_Voyage from Liverpool to New
York—Sea-sickness—Crew—Passengers—Details—Approach to New
York—Washington Hotel._
At noon, on the 24th April, the Napoleon got under weigh, and was towed
down the Mersey by a steamer, in consequence of an adverse wind. In
little more than an hour from the time of sailing, I became sea-sick,
which afflicted me severely for nearly thirty days, and frustrated the
little plans of recreation and amusement which I had formed on shore.
Although appearing only once or twice at table, the attention of
friends, and the situation of my berth, enabled me to know much that was
passing on board. I shall not, however, chronicle many events which took
place during the voyage, which some of my shipmates will readily pardon.
The establishment of the Napoleon consisted of about thirty, embracing
men of every country and of every clime. There were eighty passengers in
the steerage, and thirty in the cabin, eight of whom were ladies.
England and Scotland furnished each five gentlemen, cabin passengers;
Ireland, two; and the United States of America, three, one of whom had
been naturalized from Ireland. All the individuals from England and
Ireland, one from Scotland, and two from America, smoked. In some cases,
the use of tobacco was immoderate, one gentleman smoking a hundred and
fifty segars in fourteen days; the saliva in many parts of the vessel
was copious and disgusting. Some of the passengers seemed to spend much
of their time in sensual gratification, there being little reading or
card-playing indulged in. Breakfast was served at eight o’clock,
luncheon at twelve, dinner at four, and tea at eight. The first dinner
course occupied about an hour, the second fifteen minutes, and dessert
about the same length of time. The cabin, in some respects, resembled a
British inn, the passengers dressing as they chose, and at all times
calling for what they wished, champagne, seemingly, being the only wine
restricted, and which was presented at dinner twice a-week. To those not
of fastidious taste, the Napoleon offered a fit opportunity for
indulgence, the table being copiously stored with substantial food and a
variety of liquids. The noise of calling the steward, and drawing of
corks, succeeded each other at short intervals throughout the day, and
generally formed my morning and evening salutations. The quantity of
good things which some individuals stowed under their belts, appeared
excessive. Man is apt to despise what he cannot enjoy, and sensual
indulgence never appeared to me so unworthy of regard. Champagne,
sparkling in the wine-cup, did not afford a thousandth part of the
pleasure I had often derived from the dewdrops glancing in the morning
sunbeam, and when presented to my fevered lips by a most friendly hand,
I envied my pretty Ayrshire cow, Salina, the privilege of quaffing the
cool and limpid fount at Mungoswells.
On 20th May, 40° 30ʹ north latitude, 53° west longitude, and 950 miles
from New York, Mrs ——, a cabin passenger, gave birth to a female child.
In compliment to the ship, this little nymph of the sea was to be
christened Josephine! a name memorable for conjugal affection, and the
poor return such a virtue will sometimes receive.
Our commander, Captain Smith, was an American by birth, and part owner
of the vessel. He was indefatigable as a seaman, spending successive
nights on deck, and seldom concluding a meal without satisfying himself,
by ocular demonstration, that all was right aloft. To the passengers he
was attentive; and, considering the situation in which they occasionally
placed him, also forbearing. Individually, I found him courteous and
gentlemanly in a high degree.
The wind continued adverse for the first twenty-five days; and sometimes
blew tempestuously. The weather moderated for the last eight days of the
voyage, and the bar at New York was made on the morning of the 29th May,
which a dense fog prevented us crossing without a pilot. The vessel
stood off and on during the day, and towards noon, six gentlemen,
accompanied by the letter-bag, set out in a fishing-boat for New York,
where they landed in safety a few hours afterwards. The fog increasing
as the day advanced, deprived the passengers of the hope of reaching
shore until next day, and all their stock of patience was required to
withstand the disappointment.
Next morning I was early on deck. The fog of the preceding day had
disappeared in course of the night, and the sun shone brilliant in a sky
of cloudless blue. A bracing and favourable breeze filled our canvass,
and hastened on their voyage a thousand vessels around us, which had
been detained by the previous unfavourable weather. Land was seen on
both sides of the channel, but too distant to render objects on its
surface distinctly visible. At a quarter before eight, a pilot stept on
board, under whose guidance the Napoleon proceeded merrily on her way.
Under the combination of advantages we now enjoyed, our detention on the
previous day seemed a fortunate occurrence, without which we should have
been landed at New York, insensible of the beauties of its approach.
Having been nurtured in the country, and by profession and taste brought
into fellowship with the vegetable kingdom, I anticipated much pleasure
on my first introduction to America. This feeling led me on deck early
in the morning, and, with telescope in hand, I watched with anxiety our
approach to the shore. My situation was like that of a famishing person
with food in view, intense desire without gratification, and brought to
feel enjoyment by gradual participation. At first the country appeared a
mass of uniform vegetation; by and by, the green broke into different
shades, forest could be distinguished from cultivated field, kinds of
trees and crops became visible, but I strained my eyeballs almost to
blindness without being able to mark the minute characteristics of
individuals. The general effect imparted delight, which was heightened,
perhaps, by my having left home at the termination of a tedious winter,
and crossed a wide waste of waters; the green mantle of nature never
appeared to me so rich and fascinating.
The general aspect of the scenery, on approaching New York, is
beautiful; consisting of hill, wood, water, island, town, villa, and
hamlet, in every combination which can impart pleasure. But blue
mountains, so prominent in the landscapes of Scotland, and so dear to
her children, are altogether wanting, and the eye searches in vain for
an object of sublimity.
An inspecting surgeon came on board at the quarantine station, who
examined the passengers and crew. On coming to anchor in the river, near
the wharf, a customhouse officer sealed up the luggage in the berths,
and the cabin passengers were landed by means of a steam-boat.
On reaching shore, we learned there was a scarcity of lodgings at this
season of the year, when the inhabitants of the Southern States travel
northwards in quest of health. Our charioteer, after two unsuccessful
attempts to find accommodation, landed us at the Washington Hotel, kept
by Mr Ward, who kindly supplied us with every thing we could desire.