A Journey to America in 1834 Part 10

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH.

Lay in bed till after seven; as I do not like waiting so long for breakfast (9 o'clock). Found we had not progressed much; the morning warm and fine. Sick again. Took a little tea and dry toast with an egg, and found it more disposed to remain with me. Went on deck and was able to read a few of Bryant's "Poems." Took for lunch two peaches and three slices of melon; again saw Mother Carey's chickens. Dined pretty well upon soup, a slice of mutton, a peach pie, two peaches and three slices of melon. Read some more B.'s "Poems," and also Cobbett's "Advice to Young Men." Difference of time between New York and Liverpool 4 hours and 44 minutes: also 4 dollars and 44 cents making our sovereign of twenty shillings.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH.

Rose at half past six, having pa.s.sed the night comfortably with pleasant dreams, is this occasioned by an empty stomach? Found we had made little way during the night; said to the second mate that we had got on very quickly, but he said they had had a busy time of it, as the wind had been in almost every point. I cannot but think that everything is managed much silenter than with the _Britannia_; a calm all day, the evening pa.s.sed very pleasantly in general conversation. Finished reading Bryant's "Poems," some very good and highly descriptive. Had some conversation with several Irish women about returning home, afterwards insulted by some of their countrymen. The longitude is discovered best by a good time piece.

SAt.u.r.dAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH.

Got up at half past six, not having slept so well as when the stomach was empty. Some conversation about Cobbett, most of them against him without knowing much about him. The wind favourable since three o'clock, going 6 to 8 knots an hour. Commenced reading Cobbett's "Life of Jackson." Shuffleboard played. Several porpoises seen. A good many petrels. After lunch a vessel suddenly appeared out of the mist with a X upon it. Supposed to be either a French packet, or one to Philadelphia.

Another vessel was seen this morning, another sail seen this evening about 5-1/2. Found two or three slices of melon with a biscuit to be a good lunch.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST.

Pa.s.sed another good night, and rose at half past six. Found we had been making about 5 knots an hour; three ships in sight; read before breakfast one of Cobbett's sermons "On hypocrisy." In the forenoon two sermons from Chalmers's "Discourses on Commercial Integrity." One of the steerage pa.s.sengers read from the Scriptures and commented sensibly, but he was laughed at by some graceless Irishmen. In the afternoon Mr.

Hopkins proposed to address the pa.s.sengers. After reading about the talents he proceeded to speak of the Bible as the oldest and best Book.

Paine, he said, had denounced it as a forgery, but various authors had mentioned the N.T. Burnett had quoted Lord Clarendon: the Old Testament was much older and was so called at the time the New Testament was published; the difficulty of procuring a copy before the art of printing, if the best, each should strive to get a copy, also read it and understand it, but above all practice it; not to be compared with a library even extending across the Atlantic, because the one only treated of this world, the other of that to come. Read three more of Channing's "Sermons," one fully proving self interest to be the foundation even of our best actions. After tea had a long chat respecting girls, etc. About ten went on deck, a most beautiful moonlight night; a nice breeze which we enjoyed much, after the calm day; more surprising considering the equinox.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.

Rose about seven; found the wind light but quite favourable. R. C. not a very minute observer. He had never seen the phosphorus light in the sea till last night, though more than fifty days in going out. To-day the same gentleman said he was disappointed with the view from Catskill; but admitted that West Point was rather fine. Mr. Frankland had written home the most glowing account of the scenery. The thermometer to-day 80 degrees; nearly a dead calm all day till ten o'clock. Read a good deal of Cobbett's "Advice to Young Men." Felt more languid and rather sickly, such as I experienced now and then during some parts of the hot weather.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD.

Rose at half past six, found us going about six knots an hour, the wind having been favourable since eleven. Finished reading Cobbett's "Advice to Young Men." A turtle observed; a fair wind and delightful all day; air and water 76 degrees, which perhaps is the cause of one feeling languid.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH.

Pa.s.sed another comfortable night; found we had been getting on well all night; the air and water this morning 74 degrees; the wind favourable from 10 o'clock last night; read Ponreau's "Brief View of the American Const.i.tution"; also the three remaining of Channing's "Discourses," the two first, and the two last excellent. Mr. Street mentions a young gentleman from Boston about to marry one of Mr. Woolley's daughters.

Finished the evening by looking at the "Treatise on Singing."

The shortest pa.s.sage to Liverpool 15 days 16 hours.

The shortest pa.s.sage to New York 17 days.

James L. Wilson, _Hibernia._

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH.

Pa.s.sed the night as usual; the contrast between this pa.s.sage and the last truly wonderful; no rolling or pitching; the wind rather less.

About noon a sprinkling of rain which increased and the wind diminished.

In the evening fair and a calm. Read half of Mrs. Trollope's "America,"

and still consider it not so very bad. What a Tory is R. C. calling Bonaparte a great rogue, allowing him no merit hardly as a military character, violating every treaty, the English always right; when told of B. attending his soldiers ill of the plague, said others might and probably would have done the same. After being baffled in argument, if such a.s.sertions deserves to be so-called; he concluded by crying out Church and King, when told that W. Scott only pointed out two or three errors he said he was not a proper Tory; may Toryism ever have such a defender! In the morning he had been decrying the commercial character of the French.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.

Found the wind improved, more particularly since five o'clock. At seven 8 or 9 knots an hour. A brig bound to the west. Water 71 and air 64 degrees; still in part of the Gulf Stream which the Captain says seldom extends so far north. Pa.s.sed a French brig at ten; the wind freshened and we took in some sail. About 5 some sail torn by the wind. At three pa.s.sed another ship and brig nearly together; after dinner a small bird resembling our sparrow though rather larger and with speckled breast.

The nearest point of land is at least 200 miles; it fluttered about refusing any food, then flew into the ladies' cabin and there remained during the evening.

Difference of time two hours from New York.

SAt.u.r.dAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH.

Pa.s.sed a more restless night, dreaming of my dear father and sister Mary, and that Charles Darbishire had become grey. After breakfast we pa.s.sed through an immense flock of gulls, also a little flag attached to a sort of basket, used by the French fishermen to fasten their lines.

All night going about 8 or 9 knots. This morning at eight to half past, pa.s.sed four vessels all in sight at once, several of them brigs, supposed to be French. At 3 twelve more sail, mostly fishing boats; very cold, the thermometer 46 and the water 45.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH.

Dreamed a good deal about my father and William Rothwell, G. Cunliffe and John Bolling, so did not rise till half past 7. Found we had been going all night about 8 knots; the water at seven, 55 degrees, at 9, 65 degrees.

After breakfast the wind gradually lessened, making only about 4 knots; the sails flapping and the ship rolling all the afternoon; particularly between 6 and 10, making it very noisy and disagreeable in the state room; had agreed for Mr. Street to read one of Chalmers's sermons, "On getting money," but the creaking noise prevented my hearing. Read three of Cobbett's sermons, "Bribery," "Rights of the Poor" and "Unjust Judges," also the remainder of Mrs. Trollope's "Description of Niagara."

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH.

Did not rise till eight having not rested very well; also dreamed of my dear father being considered dead and going to be buried, and then coming to life again. Found the wind changed to the south and consequently much warmer; going 10 knots. About 8 or 9 since 10 last night. Air and water 64 degrees. The wind lessened about 4 and continued between 6 and 7 knots. Commenced reading "The Vicar of Wakefield."

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH.

Rose soon after seven; the ship rolling more, so that I had difficulty in shaving. Found that we had been going about ten knots since five, and about eight during the night. After breakfast, we shipped a sea which sprinkled one whilst reading below. Finished the "Vicar of Wakefield."

One of the sails tore down. At one P.M. observed a brig going westerly; the wind heavy and the canvas gradually taken in, till we had only a part of two sails of 1st and 2nd mast; fine waves that broke most beautifully curiously coloured, called "Dear little Kangaroos."

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST.

Rose soon after seven, having pa.s.sed the night pretty well, excepting dreaming a good deal about travelling. Found the wind still favourable but more north; going about eight knots. Pa.s.sed a brig this morning.

Commenced reading Hamilton's[33] "Men and Manners in America"; would be very cold but for the sunshine. A good wind all day; sail reduced towards evening in expectation of a gale, but it went off.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2ND.

Pa.s.sed a restless night, the ship rolling a good deal; dreaming that my father was at Bury attending one of our religious meetings, wearing one of my ruffled shirts. I found we had been getting on, 8 or 9 knots till about five, since only 5 or 6, but should be thankful having had nearly a week's good run. About 4 knots all forenoon; at 12 a little more wind with some rain. A sail to the south-east; another brig in sight at 2 o'clock. A few porpoises.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD.

Found the wind south-west and making about ten knots; this since eleven o'clock. Finished the first volume of the "Kentuckians" and read a little in the "Youth's Letter-Writer." A fair wind all day, going eleven knots; cold though the wind is south-west.