Note 5 — Chapter IV
Reading edition
The following extracts are from the correspondence of my brother Charles, dated Detroit, 7th August, 1834:—
“Through how many exciting scenes have I passed since we parted! For two months tossed upon a stormy sea, with a disagreeable captain, in a crazy vessel!—seen the most sublime of nature’s works, a stormy sea, and such a storm!—stood on deck when not a soul, from the captain to the cabin-boy, expected to live ten minutes! I have experienced delight consequent on deliverance; leaped with joy at the sight of land; admired the fairy scenery of Long Island and the Hudson when the orchards were in full blossom,—and it is a sight of indescribable beauty! I have travelled up the North river, at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, in the finest steam-boats in the world—shot along the railroads—crawled on the canals—been shaken in stage-coaches—and crossed lakes Erie and Ontario, which for magnitude deserve the names of inland seas. I have walked since the 7th of June 210 miles in Upper Canada, 200 in Ohio, 50 in Pennsylvania, 160 in Illinois, and 150 in Indiana and Michigan; in all nearly 800 miles. Some say, the thermometer stood from 95 to 101 degrees in the shade. Often were my clothes as wet with perspiration as if I had waded a river; still I never experienced that lazy, listless feeling I have done during warm weather in Scotland. My appetite was always keen, and it still continues so.”
After residing in Upper Canada, on a second visit, for the space of about 20 days, he writes from Cleveland,—“Do not be astonished at learning I have got the ague. I have had three shaking days,—my appetite is entirely gone. One day I feel quite well, and the next as helpless as a child; and, altogether, the ague is not a pleasant companion. I shall endeavour to bear it patiently.”
From Cincinnati he writes,—“When I wrote about fourteen days ago, I was suffering from fever and ague, and had made up my mind to have it for a companion for some months; but it only stayed with me a week. By medicine and care I succeeded in banishing it, and now feel quite well. It was brought on by carelessness and a desire to travel cheaply. I have no doubt it will have a good effect in making me more careful in future.”