Middletown transcript., 1869-01-16
Notes of Grarrt.
Written for The Middletopn Transcript
RecoIIcctions Of the Mother Country.

through Liverpool, Manchester, London,
Edinburgh, Dublin, and Paris, have been
lying among old rubbish, without seeing
daylight.
Perhaps your readers will be tempted
to wade through few sketches of old
England and the Continent, if they recol-
lect that they were penned by an ardent
admirer of the beautiful and nicely hedg-
ed agricultural district, in New Castle
county, Delaware old England trans
ported to our shores.
In May, of last year, we sailed from
" Gotham" in the good packet ship Col
umbia, of the old " Black Ball Line" :"
Capt. Robinson, Master, bound for Liv-
erpool. Six cabin passengers, including
al.Presbyterian Clergyman, from Penn
sylvania, besides the Captain and the first
officer, were the only occupants of the
quarterback, consequently, we had room
enough and to spare The Captain prom
ised that we should be walking on the
substantial pavement of Liverpool within
twenty days, and under the guidance of
our Heavenly Father, the task was ac-
complished.
For the benefit of those who expect to
take trip across the briny ocean, for the
restoration of their debilitated frames, it
is well to remark, that good sailing YES
sci is superior to an ocean steamer in go
ing to the Eastward, from the 1st of Nav
until the 1st. of September, for the fol-
lowing reasons: The westerly winds pre-
vail generally at this season of the year,
and are conducive to short passage; pas
sengers avoid the nauseating, oily smell
emanating from the machinery, which
helps to originate sea-sickness the state
rooms are more commodious, and the cab
ins less cramped; and contrary to our ex-
pectations a sailing vessel under steady
breeze rolls less than the prevailing ami
popular screw steamers.
Of course old ocean penned us up in
our berths, more or less with that terrible
scourge, sea-sickness, and we Immediate
ly thought of the quaint remark made by
the living "Ncstor of the Presbyterian
Church" Rev. DR.. Cox, several years
ago, while crossing the Atlantic old
ocean is one grand dose of ipecac."
On the 18th day out, the green shores
VI oiu lltldHu WtIt utSCIlcu, WHICH Uldut
us feel happy, after being cooped up on the
quarterback of vessel for such a length
of time. When the ship arrived off Cork,
in the Irish Sea, it was surrounded by
pilots and fishermen, with faces of the
true Elibernian cut. Our jolly, and good
tempered Captain stated they would soon
exhibit their propensity for begging in
good style, and sure enough we found
that they are equal to the tales related by
mariners of olden time A sample of
their asking aims will suffice: "Captaiu,
would you be after giving me an empty
-four barrel, half full of flour, to make a
chicken coop for my pig" "And if you
have an old silver watch around kicking
under your feet which you have nothing to
do wild, you might give 1t to me-" Such
are the questions heard on all sides while
in the company of these inhabitants of
Erin.
On the twentieth day out from the New
World, we arrived in the river Morsey,
and the town-as it is called there" of
Liverpool, the Seaport of England" was
appreciated by our company, you can rest
assured.
This ancient town has population of
about 500, 200 inhabitants, while at the
beginning of the eighteenth century it
only laid claim to 5000. Respecting the
etymology of its name, various opinions
have arisen, but, although the subject
still remains matter of doubt, il is gen.
orally believed to be derived from fabu-
lous bird called the Liver; and this, ac-
anrJip nIu Ao,,rao .,,f bn &c L.
The first charter was granted by Henry
|, in 1112; but the conquest of Ireland
in 1172, by opening the intercourse be-
tween the two countries. laid the founda-
ton of the commerce of Liverpool. This
important and fourishing seaport, stands
on the eastern bank of the river Mersey,
and extends about seven miles along that
stream. Instead of the wooden wharyes
and piers which are seen in American
cities, you notice enormous granite docks,
with high towers and battlements-the
lions of the town-in which vessels go in
at high tide, and are as securely shut in
as we are in our own homes. The docks
and basins are 4S in number, covering a
water area Of over $50 acres, or total
area exceeding 700 acres, and having a
quay space of about 10 miles. Two thou
sand vessels, of all sizes, from the blunt
bowed Dutch schooner of $50 tons, to the
mammoth Atlantic and Mediterranean
steamers, are frequently seen here, and
protected from the heavy tide of the rapid
Mersey. In fact, all vessels can enter re-
gardless of size, with the exception of the
" Great Eastern,' which lies at anchor
down the river most of the time. But
even this big monster will soon be safely
ensconced in a new dock at Birkenhead,
Just across the river, which is being built
for ships of any size.
Those who have mounted the convenient
omnibuses, which pass on double line of
rails, every few minutes the entire length
of these Notifications, have noticed the fol-
lowing names: The Princes Dock Clar-
ence Dock; Georges Dock Victoria Dock,
and others too numerous to mention.
Everything in old England seems to