The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-07-30
A trip to the Monumen nj Cry"
PHILADELPHIA, July 90, 1871.

Being foiled in the purpose of spend
ing the 9TH in Baltimore, owing to mis-
apprehension in regard to the time of the
return boat, and having heard much of
the fine scenery by water, / concluded to
make the excursion at time that would
embrace Farmer Greeley's Convention
l therefore took boat at four p. m, the
9th inst, and started down the widening
Delaware. The first town on the Penn
sylvania side of any account is Chester, a
thriving manufacturing town. The next
was Wilmington, Del, 80 miles below
Philadelphia, once a famous point for
lottery drawings, now for its manufacture
ing enterprise and ship building, The
city is situated mile and half from
the river, but is accessible by steamers
up Christmas Greek, a deep aud tortuous
stream, being kept deeply dredged. The
city contains 10000 inhabitants, and re-.
minds one Of Boston in appearance in an
approach from Brighton, or Cambridge,
part of the town being on hill in shape
similar that of Bacon hill. Five miles
below pass Newcastle; still further on
about the same distance, we arrive at
Delaware city, an ancient looking town,
at which point we "switch off, into a
"raging CANAL tho Delaware aud
Chesapeake, at this junction of water
courses, the Delaware River or Bay it
now may be called, il about four miles in
width, In the centre of which looms up
Fort Delaware, in which largo number
OF keb's found temporary home during
the late rebellion. This canal IS about
fourteen miles in length, forming con.
nectlon between the Delaware aud Ches-
apeake Bay. Our steamer is screw
propeller, one Of the "Erricsou Line"
We moved very slowly aud uoiselessly /;
the scenery on either side varied and
fascinating in the gray twilight, and the
oblique and faint shining of a crescent
moon. The lofty banks are terraced for
miles to prevent the clay soil from lid.
ing, and are often interspersed with
growth of small trees aud shrubbery.
The head light thrown from the steamers
Bow, on the terraced embankment aud
green foliage, nearly created dissolviug
views, to brighten the charm of the hour.
We were treated to so inspiring vocal
music, (which was all the more interesting
from its having been Spontaneous and ex-
temporized. There were large number
OF gentlemen and four or five ladies
on board the steamers upper deck ,proba-
oily all or nearly all from Philadelphia.
AS the boat made no landing except at
Delaware city, and yet strangers tc each
other,with the exceptions of two or three,
as learned, those two or three casually
commenced singing in subdued tone. soon
another and annother fell into line, and be.
fore long we had full and large choir.
They sang for an hour, songs, Duets,
chorusses, and closed by singing num-
ber Of negro religious melodies, and
our sacred hymns. Toward the close my
iuspirational mood arrived at that atti-
tude, that joined the songsters of the
night, and helped swell the chorus. Pos
sibly it might not have rivaed Gilmorss
big Noise" in the coliseum, but |
would rather have that hour of singing
repeated, with the same surroundings,
and under the same auspices, than to hear
Parepa Rosas or Wilson's whole even
ing on the boards Of the Academy.
There was not song or an utterance that
could offend the most delicate ear-Pro.
bable reason-no rum on the boat.
After night Of Indifferent sleeping on
account of the heated atmosphere, at
early dawn found that we had debouch-
ed into, and were far up the broad Ches.
apeake Bay, land not being visible at
some points seaward. For the first time.
l had the pleasure of witnessing sun
rising out Of the "Vasty Deep" it had
the appearance of loop Of motion iron,
such as when boy l used to see the
Bloomers "ShingIe" in Starksboro and
Lincoln, than old Sol's rounded and daz.
zing face. After steaming up the Ches.
apeake Bay about fifty miles, aud about
two or three miles before reaching the
city. We passed Fort Carroll, a circular
granite fortress uncompleted. A mile
farther on passed that stronghold-Fort
McHenry-it appears to be a massive
aud extensive earthwork, with large
number Of open mouthed dogs Of war"
Of great caibre lying about, their muzzles
looking toward Water Point.
Baltimore is said to be situated on the
Patapsco River, but l could discern DO
river. There is harbor Of pretty good
size, e,aDd appears to be situated on an arm
or an estuary Of the Bay. I he river may
enter the harbor at the south side Of the
town, however, out OF the range of Wis.
ion. AS you enter the inner harhor, the
amount Of shipping visible would indicate
quite commercial port. On going on
shore | found the heat getting offensive
even as early as seven o'clock After
looking about awhile, | started for the
country, visited Dried Hill PARK"
I pleasant and shady retreat, not as large
or as much embellished as Fairmout or
Central parks. After cooling two or
three hours, returned to town, called at
the "Greeley Convention" No entrance
without ticket of admission. Being
stranger in stranger place.
and not having the Right ear mark"
withal, made the prospects of seeing the
inside of the theatre little questionable
in my own mind. appealed to po.
liceman, but he could render no assist
ance. A gentleman standing near by drew
a ticket from his pocket and rendered it
me. with the remark, II will trust you
with my ticket, sir" With thanks ac-
cepted the courtesy. soon reached the
gallery, heard two short speeches, and
the Cincinnati platform reiterated. Ex-
Senator Doolittle presided with prompti-
tude, case, and dignity. The heat was
so sitting did not make lengthy tar
ry. Greeley's name seemed to be on
evcry tongue that could wag. could
but think at the time, if the "Chappaqua
Eartnarn should oh.noa to he hoa;a.. l.; -