Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10
CHANCES AT THINGS ABROAD,

Passages extracted from the letters Of an Ameri
can Lady in Europe to her family in w Washington
ADnLrH HOTEL, LrvEapooI JUNE g.
On shore at last safe and well the shores Of glorious
old England There never brighter summer voyage
than the superb Arctic made free from accident
even dscomforhat u.s. to those who love things mutt
ea but an me- cannot place myself the list for now
as in hideous dream, come up to the dreary days
Of dismal WEAKNESS and waste far worse, the horrible
nights; sleepess sick, hemesck, frightened the
certain confused noises that constantly floating about
ship; the timbers straning and grooming within the
washing and gurgli,g without if peerng and
watching fer Granny to creep in; sometimes in the
early dawn listening the creakng of pumps, fancyng
had sprung leak constant dread of fire. then count
ing the beats Of tine great iron heart of the ship and when
ID seemed to pause half second longer imagining the
engineer to- be winking All these coming fancies
disturbed the night most wofuly 20 voyagsr but
with the first flush Of the red morning light and my
breakfast of dry toast and weak black tea they oil
shed; and by lunch time with basin Of soup baked
apple potate felt quite renovated and ready
for oofa desk. Every began the voyage most
sheerily; to be sick; oh, no! We eat all
of things and drank oil kinds of fancy drinks;
danced, and sang, and played games wandered about
impossible rigging peeped into the engines; amused the
kind ever-watchful captain with extraordinary questions
to navigation, and altogether very Lively party;
but the next day. faces grew pale dinner deserted
ladies wildly retreated the gentlemen ceased smoking,
and reposed from their endless walks up and down thes
deck if fer wager; and the merriment subsidized into
CALCULATIONS Of misery silent detection. n
How longed for land, for America Whatsould have
possessed me to leave it,! Was not Washington good
enough for me? Grsi Maro, and Lablache, with West
minister Abbey and the Duke Of Wellington thrown into
the bargain, could surely again tempt across
this nhosptabe cruel seal Never talk to of 'crest
ed waves and bounding billows there is poetry
no romance, sublimity; it is all stomach What
sympathizing audience wouldour friend have who
fond of dscoursng upon the state of that organ for go
where you wi-above belowit is usually the topic of
conversation certainly of meditation Who but Dickens
could do justice head wind that demoniac pitching
of the ship producing sort of derium if string
drawing up ones eyes through the brain at each lurch
with general impression of having gone mad yet you
will hardly believe that at the very climax of these emo
tons, eat hearty dinner though the process is
rather tedious and interrupted In accordance with the
advice of old sailors in forcing myself to eat
and convinced thati does allay the irritation and
in addition to this prescriptions let give for my friends
generally the only antdote sea-sickness which found
successful, after trying cold Within "raw without
port and all other beverages and this panacea is cham
payne. But dwell the disagremens of the voyage,
while there really bright side Of the We
had many pleasant people board, kind and sympathz
ing, particularly to me, who looked hideousy pale and
i'll and here will remark that for ladies ship-board is
by means favorable moment for fascinating by ones
appearance; bat that gentlemen never look better their
extraordinary caps and wonderful style of cravats and
sacques much becoming than the city point
device" We had learned divine who gave us Sun
day suitable to the time and scene and impress
sve to those of who had before gone down to
the sea in ships then nephew of of great
tors-witty, clever and aughably national eminent
and charming physician poet returning home, who
the life of the party, with his mpromptu and
charades and, being very religious, always winding up
the evening with Divine service Then there spec
mems of material going out their travels; the
stout girls sughing all day. and singing with supper half
the night while the of their party INDUCED freely in
tobacco and other Americanisms. Apropos you can
form idea of the luxurious life leads in Collins
The saloons filed with sofas and every appli-
for comfort though confess Astounding in mir
rors lady wishes reflected on every side an
infinite number of the ghoske images she presents But
for the table, Setson himself surpass it. There
pronuncamiento the fifth day among the ladies' be-
cause the Malaga grapes had given Hot rolls corn
bread or barbarians like myself) and appetizers of
every Sort make the breakfast carte andfor the dinner
asa specimen real turtle soup fresh salmon slice of
key lobster salad, plum pudding, ice-cream, champagne
and coffee. Vodd. And actually have many per-
sons after such repast this keep and fruits by
them till and then about clock finish of with ale
and anchovy toast SO you the effect Of salt air and
ideness
Land land! cried some early the eleventh
ing We passing the Irish coast, with its cabins
and potato plats within mile but my first view of the
excited most joyousy did kiss my hand to their bold
picturesque heights. Then the pilot; then Eng
land Liverpool hove in sight; and we gided up
the Mersey past rich green fields and fine Villas standing
out in relief against the dun atmosphere the smoke being
dense miles below the that could scarcely see
the shores Then the custom house officer; then
the ugly passenger tender But bless me- what stupid
bungng set Of people The ships do 20 into docks
and two hours waiting in the midst Of black
smoke which shifted up however with great delight;
little blackbeetle steamers putting around us-such
contrast to the gay bright ferry of New York The
smoke choking u.s. raw wind in faces; the rain
coming down in frequent and hard showers just holding
up for us to catch glimpse Of the solid docks
and the red flag Of st. George and all this delay because
It takes these stupid English y just twice the time to
De the work that 1t would smart, brisk Yankee |
looked and gazed at every thing that mortal eyes could
see through such dark brown medium, and at last tot
tered down the gangway seated of the Beetles gave
three times three for the noble ship and stars and stripes
landed the wet muddy quay and we're in England
My heart beat fast as the captain and ratified off in
"a al Tho dorL A,xu