Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-30
Crossing the Ocean in Six DAVIS.

Which is the best route across the Atlantic
IS problem often considered, yet unsettled
in the minds of many. | recently found my
self on the other side of the Atlantic, DESTROYS
of a speedy and safe return, and anxiously
inquiring whether there was no possibility Of
avoiding or at least of securing some mitiga-
ton of the dreaded evils before me. AT this
juncture, ! saw in a London paper the an
nouncement of the arrival ofthe screw-steamer
hungarian from Quebec to Liverpool, in nine
days and seven hours, coupled with the addi-
tional fact that her actual sea passage from
land to land was but six days. Satisfying
myself that the statement was correct, and
that the boat was a new one of iron, and with
water tight compartments, at once determine
ed to try her; and securing passage, have
been so delighted with it, that feel constrain-
ed to give a brief memorandum of my obser-
yations and experience, for the benefit of such
persons as may have voyage in contempla-
ton.
The Hungarian belongs to the Montreal
Ocean Mail Steamship Company, and in one
of weekly line Of first class iron boats, that
ply in the summer between Liverpool and
Quebec, and in winter between Liverpool and
Portland, in connection with the Grand Trunk
Railway, carrying the mails by contract for
f25, 900 sterling per amnum. | found her to
be without exceptions, the finest, and appa-
rently the strongest built steamer ever sailed
in. Her saloons and state-rooms were larger
and better furnished and her table as bounti-
fully spread, as are those Of the best Cunar-
ders. Her motion through the water was
steady and much more agreeable, there being
none of the rolling so often caused III wind
by the submergng of paddle wheels.
On the morning of the sixth day, as stated
on the chart, and predicted by the captain
we came in sight of icebergs. The day was
one Of the most beautiful Of the voyage, and
all hands were engaged in a sharp lookout for
wonders. Towards noon we fell in with mn
merous mountains or monuments of ice, in
great variety of shapes. At one time, over
fifty could he distinctly counted within the
range Of vision, and at our request the can
tain passed almost within reach of some of
the largest and most beautiful By observa-
ton from masthead, one of them was deter.
mined to be about three hundred feet high.
The side OF IT towards the ship presented a
perpendicular front, like wall or precipice,
Immediately behind, on the same platform,
and entirely distinct, from the level of the
water uprose square tower, to an equal
height with the other, while all about the
base played gentle waves, in color like LIQUID
emerald. The following morning, six DAYS
and two hours from Ireland, we passed the
Ballo-Isle light house, and were soon steam
ing up the straits, along the coast of Labrador.
Although in July, the sterile, coast was patch
ed here and there with snow, and numerous
icebergs were stranded on or floating along
the shore. We now experienced head winds,
but the water bore only the small waves of n
lake, and we were almost constantly in sight
ofland. We entirely recovered our appetites;
real whales could be seen rising to the surface
of the water, and blowing in every direction ;
for the first time in our voyage, other sails
than our own were to be seen and thus, in
short. with more than the ordinary variety Of
an inland voyage, we reached the port Of
Quebec in nine days and seventeen hours
from Liverpool, being the shortest westward
passage yet on record. From Quebec to Mon
treal, it is five and half hours by railroad,
and from Montreal to New York, via. Lake
Champlain and the Hudson river, it is but
twenty-four hours, thus making the trip com
plete, by the best route, inside of eleven DAYS
at first class cost of about $780, Con..ia-
dependent