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Show 28 PERSONAL ADVENTURES On our arrival at Philadelphia, we repaired on board the Isabella, a fine packet-ship commanded by Captain George Briggs, to whose experience, good sense, equable conduct, and tnild and gentlemanly deportment, I have 1nuch pleasure in here recording n1y testimony : qualities which secured him the good will and e8teetn of all who enjoyed the advantage of comrnunication with him. Here our quondam military captain took unexpected leave of us in a remarkable speech, which called his white pocket-handkerchief into active service. We all-except O'Reilly -gave hi1n credit for the regret he expressed at being obliged, on account of the state of his health, to forego the pleasure of accompau ying us in our campaigns. He certainly did shed a tear or two; but O'Reilly stoutly 1naintained that they had been produced by a certain well-known artificial appliance. Of cour~e this was a mere opinion, although the expres~ion of it involved him in many an amusing dispute. The accommodations below consisted of IN CALIFORNIA. 29 two tiers of bunks, or berths, one above the other, at each side, being just sufficient for our number. They were unprovided with beds or mattresses, blankets being considered sufficiently luxurious for men abont to encounter the perils attendant upon a pioneering expedition into an unkno,vn country. A place in the after part of the vessel, which had been bulwarked off for an hospital, was at once invaded and nppropriat.tad by the married rnen, for the use of themselves and wives there beino- ' 0 five couples of the party. Of course, there was a struggle for the bachelors' berths, which wa decided in favour of those who were best able to ~o battle for them; and happy were the fe,v, dur1ng that long six months, who on this occasion secured for themselves a berth near the gangways and hatches, and thereby a constant supply of light and fresh air! We left Philadelphia on the nineteenth of August, 1847, and pr<>ceeded slowly down the Delaware, which was so shallow, in some places, and so winding in its course, as to offer serious obstacles to the progreEs of the |
