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

manage 10 wnlle away the time very agreeabiy, in
reading, writing, and walking the decks, and in
games of various kinds, either on deck or in the
ladies' saloon BUTT is no place to read to much
advantage; there is so much noiseand confusion,
and other things TO divert the mind from a close
application to any subject
We have had some sport, rare at sea, to-day
One of our passengers made a large kite for fa
vorite little boy, one of our fellow passengers;
and, with some help, sent his kite out, when the
wind was fair, and we spent many hours watching
it-and it was high flying, can tell you; the line
being over tlco thousand feet long, the kite was
often entirely out of sight, in the clear atmo-
sphere. ard required pretty hard pull to hold it
By careful management we drew it safely down,
to fly itagan wher we have nothing better on hand
to DO.
Our captain has done his best to shorten the
voyage, shaping the sails to catch every little
breeze. He says we are having one Of the longest
voyages he has ever had, and this is his one hun
dred and ninth trip across the Atlantic Howev-
er, at this season, The winds do not blow as they
do at other times of the year; and therefore it
is much more comfortable and pleasant
There is great deal more for the sailors to do,
on board ship at sea, than we had supposed The
winds are SO constantly changing, that the sails
have to be altered very often, every hour, some
times; so that the songs of the men are ever
sounding in our ears, while they are pulling the
ropes. There is but little difference in time, as
regards work, on board ship-much the same GO
ing on in the night as in the day time. The crew
is divided into two companies or watches, each
under the command of the first and second mates
Each party is on duty four hours, alternately
The ships time is divided into what is technical.
ly called "bells." For instance, commence at
twelve O'Clock at noon at one o'clock the larg-
est bell OF the ship is struck twice, which is too
bells; at two O'Clock it is stuck four times, max
fng four bells; at three o'clock. tits sir BELLS and
at four, it is eight BELLS which is the limit of the
number; commencing again with t,co bells at five
o'clock, and SO on through each successive four
hours.
Nay 30. 1t is now % days since we have seen
any land, and by the Cantain's observation to-
day, we are still more than 100 miles from it,
At noon, whenever the sun shines sufficiently to
cast shadow, the Captain ascertains, with his
quadrant, the distance run, and the particular
interesting to us, the details being eagerly watch
ed by all; and many are the speculations and
guesses as to the progress we are making, when
we shall arrive, &C., &c. 1 need hardly tell you
that we shall greet the sight of land with glad.
some eyes and grateful hearts
Although we areon the great highway between
Europe and the United States, where hundreds
of ships are constantly passing, yet such is the
immensely of the ocean, and the vision from the
ships deck being less than thirty miles, but few
vessels are usually seen during the passage, and
frequently none. Hitherto we have seen but few
ships, and spoken to but one, and that one was
bound to New Yorh. As we approach the Eng
lish coast, however numerous vessels are in sight,
and the air is very balmy, and smells more land
like than it has done. Huge fish, some of them
10 or II feet long, are swimming around the ship,
ready to pick up whatever comes in their way.
As we nearly ten degrees north of New
York the length of the daylight is very much in
creased: we plainly see TO read as eaTly as
three o'clock in the morning, and as lste as nine
in the evening. Indeed. it is not dark all night
Going eastward, our watches are entirely out Of
their reckoning, being about foe hours behind the
time where we are.
june ID. We have been in sight of the land
for day two, but the wind, what little there
was Of it, was against US, so that our progress
has been slow. Yesterday, we were boarded by
pilot from the Isle of Wight, who will remain on
board, and pilot US into Portsmouth, more than
100 miles off. We were glad to see and speak to
man just from the land, and to look over some
of his London newspapers, Is days old, in search
of American news. The beautiful green fields
seen in the distance, the numerous vessels of all
shapes, Sizes and nations, passing all around us,
together with the expectation of landing to NOR
row, on the long wished for shore of old England
excited us all to the highest point.
London, June Sd. Here we are at last, in this
world renowned and mighty city, being just four
weeks since we left New York. We had expect
ed to land at Portsmouth, but the wind prevented
US going in there; and the ship finally put into
New Haven, near Brighton, to the east of Ports
mouth, where we were landed From New Haven
we Travelled by railway up to London, so miles, in
tabout an hour and half.
Everything looked so green, fresh, and beauti-
full, after our long voyage that we were quite en-
chanted with the country, and our first impress
sions of England are very favorable. An observer
would no doubt have been highly amused at our
staring, and ordinations; every thing we saw,
was so strange and new
We shall remain in London only day or two,
preparing for our proposed continental trip, re-
serving the journey through England, &c., until
our return from the Continent; and will therefore
defer making much note of what we see here, for
future letters.
To ,bo E5;,o.s u. c.. ~, v,.