Voyages XIV–XV · Steamers · 1855
Baltic · Asia
New York → Liverpool → New York · 1855
XIV — Baltic, New York to Liverpool, 22 August 1855, 11 days. This steamer, of the same line as the Arctic and the Pacific, was luxuriously fitted. The crossings were growing shorter. We arrived in 11 days, on a Saturday. I was carrying dispatches for the minister of foreign affairs. When the customs men saw my passport they let me go down onto the mail boat with my baggage. I left at once for London with my dispatches, which consisted of a pair of shoes for the Marquise de Montholon, wife of my friend the French consul-g[ener]al in New York.
XV — Asia, Liverpool to New York, 8 December 1855, 14 days. This steamer belonged to the Cunard line, which had never lost a ship. I felt safe for this winter crossing, always more or less tempestuous. Leaving Liverpool the sea was heavy — reaching St George's Channel, no pilot boats at all, so we could not put ashore the one we had on board. He left with us for New York while his family waited at home for him to come to tea. He was entitled to the pay of a 2nd officer.
Near Newfoundland we had the spectacle of a magnificent aurora borealis. Jets of brilliant light traced vaults of fire above our heads. These fires were reflected by the waves. We seemed to be sailing on a sea of fire.
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