1 September 1822
87
lead preceded the royal squadron until it arrived at Greenwich". In sailing up the river, passed the East and West India Docks, then came to Limehouse and in short it seemed to tell where London began. In landing at Tower stairs, thinking the watermen and hackney coachmen would impose on my father, got the purser of the Kingston to settle these matters for us. He went on shore, agreed with a coachman to take us and our 5 trunks to Piccadilly for 6/-, and then went back again with us in the boat to see us into the coach. The waterman had the impudence to charge 3/-, and the porter for taking the trunks from the water's edge to the coach, a very short distance, 2/- and my father gave it, though the purser said 2/- to the former and 1/- to the latter would be quite enough. The waterman had only a right to 3d for each passenger and 3d more for each trunk, which would surely have been enough. The purser, Mr Morris, went with me to the office for the Lord Melville steam packet to complain, No.1 Water Lane, Tower Hill. It being Sunday, the office was shut and I was not very sorry. Glad to get to Webb's Hotel. It seemed to me like a sort of home. Marian and I had the very room my aunt and I had, but now since M[arianna] gave me this complaint, I cannot do without a dressing room. Took 2 pills just before getting into bed.
