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[[in pencil]] 44 [[/pencil]] Preparations were soon made for his burial - burial in the Sea. A-burial-at-Sea was always thought by me to be of greater interest than [[strikethrough]] in [[/strikethrough]] any other. I have now witnessed such [[strikethrough]] a scene [[/strikethrough]] & I must say that never did I participate more devoutly in what I consider the most solemn service of my life. There before us[[strikethrough]] me [[/strikethrough]] was the "sheeted dead" lying [[insertion]] amidships [[/insertion]] upon the "gang-way-board" [[insertion]] [[strikethrough]] amid [[/strikethrough]] [[insertion]] all in readiness for burial. The whole [[strikethrough]] of the [[strikethrough]] ship's company - save [[strikthrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] a solitary man at the wheel - had assembled in solemn, sorrowful silence around [[strikethrough]] the bo [[/strikethrough]] our departed friend to pay their last respect to him. Seven & 1/2 o'clock [[strikethrough]] first [[/strikethrough]]the time that had been set for services - had now arrived - By the request of Captain Buddington, who was bound by strong ties - ties that nought but death could sever - to Cudlargo - I had consented to take an active part [[end page]] [[start page]] [[in pencil]] 45 [[/pencil]] in the services. I therefore proceeded to make such remarks as were deemed proper for the occasion. But these remarks were succeeded by my making [[insertion]]portions of [[/insertion]] appropriate exhortations [[strikethrough]] & prayer [[/strikethrough]] from the "Masonic Manual"; After which I read a prayer from the same work. [[strikethrough]] During [[/strikethrough]] In all this, all seemed deeply [[insertion]]& solemnly [[/insertion]] interested. During these services the breezes of Heaven were wafting us on silently & speedily [[insertion]]on [[/insertion]] to the North. At a given signal of the Capt. standing at my right, the man at the Wheel "luffed" (that is turned the vessel in such a way that the wind no longer acted upon the sails.) When the vessel [[strikethrough]] was no longer, [[/strikethrough]][[insertion]]had ceased [[/insertion]] its progress forward the last [[insertion]] sad [[/insertion]] duty to [[insertion]] the [[/insertion]]departed [[strikethrough]] was done [[/strikethrough]] remained to be done. Wm. Stevvy & Ruff. Smith approached from opposite sides and taking hold [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] firmly the plank on which was the unshrouded they stepped in the gang-way. A short pause &