Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-02-09

ing short and hasty journey in Europe, are Of
fered for publication in your paper, at the sug-
gestion of some who have perused them. They
were hastily written, without the remotest idea of
their publication, which will perhaps be a sutfl-
Gent apology for whatever errors thay may con
tain 1t is not my intention to describe in these
letters Except in a very brief manner or in gem
eral terms.) the many beautiful paintings and ex-
Quisite statuary, which we saw, or the many
splendid churches and magnificent palaces which
we visited, and which abound everywhere in Eu-
rope. Most or all of them, have been so often
and so particularly described by former travellers,
that any description of mine would be an unin.
teresting as well as unnecessary repetition; and
j will only add, that If the perusal of such ran
dom and disjointed sketches as may copy from
my notes, will afford any qualification to those
who NAV read them, the object of the writer will
have been accomplished. Y.
journal of n Traveller IN Europe.
AT SEA, May 49,
DEAR --It is now week since we left
you at New York and the rain storm which was
attendant upon us when we sailed, has continued
most of the time since, accompanied with fog and
light winds; so-that our progress, this first week
of our voyage, has probably not exceeded five
hundred miles OF course, many of the passen-
gers have suffered more or less from seasickness,
an unpleasant ordeal, which nearly all must go
through witlron their first voyage at sea, andthe
many long faces and detected looks, arc indescrib
ably ludicrous But few of the passengers have
as vet made their appearance at meal times, keep
ing mostly in their state rooms, or upon the deck,
when the weather would admit of it. Pent up,as
we are, most of the time in the cabin, tossed and
tumbled about continually, find it requires no
small exertior to write, or to do anything, even.
We become SO hstless and iAdolent, thatit re-
qures some considerable effort to read, or to con-
centrate our minds u pom ANYTHING.
May 2l,-Another week has passed by, and al
though the weather has been pleasant, and the
winds fresher and faiEr, still 1--WE are but little
more than half way across the Atlantic.
Two days since, we experienced what we had
sometimes, while sateon shore, expressed de-
sire to witness-a gale at sea and iervenlly hope
it may be the last one shall ever encounter. 1t
had been blowing very hard all the morning, and
the sea running fearfully high, the ship passing
rapidly through the water, and laying down on
her side so much that it was difficult to walk on
the deck; when, about P, NJ. the wind incIeas-
ed to frightful gale, blowing with terrific vio-
lence, and it seemed to howl and scream as 1t
rushed through the rigging. The sea, which be-
fore was running as high as the, mast head, in
creased with the wind and it seemed at times as
if we certainly should be overwhelmed by the
noun tains of water all around us. 1t was raining
at the time, which, with the spray from the sea,
was almost binding to the poor sailors, who were
obliged to be in the midst of it. All the sailors,
twenty-five to thirty, were up in the rigging, Sc
curing the sails, and how they could hang on to
the ropes on the masts and yards, with the wind
blowing as it did, with the ship rolling so much,
was indeed wonderful to us. We could get little
outside view from the cabin windows, and the
whole scene was awfully grand and sublime, and
will not soon be forgotten by those Of US whow
nessedit. With all our previous ideas and imag-
nation, the terrific grandeur and suhlmity of the
reality far exceeded our conceptions
In the evening, the passengers were called to-
gether in the ladies' saloon, and prayers were Of
fered up to our Heavenly Protector for our safety
and preservation, by one of the passengers,
clergyman from Indiana. The wind gradually
subsidized during the night and the next day, and
soon became comparatively calm BUTT was
day or two before we we're much relieved from our
excessive fatigue and anxiety.
May 25--Here we are, the third week from
New York. still on the broad Atlantic, and atleast
FIVE hundred miles from Portsmouth, the usual
landing place for cabin passengers in the London
and New York packet ships. We have been fa-
vored with delightful weather, and, now that sea
sickness has passed away, and we are becoming
little more accustomed to life at sea, we begin
Il. c,k.ll Al ,ol
rolling of the ship, and the limited quarters
signed US, do not make it altogether paradise to
dwell in and, judging from my limited expert
ence. a voyage at sea is far from pleasing TO-
nance.
We suffer good deal from cold feet, as almost
everything in the ship is either cold, or damp,
wet; and twas lucky for us, that, Yankee FASH
ion, we we're thoughtful enough to bring small
soap stone, which the cook allows us to heat by
his fire. I was careless, in leaving my rubber
shoes behind me. If any one ever asks me what
they shall carry with them to sea, should be-
gin with rubber Shoes as the decks are often
quite wet, when it is pleasant walking, there,
and the moisture strikes through leather boots or
shoes quickly, and there is no suitable place to
dry them in, there boing no FIRE in the ship ex-
cepting iu the cooks room, small place. ncon
venient Of access. Take with you, also, an old
cap, and all your old cloaks and shawls, as you
will need them many times, even in the summer,
and it is comfortless enough at sea without plenty
of clothing.
1t is sleepy, lazy place, on ship-board. Wego
to bed by or before ten o'clock rise between seven
and eight, and some take maps before and after
dinner We breakfast at half-past eight dine at
two, tea at six, with lunches between if desired.
We are supplied with excellent fare, meats, fish,
fowls, and vegetables, all very well cooked and
an abundance of it. Indeed, the table may be
said to be equal to that Of a first class hotel
The ship rolls so much at times, that we have to
be very careful Of the dishes and LIQUIDS on the
table. But. yet, little has been spilled or tip
ped over, although several narrow escapes have
happened, and some ludicrous scenes occurred
One gentleman, sitting at the dinner table, had
hinge boiled ham suddenly rolled over into his lap.
by the ship making an unexpected lurch He
said he was very fond Of the article, but did not
like quite SO much at once.
wslare highly favored in having for fellow pas.
sengefs. a very agreeable, intelligent company
which adds much 70 the pleasure Of the voyage.
There are seventeen Of us. and nearly all entire
strangers 10 each other before meeting on board
the ship. Three arc from Massachusetts one
from Connecticut, four from New York, two from
Indiana, three from Ohio, and four from Canada;
eight Of the passengers are ladies. and five Of the
<yaoflatnan have th.t. .-... .,,s.t 49,, M.