Young Americans Abroad | Page 3

1.
ASTOR HOUSE, NEW YORK, April 1, 1851.
DEAR CHARLEY:--
I have just arrived at this place, and have found my companions on
hand, all ready for the commencement of the long-anticipated voyage.
We regret the circumstances which render it your duty to remain, and
we all feel very sorry for the disappointment of your wishes and our
hopes. You will, however, feel happy in the thought that you are clearly
in the path of duty; and you have already learnt that that path is a safe
one, and that it always leads to happiness. You have begged us all to
write to you as frequently as we can, and we have concluded to send
you our joint contributions, drawing largely upon our journals as we
move from place to place; and, as we have for so many years had
pleasant intercourse in the family circle, we wish to maintain it by
correspondence abroad. Our letters will, of course, be very different in
their character and interest, because you will bear in mind that out ages
are different; and we shall write you from a variety of points, some
having a deeper interest than others. I trust that this series of letters will

give you a general view of our movements, and contribute to your
gratification, if not to your instruction. The weather is delightful, and
we are anticipating a fine day for leaving port. It is to all of us a source
of pain that we are deprived of your sunny smile; and while we are
wandering far away in other lands, we shall often, in fancy, listen to
your merry laugh; and I assure you, my dear fellow, that, wherever we
rove, it will be amongst our pleasantest thoughts of home when we
anticipate the renewal of personal intercourse with one who has secured
so warm a place in our affections.
Yours truly,
J.O.C.

Letter 2.
ADELPHI HOTEL, LIVERPOOL, April 14.
DEAR CHARLEY:--
It is but twelve days since we parted, and yet we are actually in the old
world, and the things which we have so often talked over on the
rock-bound shore are really before me. Yes, we are on the soil of Old
England, and are soon to see its glories and greatness, and, I fear, its
miseries, for a bird's eye view has already satisfied me that there is
enough of poverty. You know we left New York in a soaking rain, and
the wind blowing fresh from the north-east. We all felt disappointed, as
we had hoped to pass down the bay, so celebrated for its beauty, with
the bright sunshine to cheer our way; but we had to take comfort from
the old proverb, that "a bad beginning makes a good ending." James,
George, and I had made up our minds to a regular time of sea-sickness,
and so we hastened to put our state room into order and have all our
conveniences fixed for the voyage. As soon as we had made matters
comfortable, we returned to the deck, and found a most formidable
crowd. Every passenger seemed to have, on the occasion, a troop of
friends, and all parts of the immense steamer were thronged. The

warning voice of "all on shore" soon caused a secession, and at twelve
o'clock we had the great agent at work by which we hoped to make
headway against wind and wave. The cheering of the crowd upon the
wharf was hearty as we dropped into the river, and its return from our
passengers was not lacking in spirit. The Arctic, you know, is one of
the Collins line of steamers, and I was not a little surprised at her vast
size and splendid accommodations, because I had only seen the Cunard
boats in Boston, which are very inferior, in size and comfort, to this
palace and tower of the ocean.
We all anticipated a hard time of it, from the severe storm which raged
all the morning, and I, in common with all the passengers, was
delighted to find it any thing but rough water outside the Hook. We
kept steaming away till we lost sight of land with the loss of daylight,
and yet the sea was in less commotion than it frequently exhibits in
Newport Harbor. The next morning, at breakfast, we had quite a fair
representation at table, and I think more than two thirds presented
themselves for duty. We boys were all on hand, and passed for
"able-bodied men." The routine of life on board was as follows: We
breakfasted at eight, lunched at twelve, dined at four, took tea at half
past six, and from nine till eleven gentlemen had any article for supper
they saw fit to order. This is quite enough of time for taking care of