Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-12
Correspondence Of the Spy.
Journal Of n Traveller in Europe.
No. Xxx.
Oonclusion.l

toonclusion.l
LIVERPOOL, October lst.
This morning, at nine O'Clock, we went on board
the steamer in which we have taken passage for
home. The ship is anchored about a mile off in
the stream, and little steamer is passing back
and forth carrying the mail bags, the passengers,
and their baggage, 10 the ship. All is hustle and
confusion on board the ship, in getting ready for
thevoyage over the mighty deep Every nova
bic thing is securely slowed away, as snugly as
possible the two dozen capaeious furnaces, un-
der the huge boilers, are in full blast, and the
ponderous engines seem impatient to begin their
herculean task. At half past ten o'clock, the
passengers, mails, &C., being on board, the gi-
gantic wheels began to move, and the males.
tic ship, headed towards our dear native land,
quickly took her departure down the river. Ithas
been rainy, unpleasant morning, so that we did
not have good view of the city we have left be-
hind us, with its numerous spires, and the forests
OF masts in its docks. In the evening, the sea
being high, the ship rolled very much and the
premonitory symptoms of sea-sickness began to
show themselves in the faces of numerous pas
sengers.
The great number of mail bags brought on
board the ship from the post office, surprised us
there being about one hu,adred of them, large.
four-bushel bags showing what an immense
correspondence is carried on between the two con
Enthusiastically, the mail steamers cross
every week, or oftener.
October 2d.-A fine morning, and the ship is
proceeding slowly down the Channel, the coasts
| of England and Ireland being in view on either
| hand. We have a crowd of cabin passengers,
there being over one hundred and fifty, which is
double the number there should be- for the accom-
modations and room we have. Among the pas.
| sengers there are natives of America, England,
| Ireland Scotland, France, Germany, Russia and
| Poland. Our breakfast is served us at IL
o'clock, lunch at II, dinner at 4, and tea at 7
o'clock. The fare is pretty good but there such
scramble to get places at the crowded table, that
it is very unpleasant, even for those who are not
sea-sick.
October l3th.--The last eleven days have passed
off without the occurrence of any thing of par
ticular interest, to note. 1t has rained more or
less, every day but two, since we left Liverpool.
The ship plunges into the sea so much, that the
water is often running over the deck and, to
be shut up with a crowd of people in the small
rooms below, with the dull, monotonous jar of
the engines ever sounding in our ears, together
with the greasy, unpleasant od0r of the heated
ship, makes it uncomfortable for us all
| So far as we are able to Judge, from our limited
! experience crossing the Atlantic in a first class
sailing ship is much the pleasanter mode; and
that seems to be the opinion of all who have tried
both ways. The comparative certainty of the
| Of fhn ~
| part, for its unpleasantness, and the contracted
accommodations, when full of passengers The
voyage in sailing ship is little more prolonged
but the better accommodations, with the usually
! smaller numbered passengers, make it agreeable,
and fully compensate for the additional time it
may take In sailing ship, one has much the
best opportunity of Witnessing the interesting
maneuvres and management, on board vessel at
sea- The hosting and shifting of the sails, which
occur with almost every change of the wind, and
the songs Of the sailors, when engaged in their
work, are exciting, as well as interesting, to
| landsman, and serve to m axe the time on ship
board pass off more pleasantly. Not much use
| is made of the sails on board a steamer-onward
| she goes, plunging through the water, which
often runs over the decks, to the discomfort of
all; and there is but little of interest occurring
to break the dull monotony of life at sea in ship
| propelledby steam AS the rapidity of the steamer
creates strong current of air, it is usually cold
and cheerless When it is not too bosterous-
many of the passengers huddle together around
the hot chimney to keep themselves warm, as
very little fire is afforded in the cabins.
| Yesterday we discovered land, the eastern coast
of Nova Scotia, and this morning our ship put
! into Halifax, where we remained a few hours.
Halifax has population of about twenty twa
thousand inhabitants, besides garrison of about
two thousand British troops but there is very
little to interest stranger here, especially when
he is homeward bound.
October l4h,-This last day of our voyage is
| indeed a charming one, and the prospect of soon
again stepping our own native soil is cheering
to us all. And, as our ship is sailing up Boston
| Bay, among its beautiful islands, at the close
of lovely autumnal day, with the setting sun
gliding, in gorgeous colors the western horizon.
our emotions were of no ordinary kind and we
cannot but feel ferventy grateful to our Heavenly
Father for His protection, and numerous mercies
and for thus pleasantly terminating our six
months journey of more than ten thousand miles
without detention from unpleasant weather, or
the slightest accident of any kind.
AS the ship approaches the wharf crowds of
people are seen awaiting us, anxious to greet the
faces oflong absent friends-to communicate low
full intelligence to some, and sad and melancholy
news to others and many cheeks are wet with
the tears of JOY and gratitude of those who are
! again permitted to meet with those whom thew
| love. TT n
ACCIDENT TO STEAMER METROPOLITAN