Describes his journey across the Atlantic to New York on the Washington. Transcription: ancient potatoes, occasional hominy, bread, buiscuit and no pastry. Very few persons appear at this, or other meals for the first day or so, sickness being general. I and another are the only exceptions in our cabin, the ocean only developing in me, (as usual) a great capacity for eating and sleeping. [William] Conworth bears it indifferently well, but taketh little nutriment as yet, nor ventures down stairs to meals. I let him alone when sick, cheer him when well, and on Friday evening, leaning over the s
Describes his journey across the Atlantic to New York on the Washington. Transcription: ancient potatoes, occasional hominy, bread, buiscuit and no pastry. Very few persons appear at this, or other meals for the first day or so, sickness being general. I and another are the only exceptions in our cabin, the ocean only developing in me, (as usual) a great capacity for eating and sleeping. [William] Conworth bears it indifferently well, but taketh little nutriment as yet, nor ventures down stairs to meals. I let him alone when sick, cheer him when well, and on Friday evening, leaning over the stern of the steamer, we talk of his folks, and of George [Bolton] and Dick Bolton. Conworth believes that George, if not his brother, will follow in the ensuing spring, that he ?ll marry Sarah Conworth, while his friend John [Conworth] will do the like with Sarah Ann Bolton. Supper appears at 6, and proves a weak version of breakfast, sans steak &c. Hithero we have made but moderate progress, head winds prevailing almost constantly, so that scarcely has an attempt at hoisting a sail been made. The great paddles plash round in monstrous regularity, but the throbbing pulsation of the engine is scarcely noticeable in our after cabin. Nor does the ship roll from side to side at all, but constantly rises and falls, fore and aft, now high up above the horizon ?s sea line, now dipping far below it. Some one or two vessels have we seen, and gulls and sea birds gyrate about, leisurely cleaving the air as a skilful swimmer the water, with easy decisive sweep of wing. Charred coal clings with moist blackness on the stern parts of the vessel, its fore deck is wet with driving spray. I ?ve read through ?ǣEothen, ? (which Dick Bolton presented to me, purchasing it at the Railroad Depot on starting,) and think it just the best written book on the East, yet; and am going in for Captain Canot, which has been lent to Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 7, page 115, July 20, 1855 . 20 Jul
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