Tour Through Parts of the United States and Canad

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: LETTER III. STEAM-BOATS?PUBLIC COACHES ?PHILADELPHIA?BALTIMORE ?HOTELS AND MODE OF LIVING ? WASHINGTON CITY ? SLAVES?THE CONSTITUTION. Washington, May 18, 182?. DEAR, I Quitted my friends at New York with the regret due to their constant kindness and attentions. The steam-boat I embarked in was really...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: LETTER III. STEAM-BOATS?PUBLIC COACHES ?PHILADELPHIA?BALTIMORE ?HOTELS AND MODE OF LIVING ? WASHINGTON CITY ? SLAVES?THE CONSTITUTION. Washington, May 18, 182?. DEAR, I Quitted my friends at New York with the regret due to their constant kindness and attentions. The steam-boat I embarked in was really superb, both in size and fitting up; containing two elegant cabins, and a smaller one for the ladies; a bar supplied with fruit, wines, and all other etceteras; a hair-dresser's shop; and on the deck, plenty of chairs and benches, with a linen awning to keep off the sun. The price was as reasonable as the accommodations were good; the conveyance of ninety- six miles, to Philadelphia, being about seventeen shillings; and the only trouble entailed on the traveller, was to keep a sharp look out after his portmanteau, the owners of the boat not being liable for losses. About 150 passengers of every grade in society hastened on board as the bell gave warning of six o'clock being about to strike; and the powerful engine was stopped every few miles on our progress, either to take in more individuals, or allow those already with us to land. There was no other distinction of persons or place than the single regulation, No smoking aft the boiler/' and that of very properly allowing the ladies to seat themselves at table, before the cabin doors were opened, and the breakfast bell rang its welcome summons. Welcome indeed it was; and the instantaneous rush was terrific One of those cold north-westers, which cut to the very bone, had sharpened our appetites; and with a most determined regard to self, but without quarrelling with his neighbours, each person precipitated himself down the stairs to the spot where fish, flesh, fowls, eggs, butter, tea, and coffee were disappearing ...