WCP1257

[1]¹

Ship Quebec

Sep^r 11^th 1844

I write this dearest Mamma that I may have one letter at least to send to England from New York, this is I hope the last day for us all on board the good ship "Quebec", the Pilot has taken up his quarters with us and we are only 90 miles from land so hope to get on shore tomorrow to dinner, we have had 28 days of it, but have had a most beautiful voyage, no storms only a little ^contrary wind — most of the time smooth sea like a lake, I am astonish'd to look over the large tract of water's [sic] and see not a wave, but the Vessel gliding on with very little motion, notwithstanding which, I have been very ill for a long time, the last week only I have enjoyed myself free from sickness, it is indeed a dreadful feeling, cannot eat or move, or speak to any one — All were ill in the English Channel, it was there very rough for two nights and we were in imminent danger, If I have room I will write my observations each day since we left London, I will send two letters from N.Y. this written on board and the other after we land. In the 1^st Cabin we are a party of 15 mostly very agreeable people, they all give us a delightful account of the People in the South — [2] There are three English gentlemen of our party but they do not make themselves so agreeable as the Americans, at least they are not so chatty and polite — this is their character everywhere is it not? for the first three weeks I could not go into the dinner room, or join in their amusements, but Miss Sinclair² could after the first week. An old lady was as ill as myself so we kept each other company in the Ladies Cabin; The Captains [sic] Wife who has been five or six voyages with her Husband is a very bad Sailor, the Cap^t[ain] is a very pleasant man & keeps us all alive, he has always a very good supplied table[.] The two American Ladies are Sisters, one a widow looking not more than 18 years of age, the other is accompanied by her husband and a dear baby of 14 months who is a great pet with us all, and is so good all day and goes to anyone. The first person who was kind to me was his Papa, having his Wife & Sister with him, he is privelidged [sic] to come into the Ladies Cabin & when I was so ill he used to give me something to drink or cover my feet if I was on the Sofa. They make use of the word fix for everything, the Ladies say "I will fix myself & go out upon deck this morning". There is also a Gentleman from Australia [3] knows "Adelaide Town" but I have had no conversation with him about the place, as he is an Englishman & consequently very distant. We have an amusing old Gentleman who has lived in New York, and is returning there again, he is mad upon one topic, he has been trying to make a convert of me, but has not succeeded[.] I cannot even tell you what it tends to. He calls it the Science of Sciences & the Religion of Religions, it is made up of Ancient History, Astronomy and Mythology. Alfred I am sure would be amused if he could hear him go on. Somebody perhaps starts the subject at dessert and he will stand up and talk and will not resume his seat 'till they all say they are convinced, but the Ladies all stood out, the Gentlemen at last gave in to his views for fun[.] He then said "Now I have no fear I have got the Gentlemen on my side, the Ladies will soon follow"[.] I beat the old man at Chess the other day & he was quite astonished for he thought himself a very superior player. I sometimes play Cribbage with the Cap^t[ain]. and sometimes [play] at Whist. A young Gentleman from China plays Chess very well & he is teaching the pretty widow, we call them the inseperables [sic], the [4] Chess playing is a good excuse to bring them together every hour in the day. He is an agreeable fellow and amuses us all with his numerous adventures. He has given me a pretty Chinese fan — when I was so ill the weather was warm & I was always so faint & finding I had no Fan he kindly went to his box & presented me with one. I have very little to relate being on board but I think anything will be interesting as it is the first letter after leaving dear Old England the Land of my Nativity! The Americans run it down terribly. We all walk on deck every evening with the Gentle[me]ⁿ. The little Widow has always her partner & Miss Sinclair and myself on the other arm.

In the 2^nd Cabin there are about a dozen passengers and in the Steerage about 15. I certainly like the Sailing Vessel much better than a Steamer — if one is not pressed for time there is no comparison. We do not know how long we shall stop at New York but shall proceed as soon as possible in a Vessel for Savannah. I was so very ill in my berth when the Pilot left us in the Channel to return to Portsmouth that I could not write[.] I hope dear [5] Mamma you were not very much disappointed at not hearing from me. I do not know much of my Companion yet, we have been very little together[,] she has been so much better than I have. This is the first day I have had my head quite well — so have attempted to write as I thought I should find plenty to do when on shore, we expect to see Land tomorrow. How delightful! Adieu[.] This last week has been delightful, when we got up this morning the 12^th Sep^t. we heard land was to be seen all around us, we were going into the Bay between Long Island and the main land, it was a pretty sight, we got ready immediately after breakfast and went on deck to wait for the Steam-packet to take us into New York, this came to meet us and we left our Ship at 11 O'clock, arrived at New York about 2 O'clock and are now at the Waverley Hotel Broad Way, we dined at 3 made a good dinner were well attended to by the waiters who wait ^upon the Ladies so we have no Gentlemen to ask favors of, the Ladies are all seated before the Gent^s take their places, those who sat by us were very polite — what I have seen ^{of them} in this short time I like. I must make my brother John's³ letter a [6] continuation of this,⁴ we shall visit the Quebec tomorrow and I shall write the last thing before sailing for Savannah — excuse the hurried way I have written but I have endeavoured to tell you all I could in one sheet of paper. I shall be more collected when in my little parlor in Montpelier⁵[.] once more adieu dear Mamma & accept the love of your affectionate daughter

F.W—⁶