The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-01
The III + DISPATCH.
MONDAY MeRNINo n..c,, ,,I.,..,,-Ss-.
ID. IfT
Foreisn Correspondsnce ~ al. H.
+ patch
Co. Ahis, Feb. 9Th, 1858.

patch.
PARIS, Feb. sth, 1858.
"LfFE OK TIE OCEAN wAyr..
saeh, Mr. Editor, Is the title; sucb tha .,,,,a,t
ting to you. Purpose inni-
When promised to give you an accorr. r.
thing aetc, should chance to observe. n sssmsa
equisa!ent to promise 10 be silent far evar r..
the wisest of men have long ago declared ,bara
foas nothing new under the sun" Bnt Solomon
was not prophet, for the sun has shone on many
new things since bis day. Nay, IL the placards IN
the Parisian shop windows TO be trusted he
there shines on nothing else But without going
as far back as solomon. or as far distant as Paris
we found something new, delightfully."-, unex pected.
ly new. winters voyage full Of calm and sun.
shine; a steamer, which united strength. swift
ness aud security, in which we're joined the ex-
element OF travel and the comforts of home. A
table, neat In its details, varied and Ifxuriant
IN its furnishing as in any we'll ordered mansion
of the wealthiest proprietor on land COM
maDder who, to the skill of the navigator, added
the courtesy of the host and the elegance Of the
gentleman.
Ssch was our entire voyage across the Atlantic !;
such was my experience and the universal opin-
ion Of the voyagers concerning the good ship
Araga and its kind and attentive commander.
Incidentally, l take great pleasure in rendering
this tribute TO our vessel and officer, because it
was so well merited, and that il may be of some
use to citizens in directing choice. know that
many have gone to France via Liverpool, believing
they were thus securing better ships and more
comfortable accommodations. j have had expe-
rience of both lines, so that with desire to ben
eft the travelling community, as well as in graft
tude to the good ship which speeded us so well, /
recommend her to all our citizens going to Eu-
rope.
Perhaps those of your readers who never leave
home and travel, only thro' the medium of books
aud newspaper, woUli like specimen Of day
spent in our home on the rolling deep, and they
win be astonished to find it approaches SO closely
in similarity to the routine of fashionable hotels
and watering places, where the wealthy and the
idle congregate for pleasure and amusement. But
let me first give you little preparatory account
of the commencement of the voyage:
We embarked from New York on Saturday, the
9th of January, leaving the city clothed in man
| tie of new fallen snow, on which was sweeping a
keen northern blast. felt as if this was the be
ginning of evil times, and certain the breeze
on land would soon deepen to q gale on sea. With
this pleasant anticipation. repaired at once to my
state room, prepared to endure, as best might.
the coming hardships of my condition. My sur
prise was equal to my delight, to find my philoso-
ply unnecessarily summoned, and that my spirit
OF endurance not likely to e called into actor
for every evolution of the wheel, every stroke of
| the piston brought us into calmer sea and u
clearer atmosphere.
On Sunday was so satisfied that something
disagreeable must happen, that kept quietly at
home; but on Monday. attracted by the brightness
| of the sunshine and encouraged by the represeu-
| tations OF my companions, ventured on deck and
saw and felt the beauties that encompassed u.s.
| To sky OF unclouded splendor was added tenn
perature as mild AID genial as May; while as far
the eye could reach the tranquil sea reflected
| back in sparkling radiance.
The glory Of the heavens the noble vessel gil
| ded swiftly and Dajesticaly over the water which
lay beneath her, as caltn and still as inland lake.
| The only drawback to my pleasure was feel
| ing of insecurity How long might this deceitful
| lull continue? Different it Low appeared. tls
was the same stormy ocean whese waves, some
| few months before, had seen rising in wrath
| around us; against whose force then thought
we would contend in vain. When would tho n ighty
| waters arise again in their majesty and swallow
| up admiration in fsarg These miseivings would
| fnrce themselves on my mind, for II continuance Of
such weather at this season was not to be expect
| ed by land or sea. little anticpatedi it. Thus
| however it continued until the termination of our
! course After looking above and around u.s. we
! naturally looked at each other to what might
be the amount of agreeabieness on which we might
4 rely for this next f1rtnights amusement AS far
| as was concerned, | can say the conclusion was
| satisfactory. We counted y sufficient number of
passengers to make variety--not so many as TO
| occasion Inconvenience. There was al agreeable
mixture of young ladies and gentlemen. Some of
| each of grayer years and some sweet and sportye
! children. BY the time our survey was ended. We
| were summoned to lunch. Then we repaired
again to the open air until the preparatory gong
| sounded for dinner This consisted of every yari
| ETY. of fish, fowl and flesh, served ia courses with
| great neatness and elegance. The cooking was ex-
| qusite, and the game particularly inviting. To
the usual variety which is found in Southern mar
kets, was added the prairie hen, which had never
| seen before. This bird is as large a barn door
! fowl, with dark meat of delicious flavor. Our
dinner was the most pleasant part of the day. for
we sat long at table and each contributed their
| portion of uirth and good humOr. Tea was servs 4
| two hours later, but was thinly attended. The
| evening was passed in a variety of amusements-
| some of the gentlemen played at cards. in which
few Of the ladies joned others collected 10 the sa.
aty fhpir nur I>i
deck So passed day after day The breakf /, par
taken of at any hour froms III 10. Each individual
| or party selected their own time. aud by the bill
| Of fare ordered their repast. When l heard that
the last day but one OF our sojourn board, the
captain would give what paT crcelence. was called
| his dinner, L asked what more be could do than
! he hal done. More, however, he did do and a
most beautiful entertainment was presented to us.
l have not sufficient knowledge of gastronomy to
! name describe the varied and beautiful entrees
placed before US by the French ''artsts" who pre-
| sided over the baked and boiled; but there was
| formidable array, and we did them full Justice
| After dinner, we had speeches and toasts. Our
| commanders health was duly drunk, ard he was
| called on for speech, to which he responded
neatly and appropriately, and which was enthusi-
| tically received.
On the 18th day we anchored near Southampton
to land letters, passengers and specie. could
well understand how the country was drained of
it's metal currency, as saw barrel after barrel of
| gold leaving the vessel for England.
On the 18th day We reached Hayre without acci-
dent, without danger aud without fear; the only
fright, believe being felt by my very courageous
self having mistaken the grinding of the coffee
| mill for the bursting of the boiler. Perhaps the
most uncomfortable sensation we experienced was
| on our reaching Havre. The tide was against our
entering the port, the wind too high to drop the
anchor-so we drifted about for seven or eight
| hours without aim or object, which was AS weary
and tedious as an idle, purposeleSs life but wind
and tide both turned, on Friday, the 3D. with
| thanks and blessings to the great Power that had
protected us, we again safely and happily stood
on terra firma.