Letter XXXVI.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRÉCIS HISTORIQUES, BRUSSELS.
Voyage of the Leopold I., from Antwerp to New York.
REVEREND FATHER:
Time absolutely fails me, or I would cheerfully give you long details. I send. you a letter that I addressed to the respectable M. M*****, at M. If you deem it worthy of the Précis Historiques, please copy it immediately, and dispatch the original. Our voyage was pleasant, and all my companions are well, and have given me great satisfaction. On the 18th I shall set out for St. Louis, &c.
My DEAR FRIEND:
To accomplish my promise, I hasten to give the news of our voyage. I am well aware that you will not only be pleased, but that you will expect a letter with a certain impatience.
We have just safely arrived in America, after a delightful and tranquil passage. Embarking' at Antwerp on the 21st of April, we reached New York on the 7th of the month of Mary. I send yon a sketch of our itinerary.
The eve of our departure, we were invited to dine in the family of the worthy and honored Count Le Grelle, late Burgomaster of Antwerp, who was desirous of testifying to us on this occasion, as he did on several other departures of missionaries, the deep interest which he takes in our cherished American missions. The day of our departure, he was so kind as to accompany us as far as the port. A great number of other persons, and several of our near and dear relatives a]so, came to the quay, to bid us a last adieu and wish ns a successful voyage.
They weighed anchor between nine and ten in the morning. The weather was superb. The large and beautiful ship, Leopold I, was full of animation. A multitude of, emigrants, from Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, France, etc., etc. were already on board, and were occupied with an infinity of petty cares and arrangements, in order to render the long passage agreeable, or, as the English say, comfortable. The sailors, attentive to the word of command, and everyone at, his post, were making the latest preparations for setting sail ,
We took but a day to reach Southampton, and remained there until the next day, to take in English and Irish passengers. Our number increased then to more than six hundred and twenty persons. During the whole of this day the air resounded with the songs of the Germans' and Hollanders,. collected on the deck ; several parties executed dances, to the sound of the violin and guitar ; our main-deck resembled a floating village at the Kermesse (annual fair). But fine things never endure long, and here follows a proof.
Scarcely had we lost sight of the Isle of Wight, than the scene assumed a new aspect. We found the sea in extra ordinary agitation. Although the wind was tolerably moderate, and the weather sufficiently fine, the swell shook the ship with such violence, bearing us now on the summit of the highest waves, and then precipitating us into an abyss between the turbulent and foaming surges which rose mountain high around us. It was an agitation which succeeded a tempest, or many heavy contradictory winds, which had passed, a short time before, in our neighborhood. That day resembled a genuine day of mourning; the songs and dances ceased ; no animation or vivacity was exhibited anywhere; the table was almost deserted; hunger and gayety made .their exit together. Here and there. might be seen groups of men, women, and children, with sinister faces and haggard eyes, pale and wan as spectres, leaning over the vessel's side, as though making some hasty communication to the sea. Those especially who had revelled most freely, and per haps looked too deeply into the wine-cup, wore the most melancholy and lengthened faces; they looked absolutely like old parchment-franzyne gezichten. Neptune was at his post; this inexorable toll-gatherer exacted the very last portion of his tribute; willingly or unwillingly, it must be paid; and, remark it well, how. contradictory the humor of the stern sea-king, for we leave the table" after dessert, but he requires the list exactly rendered, from dessert to the initiatory course of soup.
Though this was my eleventh trip across the Atlantic, I was not exempted from the general sea-sickness. I endeavored to resist, but all in vain. I was, therefore, obliged humbly to submit, and share the common misery. The old adage says, "violent sufferings do not last long," hence the indisposed insensibly recovered, and we bad no deaths to mourn. We had a worthy and excellent physician on board, M. Themont; he was on his feet night and day, and lavished his cares on all indiscriminately.
This little shadow passed, the remainder of the passage was unclouded. The weather was favorable from that day forward. The winds were sometimes a little contrary, but
the ocean was calm and tranquil, until within six days' distance from New York.
I had the consolation of saying mass every day in my cabin. My young - companions frequently received, and several of the emigrants enjoyed the same happy privilege. You would have been edified had you seen our little altar, neatly adorned and surmounted with a pretty little statue of the Blessed Virgin, garlanded with flowers that some ladies from Holland had removed from their bonnets. On Sunday I said mass in the grand saloon, where more than a hundred persons could conveniently find places; several Protestants asked permission to be present. Hymns were sung, during the sacrifice, in French, Latin, Dutch, and German. It was certainly a rare spectacle on the ocean, where one is much more. habituated to hearing blasphemies than the praises of God.
On the 2d day of May, when near the Banks of Newfoundland, the sea became covered with a dense fog. It continued thus during four days, so that the captain could not make an observation. We could not distinguish any thing a few feet from the boat. The misfortunes of the Lyonnais and of the Arctic are still recent. We were in continual danger of coming in contact with some sailing vessel pursuing the same route. As a precaution, the great whistle of the steam-engine was heard day and night, in its loudest and, most piercing tones, in order to give the alarm to vessels which might be in our passage. By means of this manoeuvre we were able to advance with our ordinary rapidity, ten or twelve knots, or four leagues, an hour.
However, as we were rapidly approaching land, and the fog increasing in intensity, it appeared that we were progressing more or less at random; and as the observations of the meridian had become impossible, we were not without. anxiety. We, therefore, had recourse to Heaven, and we said our beads together, with the Litany of our Blessed Mother, and some special prayers to obtain, by the intercession of the souls in purgatory, a serene sky. Our prayers appear to have been heard. Some hours after, the fogs had vanished, and we had one of the most glorious evenings that can be witnessed at sea. The full moon reflected on the waves, shone in its splendor from the starry and cloudless firmament. The next day the sun rose majestically. We saw a great number of vessels sailing towards every point of the compass. At last, all eyes being turned towards the west, we descried in the distance, above the horizon, as it were, a long train of rising mists. The officers apply the spy-glass and announce that those are the much-desired coasts of America! Songs and exclamations of joy were simultaneously offered by-all hearts. The emigrants, grouped upon the upper deck, all saluted the New World, the land of promise, which bore in its bosom all their hopes and all their future prospects, As the objects and shores presented themselves more distinctly to view my young companions could not satisfy their longing eyes at the view of that land, to the salvation of which they came to devote their lives, and on which they will be, I trust, instruments of salvation to thousands of neglected souls. Before the close of that lovely day, the 7th of the month of Mary, we found ourselves, at four o'clock in the afternoon, in the roadstead off Staten Island, in the bay of New York.
One duty remained for us to fulfil. In the name of all the passengers of the first and second cabin, who amounted to more than a hundred persons, I presented to the worthy commandant of the steamship, M. Achille Michel, and to all - his officers, a document signed by all, to express our cordial gratitude and sincere thanks for- their assiduous attentions, their great kindness and politeness in regard to all the passengers; and, at the same time, to compliment them for their naval skill in the management of the large and, noble ship, Leopold I. In all my sea-voyages, I have never met a commandant more capable, and officers more attentive to their charges, The whole crew was well selected and perfectly organized. It is rare to find sailors more tranquil, laborious, and respectful. The names of Messrs. Edward Michel, commander ; Justius Wm. Luning, first mate; Louis Delmer, second mate; Julius Nyssens, third mate; Leopold Grosfels, fourth mate; Augustus Themont, surgeon, and Edward Kremer, engineer, will always be dear to us. We also pay a tribute of respectful thanks to Messrs. Posno and Spillaerdts, of Antwerp, for their assiduous-attentions to us before embarking, and for all the precautions which they so kindly took to render this long voyage pleasant. Most cheerfully we wish the happiest success to the great and noble enterprise of the" Atlantic Steamship Company of Antwerp."
On arriving in New York, our dear brethren of St. Xavier's College, New York, and of St. John's College, at Fordham, near the city, gave us a most hearty reception, pleased at seeing a new reinforcement to the apostolic work in America. Beautiful and vast America, so superb in all its natural features, is in pressing need of fervent, holy, and zealous missionaries! The thousands of Catholic emigrants who seek a home on her shores from year to year, render her penury, in this respect, more afflicting and melancholy. Ah! may the generous hearts of Catholics in Holland and in Belgium continue to be moved with au increasing compassion for so many thousands of souls, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, who are deprived of pastors and of the consolations of religion. May they not cease sending new troops. of young missionaries, filled with a thirst for the salvation of their neighbor. The harvest is great; the Father. of the family only waits for the harvesters. No country in the world has in prospect so magnificent a future. How happy, if she can be induced to acknowledge the true Church, which alone can make us happy here below and secure us a happy eternity, for which we have all been created and redeemed.
Time presses, I must close. Be so kind as to recall me to the kind souvenirs of, etc., etc. Continue to pray for me, and accept my esteem and gratitude for all your deeds of kind ness to me; we retain them with unfading gratitude.
I have the honor to be,
Most worthy and respected sir,
Your very humble and ob't serv't,
P. J. DE SMET, S. J.