[June] 20 Closed up all business and handed the money and accounts of the conference to Elder Thomas H. Sibley and put my box and board the steamer at 12 noon and left 7 Tower Hill at about 4 p.m. and went on board the steamer for Liverpool and sailed from the Bathurst Basin, Bristol at 6 o'clock and had fair passage except on rounding Saint David's Head, when we had it rather rough and was very seasick. Landed at Liverpool at 12 o'clock at night on the 22nd and found our way to Number 59, Great Cross, Hall Street.
23 Got our luggage, etc. on board the ship Constitution and this ship pulled out into the river about 11 o'clock at night.
24th Went on board and after the usual manner got ready for sea. Brothers F. [Franklin] D. Richards, Penrose, & Preston holding a meeting and appointing a president and counselors & commending us to the Lord. They took leave of the brethren and the Saints giving 3 cheers. The ship was turned out to holly [UNCLEAR] by the steam tug where we beat about for the night, the wind being contrary.
25 Weather very fine. Wind still contrary all day in the Irish Sea. Issued provisions, etc. I have been appointed to preside over the number one Young Men's Ward. Good order with a good feeling prevailing on board. 5 boys who had hid themselves on board were discovered and were sent to shore.
26 A beautiful day with very little wind. Still in the Irish Channel, landed on the west.
27 A very fine morning with a light wind from the southwest. Saint David in sight. Got out of sight of land in the afternoon. With the other brethren Cluff, Horne, Hagland, Spencer, and Fawncett & Liston, administered to some sick sisters. At about 10 o'clock p.m., the wind shifted to northwest and we stood on our course.
28 Sunday All well on board. A fine day and a good light wind and favorable. Held a public meeting on deck at noon where we were instructed by Brother Cluff, Brother Horne speaking in German to the Swiss Saints. Passed Cape Clare [UNCLEAR, PROBABLY Cape Clear] at 5 o'clock.
29 Had a very fine morning with fair wind but light. All well on board. A very good and kind spirit prevailing. [p.46]
30th A beautiful morning with favorable but light wind and a heavy fog.
1st July Winds still light and favorable. Very foggy and damp.
2nd Morning clear with a fair but light wind from the east.
3rd A very fine clear morning with the wind still light. Evening, the wind freshened a little.
4th A beautiful morning wind from southeast rather light, making about five knots an hour. Brother Spencer rather worries but general good health prevailing on board and a good feeling. All feeling happy. A little show was made at keeping the celebration of the independence of the United States of America by the firing of rockets and by dancing& singing etc. etc.
5 Sunday. A mild day. Wind light but favorable. Held a public meeting on deck. Brothers Liston and Hagaland [Hagland] preached after which two children were blessed. Another meeting at 6 p.m.
6th Morning fine but a little cloudy with a pretty good wind from the southwest. Several schools of fish around the ship. The seamen harpooned one. Afternoon, wind freshened and came on rough and continued during the night with rain.
7 Cloudy, the sea rough, but the wind got not so rough as yesterday. Towards evening it got somewhat calm and the night was favorable. During the rough weather there was a good deal of sickness. I have felt some unwell today but got better toward night.
8 A fine bright morning with a light and favorable wind. People are much improved, but some of the aged one still weakly. I am better but had a slight cold. I find it is good to be in the hands of the Lord.
9th Cloudy morning, good wind from the southwest. Health on board generally good. A few elderly people weakly.
10th Wet morning, damp all day. Good fair wind, foggy night.
11 Wet morning, light wind.
12 Sunday. Wet morning, a good wind. Dined in the cabin with the captain and the chief mate and doctor and 3 of the elders, [p.47] H.H. Cluff, Horne, and Nephi Fawcett. Meeting at noon and at six o'clock on deck I held forth at the latter.
13 A fine morning. Light wind and afternoon very heavy rain. Wind increased to a good breeze and continued all night.
14 Cloudy morning and a good strong wind. The day turned out to be very fine. The wind became light but freshened during the night. Felt poorly.
15 A very mild and fine morning with a light wind from the west. Felt well and comfortable. Joined in the dance on deck with the brethren and sisters and enjoyed it very much.
16 A fine day with a strong wind from the west. A good dance in the evening which I took part. The night pretty rough but all well.
17 Cloudy morning with fog. A light head wind. Cleared and became a fine day. A dance in the evening in which I joined and enjoyed.
18 Morning very fine and warm with a light head wind. All well and cheerful. In the afternoon the wind increased almost to a gale and continued rough all night.
19 Sunday. Morning wet and foggy but cleared up after 8 a.m. and we had a very fine day. Dined in the cabin and enjoyed the dinner with the captain, doctor, Brothers Cluff and Spencer after which the captain showed us his charts and explained to us the course of the ship and other matters of much interest. At 3 p.m. held a public meeting on deck where Elders Cluff and Horne preached after which the wind changed a little to the northwest.
20 Foggy and cold. Passed an iceberg at 1:45 this morning10 miles to the south of the ship. Spent the afternoon in dancing and enjoyed ourselves. The night foggy.
21 A cold foggy morning and the whole day on the banks of Newfoundland. We saw some specimens of land & shell from the bottom of the sea. Spoke with a fishing smack soon after dark, and was amongst fishing vessels all night. One boat came alongside in the morning.
22 Still on the banks with a fair wind at about 4 knots the hour. Foggy and cold. Fishing vessels in sight. The wind changed from west to the east in an answer to prayer at the meeting on Sunday by Brother Liston. Sister Clara Orchard came on deck and was very ill. I helped her [p.48] down the stairs & to her berth and then with the other brethren administered to her, anointing her with oil in the name of the Lord. Spent the evening in a dance on deck very agreeably. Very calm, but the wind freshened after 9 p.m. and we had a good gentle wind all night.
23 Foggy morning. Two whales passed the ship this morning. The fog cleared away after which the day was fine. 3 sisters very ill: Eliza Thomas, Clara Orchard, and Emma Thick. Afternoon very calm.
24 Morning fine with good fair wind. The day was celebrated by firing guns and the ship was arrayed in many colors being decorated with flags. The 7 Valley-elders [PROBABLY MEANING elders from Salt Lake Valley] climbed in the first cabins with the captain and doctor after which the people assembled on deck and one address or oration was delivered by Elder Liston followed by Elder Cluff and afterward we were entertained with toast songs until it came on to rain. The evening was very agreeable. Spirit in the dance and closed by the firing of rockets and burning a Tar B. [UNCLEAR]. A very strong wind during the night and some very heavy rain.
25 Morning fine. The sea very rough which is causing some sickness. A strong northwest wind which increased in the night.
26th A rough stormy morning, the sea very rough. Things pitching about the ship. Slop pails being upset and their contents flowing about the deck. Storm abated about 12 noon. The afternoon was fine, but the ship rocking very much. No meeting on account of the rough state of the weather.
27 A damp morning. No wind the ship rocking very much. A very fine day, but calm.
28 Morning being fine with light wind favorable. The day very fine & pleasant. The wind became fair and increased to a moderate breeze before dark and continued good during the night.
29th This morning some cloudy. A light shower of rain and the wind still good and favorable. Afternoon, the people gathered on the roof and the quarterdeck and enjoyed themselves singing. The wind continued good during the day & night.
30th Fine clear morning with still good and favorable. [UNCLEAR] Became very light. We had some very good dancing in the evening. [p.49]
31st The morning clear & fine. Some jealous feelings with the sisters or amongst a few. The wind changed to the west about whip [UNCLEAR] and we are now standing south. The spirits of the people seem to fluctuate with the wind in a great degree. A steamer from New York passed us. Head wind. One dance this evening.
1st August A head wind but all well.
2nd Sunday. Wind still ahead. A steamer passed us on the south 11 a.m, rain, meeting on deck at 2 p.m. Addresses by Brothers Spencer, Hagland, & Cluff. Meeting in the evening addressed by Brother Cluff in English & Horne in the German. I felt a little weak and unwell and did not attend the meetings. Retired early to bed. A fine night.
3rd A head wind. Morning fine. I feel some better. Between one & two o'clock the pilot came on board. A dance and some songs in the evening. Heavy rain as night came on.
4th Rainy morning. People preparing themselves for going on shore. A very light wind with occasional heavy showers of rain, thunder & lightning. In the evening and night got in sight of land and saw the lighthouse, p.m.
5 6 weeks out. Foggy morning. Got to Sandy Hook and dropped at anchor at a past 9 o'clock a.m. Threw over beds, and all old rubbish, dirt, and a great many livestock.
6 Aug. Weighed anchor and set sails to go up to New York. Was taken inland by a steam tug and brought up the river and passed the fort where we were branded by the health officers, and after passing inspection went up near Castle Garden and anchored for the last time, and retired for the night.
7 A fine morning. Got up luggage. Brother Staines came on board and gave instructions relation to our going ashore. Landed at Castle Garden at half past 8 o'clock a.m. After passing through the offices we went on up the river to the railway station and weighed our luggage and took a stroll in the city. At 12 o'clock the train arrived and having got on board we started at 2 o'clock on the Hudson River Line Railroad. Got to Albany on the 9th August where we stayed and changed cars and then made another start. Enjoyed the trip up the Hudson and rejoiced to be again in the land of Zion. Got to Rochester and while stopping here went and saw the Genesee Falls. Went on the ten Aug. and passed the Niagara Falls at about 10 o'clock a.m. and arrived at Windsor at 3 o'clock p.m. [p.50]
August 11. Got on the cars and started for Chicago where we arrived at 9 o'clock on the 12th. [p.51] [ABRUPT END TO DIARY]
BIB: Burridge, George Wilcox. Diaries (Typescript) (Ms 8667), vol. 1, pp. 46-51. (CHL)
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