Young Americans Abroad | Page 4

the
outer man, and any one careful of his health will be sure to intermit one
or two of these seasons. All the meals were excellent, and the supplies
liberal. The tables present a similar appearance to those of a first-class
hotel. In regard to our passengers, I think I can say, with confidence,
that a more agreeable set of persons could not well have been gathered
together. It really was a nicely-assorted cargo. We numbered one
hundred and thirty, and the various parts of our country were all
represented. Philadelphia sent the largest delegation; from that city we
had more than twenty. I liked the looks of the passengers at the first
glance, and every day's intercourse heightened my estimate of their
worth and pleasantness. Amongst the company we had Professor
Haddock, of Dartmouth College, going out to Portugal as chargé
d'affaires. He was accompanied by his lady and son. Then, too, we had
the world-renowned Peter Parley, with his accomplished family circle.
Mr. Goodrich, after a long life of labor for the youth of his country, for

whose reading and instruction he has done so much, has been honored
by the government of the United States with an appointment as consul
at Paris. Mr. Goodrich resided there for two or three years, and was in
Paris during the revolution of 1848. He seems fond of the company of
young people, and we spent a great deal of time on board with him,
listening to his stories, some made up for the occasion, and narrations
of the events in February at Paris, and some capital anecdotes about the
last war with England, during which he served his country in the army.
The Hon. George Wright, of California, and her first representative in
Congress, was also one of our party; and his glowing descriptions of
the auriferous regions kept groups of audience for many an hour. The
Rev. Arthur Cleveland Cox, of Hartford, favorably known as the author
of some pleasant rhymes and sonnets, Mr. Cunningham, a southern
editor, and several retired sea captains, all contributed to enhance the
agreeableness of the voyage. I am sorry to tell you that, three days out,
we had a sad occurrence in our little world. Just as we were sitting
down to lunch at eight bells, the machinery stopped for a moment, and
we were informed that William Irwin, one of the assistant engineers,
was crushed to death. He accidentally slipped from his position, and
was killed instantaneously. In less than half an hour he was sewed up in
canvas, and all hands called to attend his funeral services! The poor
fellow was laid upon a plank covered with the American flag, and
placed at the wheel-house. The service was performed by Mr. Cox, in
full canonicals; and I can assure you that the white-robed priest, as he
issued from the cabin and ascended the wheel-house, really looked
impressively. At the close, he was committed to the deep. What food
for thought was here! A man in health and at life's daily
task,--alive,--dead,--and buried,--all these conditions of his state
crowded into thirty minutes! The poor man had a mother who was
dependent upon him. Dr. Choules drew up a subscription paper for her
benefit, and nearly five hundred dollars were at once raised for her
relief. This unhappy event, of course, gave a sad damper to the joyous
feelings which existed on board, and which were excited by our fine
weather and rapid headway. On Sunday we had two sermons in the
cabin to large congregations, all the passengers attending, with the
officers and many of the crew. The morning service was by Dr.
Choules, and the evening one by Mr. Cox.

[Illustration: Four Positions of an Iceberg, seen 6th of April. Estimated
Height, 300 feet. Lat. 43.04; long. 53.11; at Noon.]
[Illustration: Icebergs seen from the Steamship "Arctic," on the Voyage
from New York to Liverpool, April 6, 1851.]
In the afternoon, April 6, we had the gratification to see a magnificent
iceberg. We were in lat. 43° 4', lon. 53° 11' at twelve o'clock, and at
three the ice appeared at about ten miles' distance. The estimated height
was about three hundred feet. One if the passengers took a sketch. I
also made one, and have laid it aside for your inspection.
The berg had much the appearance of the gable end of a large house,
and at some little distance there was another, of tower-like aspect, and
much resembling a light-house. The effect of the sun upon it, as we saw
it in various positions, was exceedingly fine. On Monday, the 7th, we
saw a much larger one, with several small ones as neighbors. This was
probably one mile in length, and about two hundred feet high.
We saw several whales frolicking