Skip to content
Rode & Fiere
Menu
Log in

The complete journals of A. Delphin

Traversées
de l'Océan

Ocean Crossings

Sixteen Atlantic crossings, 1841–1857 — and an 1842 journey to Niagara Falls and Canada — translated from the handwritten journals of a French traveler who watched the age of sail give way to steam.

Start reading The Niagara journey
Original title page: Traversées de l'Océan (opens enlarged view)

About these journals

A. Delphin knew the Atlantic better than most. Between 1841 and 1857, he crossed it sixteen times, each journey a leap into the unknown. In the summer of 1842, he wandered through the northeastern United States and Canada, filling his journals with sketches and stories. What follows is a translation of those daily records.

Delphin's first crossing in 1841 was a slow, uncertain voyage on a three-masted barque—thirty-five days at the mercy of wind and weather. By 1857, steamships like the Arago had shrunk the Atlantic to a thirteen-day journey. His account of traveling to Niagara Falls began as letters home to his mother, each one so vivid she could trace his steps from her own chair. After she died, Delphin painstakingly recopied every word, preserving their journey together on the page.

Translator's note: This is a full translation of the scanned manuscript pages, which you can view alongside each section. Archaic month abbreviations (7bre = September, 8bre = October, 9bre = November) have been expanded. Bracketed dots mark illegible handwriting; "(?)" marks an uncertain reading. Use the Français toggle for the original French.

Part one

The sixteen crossings

Each bar is one crossing of the Atlantic, drawn to its duration. Watch thirty-five days under sail in 1841 shrink to eleven by steam in the 1850s. Select a crossing to read its journal.

Under sail By steam Final return
  1. Louis Philippe Le Havre → New York Three-mast Louis Philippe, Le Havre → New York, November 1841, 35 days
  2. Louis Philippe New York → Le Havre Three-mast Louis Philippe, New York → Le Havre, September 1844, 23 days
  3. Cambria Liverpool → Boston via Halifax English Steamer Cambria, Liverpool → Boston via Halifax, January 1845, 23 days
  4. Louis Philippe New York → Le Havre Three-mast Louis Philippe, New York → Le Havre, September 1845, 23 days
  5. Hibernia Liverpool → Boston English Steamer Hibernia, Liverpool → Boston, January 1846, 12 days
  6. Duchess of Orleans New York → Le Havre Three-mast Duchess of Orleans, New York → Le Havre, 8 October 1846, 27 days
  7. Cambria Liverpool → Boston English Steamer Cambria, Liverpool → Boston, 4 June 1849, 12 days
  8. Pacific New York → Liverpool American Steamer Pacific, New York → Liverpool, 12 September 1850, 11 days
  9. Asia Liverpool → New York English Steamer Asia, Liverpool → New York, 4 January 1851, 12 days
  10. Franklin New York → Le Havre American Steamer Franklin, New York → Le Havre, 10 May 1851, 13 days
  11. Arctic Liverpool → New York American Steamer Arctic, Liverpool → New York, January 1852, 12 days
  12. Franklin New York → Le Havre American Steamer Franklin, New York → Le Havre, 10 May 1852, 11 days
  13. Humboldt Le Havre → New York American Steamer Humboldt, Le Havre → New York, 4 June 1853, 12 days
  14. Baltic New York → Liverpool American Steamer Baltic, New York → Liverpool, 22 August 1855, 11 days
  15. Asia Liverpool → New York English Steamer Asia, Liverpool → New York, 8 October 1855, 14 days
  16. ★ Arago New York → Le Havre American Steamer Arago, New York → Le Havre, 14 November 1857, 13 days

See the original master list, in Delphin's own hand →

The crossing journals

Part two · 1842

Voyage aux Chutes du Niagara et au Canada

Journey to Niagara Falls and Canada

Written as letters to his mother during the overland journey of 1842, and recopied after her death so that nothing would be lost.

End of the translated journals of A. Delphin

Traversées de l'Océan (1841–1857) · Voyage aux Chutes du Niagara et au Canada (1842)

Translated from the original French manuscripts · 2026