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Entries from Percy Bish and Mary Shelley's Journal 29th of July 1840.

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On July 28th, the night preceding this morning, all being decided.

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I ordered a chaise. Be ready at 4:00. Because he's used to.

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Entries from Percy Bish and Mary Shelley's Journal 29th of July 1814, July 28th, the night preceding this morning all being decided.

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I ordered a chaise be ready at 4:00. I watched until the lightning and stars became pale.

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At length it was for I believed it not possible that we should succeed.

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Still, there appear to lurk some danger, even in certainty.

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I went. I saw her. She came to me. Yet one quarter of an hour remained.

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Still, some arrangements must be made. And she left me for a short time.

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How dreadful did this time appear? It seemed that we were trifled with.

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Life and hope. A few minutes passed. She was in my arms.

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We were safe. We were on our road to Dover.

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Mary was ill as we travelled. Yet in that illness, what pleasure and security did we not share?

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The heat made her faint. It was necessary at every stage that she should repose.

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I was divided between anxiety for her health and terror, lest I pursuers should arrive.

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I reproached myself with not allowing her sufficient time to rest,

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with conceiving any evil so great that the slightest portion of her comfort might be sacrificed to avoid it.

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At Dartford, we took four horses that might outstrip pursuit. We arrived at Dover before 4:00.

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Some time was necessary expenses and consideration in dinner, in bargaining with sailors and custom house officers.

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At length, we engaged a small boat to convey us to Calais.

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It was ready by 6:00. The evening was most beautiful.

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The sand slowly receded. We felt secure.

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There was little wind. The sails flapped in the flagging breeze.

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The moon rose. The night came on.

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And with the night a slow, heavy swell and a fresh breeze, which soon became so violent it tossed the boat very much.

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Mary was much affected by the sea. She could scarcely move.

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She lay in my arms through the night.

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The little strength which remained to my own exhausted frame was all expended and keeping her head in rest on my bosom.

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The wind was violent and contrary. If we could not reach Calais, the sail is proposed making for billowing.

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They promised only 2 hours sail from the shore. Yet hour after hour passed and we were still far distant.

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When the moon sunk in,

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the red and stormy horizon and the fast flashing lightning became pale in the breaking day we were proceeding slowly against the wind,

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when suddenly a thunderstorm struck the sail and the waves rushed into the boat.

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Even the sailors perceived that our situation was perilous. They succeeded in reaching the sail.

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The wind had now changed, and when we drove before a wind that came in, violent gusts directly to Calais.

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Mary did not know our danger. She was resting between my knees that were unable to support her.

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She did not speak or look, but I felt that she was there.

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I had time in that moment to reflect and even to reason upon death.

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It was rather a thing of discomfort and disappointment and terror to me.

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We could never be separated, but in death we might not know and feel our union as now.

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I hope. But my hopes are not unmixed with fear for what will befall this inestimable spirit.

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When we appear to die, the morning broke, the lightning died away.

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The violence of the wind abated. We arrived at Calais whilst Mary still slept.

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We drove upon the sand. Suddenly the broad sun rose of France.

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France. Friday 29th, I said.

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Mary. Look, the sun rises over France.

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We walked over the sands to the inn. We were shown into an apartment that answered the purpose.

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Both of a sitting and sleeping room. Mary was there.

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Shelly was also with me.