The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-05
LErTER From EvROPB.
DR.. Carpenter hands rs the following In
terestiue letter from DR.. Hughss;
PARIS, August IL, 1865.

l
PARIS, August II 1865.
Profe.sor Carpenter
DEAR Sre:-I hsve made several Efforts =
write you, but as often have been compeie'
to abandon the enterprise bsfofea..-- tssses
were completed. Travelling allows but little
time for writing but now having come to I
halt for q short season, will make the effort
to complete my promise. wrote Prof.
Cleaver from London, giving him . synopsi,
of my tour to that city, from the date of .
former letter to Prof. Taylor. / viii
now give you a short sketch Of what have
been doing since. Leaving London, Eng
land, proceeded via New Haven crossing
the English channel to France, and landing at
Dieppo. Here was our first introduction to
French society, and was somewhat embar-
RAISING landing as we did among host OF
interested in the money they could make out
of you. One of our party who was able to
speak French soon arranged the matter, and
we we're at the depot Of the Paris railroad.
We continued our journey to Rouen, city
of considerable importance .on our route,
where we made a halt for a day. 1t contains
q population of 10000 or more, and situated
on the river Seine. From here we made our
way directly to Paris, the city of greatest at
traction to most travellers, and on reaching it
was not disappointed, as it is certainly among
the handsomest cities in the world. ] had
not yet decided as to our future movements,
on account Of the troubles in Austria, Prus>
STA, Italy and Germany was anxious to ex-
tend on trip as far as prudence, interest, and
the condition of the country would permit
After consultation at the elice of our Ameri-
can Minister and Consul, concluded 10 visit
Italy and Switzerland, and in order I'd reach
the southern portion of Italy before the siekly
season. made arrangements to leave Paris,
and complete the visit on our return. After
spending five days sight seeing and visiting
the hotel Diem, which is one of the large
hospitals of the city, we started for Italy via
Fountain. Blean, Dipon and Lyons, thence
across the Alps by way Of Mt. Gents Pass to
Tusin. This is a most interesting trip The
mountain scenery is grand, and of the wild
est and most enchanting character. Wewere
now in Italy, and from Tusin we proceeded
to Genosa, where We met Mr.. Spencer and
family. DR.. Spencer, who is President of our
University, had recently been appointed
Consul to Genosa. and sailed with his family
only week earlier than we did. II was very
gratifying to us meeting Mr.. 8. and family
here, and their kindness and attention we
appreciated We we're now on the Mediter-
anlsn Sea, and from Genosa took steamer
for Leshorn. We had very pleasant voyage,
and after spending day at Leghorn left for
Florence, the capital of Italy, stopping At
tower. There is much Of interest in Flor.
ence, and after satisfying our curiosity we
returned to Leghorn, and thence by steamer
to Civita Bscchia, the port of entry to the
state of the church, or ifyou please 70 Rome
We are in the habit of looking at the domin-
ions of the Pope az part and parcel Of Italy.
But the Pope claims q separate and distinct
Government, and as King Emanuel
and the Pope are at dagger's point, it is not
difficult to discover the line Of demareation
From Cisita Becchia we proceeded BY rail
to Rome, the most celebrated of European
cities, and the great ecclesiastical captal Of
christendom. | will not stop here 70 give
you description Of what meets the eye Of
the stranger. 1t would require pages, and
would then only make an immaginary i'm
preston upon the mind of the reality Suf
fee at present for me to say that we saw His
Holiness, the Pope; visited his palace, the
Cathedrais, ST. Peters and ST. Paul's; the
Roman Forum with the various ancient TEN
pies, and last, but not least in interest 10 me,
the remains of the Temple of Hscu apius;
the Colosseum, &c.
We were now feeling the effects Of the ex>
cessiue heat, and as Rome is situated In the
valley of the Thor, / did not think it best to
remain long in miasmatic district, and after
spending four or FIVE days, left for Naples, the
most extreme southern point Of our journey.
On our arrival here We found it, of course,
very warm. yet with sea breeze sufficient to
render the temperature not uncomfortable.
But aware OF the dangers ding NIL foreign
visitors ut this season, we made the best use
of our time possible; visiting places of great
est interest in the Dorning and evenings. AMI
walking but little. Here again it would be
folly for me to attempt description.
We visited Mount Vesuvius, starting from
our hotel at three o. M, in order to make the
ascent in the cool of the morning. We were
at its top by eight .. m; spent an hour look.
ing into the internal regions, watching the
erup,ions which are taking place every few
moments. All the descriptions Of hep are
fully verified in this volcanic region. You
will naturally ask: How did Mrs Hughes get
to the top Of Mount Vesuvius? answer by
stating that we were carried by horses and
| mules rs far as they could walk, and then
seated in kind of chair, she was carried by
four men to the top and back.
After four days hard work, having visited
Pompeii, Herculaneum, and all other point.
of great interest, we turned our faces home.
ward, glad that we had reached our journey
end. We took steamer via the mediterranean
Sea, directly to Genoa.
On our arrival here we concluded to
change our course, making our way to Swift
zerland via Milan in Lombardy. Milan is a
beautiful city. Here l visited the hospitals
which are very fine. A very large military
hospital is located here, and had IN oppor.
tunhy OF witnessing the Italian mode of treat
| ing the sick and wounded of the present war
Ishould have mentioned that visited the
hospitals ~ Genoa, at Rome and at Turin.
From Milan We went 10 Como, and theme.
BY Lake Como to Poletzo, and BY Lake Luga
no to Lake Maggiore, where l was taker
sick, and was compelled to stop at Strasa
. town at the foot Of the Alps, Anc
on the lakeshore, for four days. feared .
severe attack of fever, but every attention
Was given us at the hotel, and was soor
convalescent.
i We crossed the Alps by the Simplon Pass
which required some twenty-five hours b,
diligence, kind Of coach arrangement o