
their bonor and excursions through the
adjacent plactations where they saw
fields OF sugar cane, corn ana trult trees
in delightful green"
The great variety of tropical fruits
and other rich productions OF the fer
tile sol everywhere to be seen
was bewildering to Washington,
and with his characteristic fondness for
everything pertaining to rural lie,
nothing could have been more agree
abe to his ardent mind. o. the fruits
he saw he mentioned the "granadllla,"
sappadilla," ''powengranate, sweet
orange, water lemon, forbidden 1ruit'
apples, guavas. &c. Iu his journal he
descrines the industries Of the island,
its Notifications, modes of farming, pro-
ductiols and the characteristics OF the
inhabitants. A usual with him moth
ing of importance iu any department OF
lie escaped his attentive observation.
As the sciourn OF George was 10 be for
some weeks and that of Lawrence Tor
much logger time they secured perma'
nent quarters as told in the following
entry:
with his proposals, which, tho eItrav
acantlv dear, my brother was obliged
TO give SIS per month, which is his
charge exclusive of liquors and wash
ing which we tiud. In the evening We
removed some of our things up and
ourselves. The place is very pleasant,
" situsted pretty near TO the sea ana
about one mile from town. The pros
meet is extensive by land aud pleas
ant ant by sea, as we command the view of
Carlisle bay and all the shipping ID
such manner that none can go out or IN
without being open to our view;
Lawrence at once sought medical ad-
vice concerning his malady on his ar
rival and while he did not receive great
encouragement, he had determined TO
give the climate, the sea breezes and
other recommended sanitary conditions
of the locality fair trial, but as the
time passed bringing no favora bic
change to him, but only di'-
c4ur1gvment ana despoudency on
account tf MS wide separation ON