The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-09-30
THF1 1GIS.
FseI .EiI., nd. Sept. 30. 1870.
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM EUROPE.

than we expected to sail. After seeing
our baggage safely into our staterooms and
arranging with the steward for our seats
at the table, we go on deck and watch the
busy scene transporting on the pier. Sup
plies for the voyage, trunks, &c, of late
coming fellow passengers are being brought
on board, and presently the great four
horse wagon filled with mail matter rushes
to the vessels side. The immense bags are
hastily thrown ON board, and the order is
given to proceed The ship is Embossed
from its pier, and slowly steams down the
river, past Governors Island, and out into
the wide bay. Jersey City fades away I;
the tall spire of Trinity Cathedral is lost
among the masts of shipping which crowd
around New York; Brooklyn becomes an
lndistinct village; we strain our eyes to
catch glimpse of Greenwood, and then
turn to admire the beauties ofStaten Island
the American Isle of Wight; quickly
pass through the Narrows and between the
Forts; look at the low and sandy banks of
Coney Island, and very soon are off Sandy
Hook, impatient to throw ourselves upon
the broad bosom of the Atlantic, which
stretches away towards the east, until it
meets the sky above it. Now the pilot
leaves us, and we are off. The signal for
dinner is given, and we descend below to
enjoy our first dinner on board ship.
| have found one of the first requisites
of a comfortable voyage across the Allan
tic is plenty of warm clothing, and one of
the best medicines for the stomach is pure
air which can best be enjoyed on deck
The air of the state-rooms is close and con
fined, that of the saloon but little better,
but pure air is supplied in large quaint
ties on deck and with proper clothing
parties may stay there even in pretty rough
weather, and should take plenty of exer-
cise-mainly accomplished by walking the
deck. Many persons who lead an active
life at home seem to forget the necessity of
keeping it up on ship-board, and yet CON
tinue to eat even more than they do at
home for ones appetite on ship board,
when an appetite exists at all, is ravenous
Breakfast and dinner are the principal
meal, and in the intervals we have three
substantial lunches.
All the passengers are sociable, and dig
nifty is for the most part laid aside on ship
board, and we think how many comforts we
enjoy, and try to imagine what an improve
ment the vessel we are on is over the one
G. Columbus used. To sum up, we made
up our minds to have good time, and had
it; and after running $500 miles, and
spending fourteen days, when the time
comes for parting we are sad, rather than
anxious to get ashore.
Having detailed the enjoyments of the
vessel, &c, | shall now revert to the Incl
dents of the trip. Upon entering ship at
New York, with DIR. Carroll V. Frush, who
accompanied me from Baltimore, we were
introduced to DR.. J. N. Hoffman, s. G. Err
mentrout, of Reading, Pa, M. w. Van
Kunkel, Of Burk's Co., Pa, p. Bohrdt, of
Canada, and G. Trogler of Albany, N. Y,
all going out as assistant surgeons in the
Prussian army. DR.. Frush and / alone
represent Maryland We have 233 passen-
gers, 81 of whom are in the cabin, among
them three ministers, Revs. s. L. Neale, Cf
Tenn, Thos Hanson, of Canada, and G.
Baker.
On Sunday morning, August 21st, one
f iWard McCraugh died very suddenly of
heart disease, and was buried the same
night, at twelve o'clock. The second day
out was very windy, and all the cabin
passengers save myself and three others,
could he seen in every quarter intently
looking at their feet and the water, with
both hands firmly pressed just below the
breast bone, as if that was the dearest place
10 them Oh all creation.
August 25th we passed the banks of
Newfoundland, and saw many vessels fish
ing Tor cod. About 100 miles off the coast
we saw the masts of some ill-iated vessel
standing some ten feet out of the water
On the 21th, some 200 miles east of New
foundland we passed large iceberg,
rearing its lofty peaks higher than the
vessels highest point, as towering monu-
ment to the skies, of pure white ice; and
near by Il large whale, apparently endeay-
oring to spout water over its lofty peaks.
1t was the grandest sight | ever witnessed.
On Sunday, the 2Sth, Rev. Mr.. Hanson,
of Canada, an Episcopal minister, preached
to about 200. 1t was quite grand to have
divine service upon the swelling waves of
the mighty deep. On the 30th we passed
five whales; they were within 100 yards of
us. On the afternoon of the 31st, we en-
c0untered heavy storm, which lasted all
night and at IL o'clock Of the same night
we reached Donegal, on the south coast of
Ireland, and at noon Neville, the north
coast, along which we passed for one hun
dred miles. 1t was grand sight along
the Irish coast, to see the little houses dot
ted over the chain of mountains and sur
rounding hills, and see the farmers busily
cutting wheat and barley. AS far as we
could see, not tree or bush could be seen.
They burn an earth called peat, which
could be seen in black stacks along side of
every house. Near Neville we saw the
ruins of Castle Green, and many other pla-
ces of great interest to the traveller. On
the same afternoon, Sept 1st, at o'clock
We left Neville, and passed up through
the Channel of st. Georges between Ire
land and Scotland. We passed the Giants
Causeway, chain of high and very pecu-
liar rocks, two miles long. 1t is quite
novel sight to a stranger, to see on either
side high and rolling mountains, perfectly
barren, with their borders on the water, of
high and straight rocks, serving as fort
ress to the shore, and inhabited by sea
birds Of many kinds. In st. Georges
Channel we passed, 20 miles from any shore
surrounded by salt water, an island ofrocks,
with an area OF 100 square yards, and L.
O97 feet above the sea, having fountain
of fresh water in the centre Of the top. 1t
is inhabited 10y one family; and wild goats
and rabbits are said to live among the
rocks Its appearance alone, once seen,
can never be forgotten.
Sept. 2d,-We have just got into Gas-