Rounding the Cape, we enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which
broke in rain and storm upon us. We saw several fishing sloops 'lying
to,' to wait for better weather. These little craft are often run over
by larger vessels, as they swarm in what is the great east and west
track for steamers and other large ships; and when the wind is south,
or south west, there is always fog and mist in the Gulf, and on the
banks of Newfoundland outside.
"I find it a great comfort having a cabin to myself. I am now writing
in my 'drawing-room' - i.e., my upper berth, with my legs hanging
down over my bed-room, or lower berth. All my property is stowed away
and hung up, and the steward keeps all nice and clean - calls me in the
morning, and at half-past seven brings me a foot-pan of fresh sea-water
to bathe in. The rum is not very much diminished, as I have been
very self-denying, being desirous of coming home in full vigour and
hard health, if possible. It is very good, however, and when I finish
this letter I shall reward good resolution by taking a little drop to
drink your health - and God bless you!
"Taylor was excessively sick and ill, but is now all alive, and says he
'feels so light' he could run a race.
"I am pretty well. I have not been sick at all: I wish I had - but I
ought to be thankful for a great deal of comfort in this long journey.
"I shall open this if anything worth recording takes place before we
reach New York. If not, the receipt of this will tell you that we are
'safely landed.' I shall, however, write again from New York before I
leave it for Boston - but I shall only remain a portion of a day and a
night at New York."
"ST. LAWRENCE HALL, MONTREAL.
"Sunday, August 18.
"From New York I went on, via Long Island Sound, to Boston,
where I arrived at 7 a.m. on Friday. I stayed there all day, in
conference with Mr. Baring's agent, Mr. Ward, and went on to Montreal,
in the evening, via Lowel, Concord, and Rouse's Point. I engaged
a double berth in a sleeping car, and slept pretty well and pretty
comfortably from about 10 till 5 - with sundry breaks, caused as
hereafter stated. I got to Montreal at 10 - washed, breakfasted, and
then did a hard day's work, and dined at 7, with the internal
satisfaction that I had done a good day's duty, and had a good appetite
for both food and drink - the latter, however, moderate - only one pint
and one cup of coffee and one cigar after - the first cigar which I have
smoked since leaving England.
