Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-05-30
sTAUNTON VA, TUESDAY, MAY 80 1871

The subjoined letter was written by forme
citizen of this county, now travelling in the oil
world; though not written for publication,
is offered to the readers of the Spectator, as i
contains some interesting facts in regard t
European countries, &C.:
| MARSHAL HOTEL, DUBLIN, IRELAND, !
/ SATURDAY NIGHT,
May 9Th, 1871.
| My FRIEND When I first wrote to yo,
that L thought of taking a European tour,
think you took me to be joking !; but now
trust you believe me in earnest about it as
am actually on the soil Of Europe and hav,
been for about week, and feel the novelty O.
my situation. think it time to post you as t.
my movements and trust to you to inform my
Virginia friends that take an interest in my
whereabouts and welfare, for | feel [ have
many such but cannot write to them all imme
d!ately. l suppose you got my letter from
Melrose Mass. J, and fromthat point and time
| resume my travels.
l sailed from Boston at noon on Thursday
April goth, In the iron-clad ocean steamship
Aleppo, first class vessel Of the Cunard line.
carrying freight. mails and passengers; we had
81 of the latter, among whom was Mr.. Pea
body, (relative of the rich banker of the same
name) going over to London to enter into
banking
The weather was rainy and foggy the day
we lett which regretted. AS we started, tears
were shed, blessings and adieus were ex-
changed, handkerchiefs and hats waved, the
AleppO fired her guns, and we were on our
voyage Ger the Atlantic to foreign lands
When but two hours out we run into the Mer-
rimac, barque of $50 tons. and cut her near
lly half In two between midships and stern ;
her crew, eleven In number, sprung on board
our steamer during the contact and lost every
thing but their lives. In IL minutes the Mer
rlmac went down In % fathoms, with full
cargo of wool from South America, and the
waves danced with glee over the spot, The
Aleppo then went on, taking the crew Of the
Merrimac with her, and did not again stop her
engines till she reached Queenstown. Towards
night of the first day began to feel sea-sick-
it was general among the passengers, but mine
lasted two days and was one of the worst cases
ii was truly horrid 'Tis said to do one much
good and ought to, for the price paid.
The first days the weather was calm; du-
ring the 9TH, 9th and 7th, the wind blew from
the S. W., both wind and steam now combined
to speed us On our way. This high wind got
up tremendous sea, of what | called awful
subimity, quite too much for my nerves, and
set me to thinking How great is God and
what is man in this frail construction, pitching
and rolling amid these giant pillows The Sth
day was more calm. The 9th was the rough
est We had, but had great confidence in our
ship and calmly looked on the subimity of the
sea. We saw but few sails, no icebergs, and
no whales; the water looked greener on the
Grand Banks than elsewhere. The 10th was
a tine day, all were on tlptoe with joyful antic
lpatlons and we we're gratifed for the bold
shore and green fields of ''sweet Erin" cheered
our view as We swept along its Southern coast,
and Tor the first time We had something to
measure our speed beside the log and sextant.
1t is impossible to describe our pleasure at see
ing land; earth never looked SO lovely before.
At noon We rounded too in Queenstown har-
Dor, just 10 days from Boston. Our daily run
was thus-in miles 217, 240, 240, 24O, 247,
292, 3OS, 2S1, 265, 303 and 260-in all 1858
miles; averaging, daily, 265 miles, and hourly
about ii miles Those of US who landed at
Queenstown were taken in the convey to shore,
and there was another scene at parting with
our new made friends. The Aleppo proceeded
to Liverpool, and the revenue officers went
through our baggage in official style, while the
officers of the Queen strutted back and forth
in uniform with swords. Here first put my
foot on European soil. Queenstown is a pref
ty place and has a magnificent bay. Gen.
Sheridan left there for the U. S. the day I ar
rived. | stayed in Queenstown two hours and
there my voyage ended and my tour began |
beautiful valley of the Lee, amid the full
bloom Of spring in country [ might say beau
tiful by nature and finished by art; it's green
fields, we'll trimmed hedges, it's solid and an
cient walls, overgrown with ivy, made it ex-
ceedingly lovely to one just from the blank of
winter, In America and the monotony of the
Ocean. On the way we passed fine monu-
ment to father Mathew-the great champion
of temperance. In Cork put up at Morris
Hotel on Grand Parade and explored the city,
rising on each side Of the Lee-the South be-
ing the side of huts, poverty and ragged chill
dren; the North side, Of wealth, taste and re-
fnement. [ bought some American apples
from a stand woman and learned from her the
news that ''in America apple trees bear two
crops year" Cork is a good business city
and has not wooden house 10 it !; almost ev-
erything here is built Of stone stone !
stone
Having spent one night in Cork and pur-
chased few articles started on foot for Blar-
ney Castle, miles North of Cork, situated
amid fine surrounding country, with river
flowing close beneath it. 1t is vast and an
cient castle. unique in construction and partly
in ruins. The dwelling portion of it was ad-
ded in the days of Cromwell. [ went up the
1O7 steps to its top. The archway into the
court is partly fallen, the old portcuis lies
there, and jackdaws, owls and hawks inhabit
it's ivy covered walls and towers. La this cas-
tie is the world-renowned "Barney Stone, -
which the old lady turnkey requires all to kiss,
first for themselves, then for their wives, and
lastly for their friends. [ obeyed, Of course,
and kissed the Blarney Stone, but think have
had better ones in my life. stayed that night
in the little village of Blarney where is large
tweed factory, and the next morning took the
Railroad train for marlborough, lO9 miles,
where | bad letter to one, Clarkson, and was
handsomely entertained by them, gaining much
valuable and interesting information. There
I took my first glass of soine, and so far my on
ly one. Thursday took the Railroad to this
city, so miles from marlborough, and since
my arrival have been visiting such places as
the Phenix Park, Geological Gardens, where
they raise many lions, Botanical Gardens, Ste
phen's Green Bank of Ireland, Trinity College,
Dublin Castle, the noted churches, &c. From
the top of Nelson Pillar one gets a fine view
of Dublin. In Glasnevin Cemetery is fine
monument to d. O'Connel l went down into
the crypt where are his last words: II give
my heart to Rome, my body to ireland and
my soul to Heaven He died at Genoa. The
monument OF Ireland granite to Wellington In
Phoenix Park is Of immense size and has bat
tie scenes made of cannon taken In battles on
its sides.
Friday I called on our consul at Dublin, T.
D. Neill. aud had long talk with him. A
statue of Smith 0 Brien has lately been cree
ted in thronged street of Dublin, an act sig.
nifcant Of Irish oyalty-the Lord Lieutenant
making no objection.
| shall be in London about the Goth, where
expect an instalment of letters and papers