Young Americans Abroad | Page 5

at the distance of a mile, and
distinctly saw them spout at short intervals.
After having had all reason to hope for a ten-day passage, we were
annoyed for four or five days with head winds, materially retarding our
headway. The evenings of the voyage were generally spent on deck,
where we had charming concerts. Seldom have I heard better singing
than we were favored with by eight or ten ladies and gentlemen. One
universal favorite was the beautiful piece, "Far, far at sea." On Sunday,
the 13th, just after morning service, conducted by Mr. Cox, we made
Mizzen Head, and obtained a magnificent view of the north coast of
Ireland, which was far more beautiful than we had expected. The coast
is very bold, and the cliffs precipitous, in many places strongly
reminding us of the high lands of the Hudson. A more exquisite treat
than that which we enjoyed all the afternoon in looking on the Irish
coast I can hardly imagine. At night we had a closing service, and Dr.
Choules preached. Every one seemed to feel that we had cause for
thankfulness that we had been brought in safety across the ocean, and
under so many circumstances of enjoyment We have made

acquaintances that are truly valuable, and some of them I hope to
cultivate in future life. One of the great advantages of travel, Charles,
seems to be, that it enables us to compare men of other places than
those we live in with our former acquaintances. It brings us into
intercourse with those who have had a different training and education
than our own; and I think a man or boy must be pretty thoroughly
conceited who does not often find out his own inferiority to many with
whom he chances to meet. On board our ship are several young men of
fine attainments, who, engaged in mechanical business, are going out to
obtain improvement and instruction by a careful study of the great
exhibition. A number of gentlemen with us are young merchants, who
represent houses in our great cities, and go to England and France twice
and three times every year. Some of these are thoroughly accomplished
men, and, wherever they go, will reflect credit upon their country. In no
country, perhaps, do young men assume important trusts in commercial
life at so early a period as in America. I have heard one or two
Englishmen on board express their surprise at finding large business
operations intrusted to young men of twenty and twenty-one; and yet
there are some such with us who are making their second and third trips
to Manchester, Leeds, Paisley, and Paris, for the selection of goods.
I ought to tell you that, on the last day of the voyage, we had a great
meeting in the cabin, Mr. Goodrich in the chair, for the purpose of
expressing the satisfaction of the passengers with the Arctic, her
captain, officers, and engineer. Several good speeches were made, and
some resolutions passed. This has become so ordinary an affair at the
termination of a passage, as to have lost much of its original value; but
as this ship had an unusual number of passengers, many of them well
known to their fellow-countrymen, and as great opposition had been
displayed, on both sides of the ocean, to this line of steamers, it was
thought suitable to express our views in relation to this particular ship
and the great undertaking with which she is identified. Every man on
board was satisfied that, in safety, these ships are equal to the Cunard
line; while in comfort, accommodation, size, and splendor they far
surpass their rivals. It really seems strange to us that Americans should
think of making the ocean trip in an English steamship, when their own
country has a noble experiment in trial, the success of which alone

depends upon the patriotism and spirit of her citizens. The English on
board are forced to confess that our ship and the line are all that can be
asked, and I think that pretty strong prejudices have been conquered by
this voyage. Every one left the ship with sentiments of respect to
Captain Luce, who, I assure you, we found to be a very kind friend, and
we shall all of us be glad to meet him again on ship or shore.
On Monday, the 14th, at three o'clock, we took our pilot, and at eight
o'clock we anchored off Liverpool, and a dark-looking steamtug came
off to us for the mails, foreign ministers, and bearers of despatches. As
we came under the wing of one of the last-named class of favored
individuals, we took our luggage, and proceeded straight to the Adelphi
Hotel. I ought to say that James was the first to quit the