. . . Sept. 1. At 4 o'clock a.m. we landed in Liverpool where we remained till the morning of the 5th instant when our ship viz: Metoka left the docks being tugged by a steam vessel some fifteen or twenty miles out into the forth.
The third day we were out at sea and lost sight of land in which situation we remained for the space of forty days.
There was three deaths on board of ship which occurred at sea, the first a sailor, one of the crew, the second, a child about three months old, the third was a brother Taylor's wife [Jane Taylor].
On the morning of the 27th day of October about nine o'clock a.m. we landed at the [p.7] city of New Orleans after a pleasant voyage of seven weeks and two days.
The remainder of the day I spent in visiting the city and some of the principal buildings.
Oct 28 In the afternoon about past 5 o'clock p.m. we left New Orleans on the steamboat "Goddess of Liberty," for the city of St. Louis.
On our way up the Mississippi River, Brother [John] Taylor's child [Sophia Taylor] died and was buried on one of the islands. You may imagine the feelings of the Husband, after burying the only surviving child he had, after losing the companion of his youth at sea. [p.8]
On Sunday morning the 5th day of November we arrived at the city of St. Louis and the first thing that caught my attention was five fine buildings on fire.
Nov. 7. In the evening we left the city of St. Louis for the City of Nauvoo.
8. About 7 o'clock a.m. the morning being very cloudy and hazy and before any person on board was aware of any danger, the steamboat "Dove" struck the boat, carrying off one of the paddle boxes, the head cook, stove, &c, into the river.
About one hour and a half afterwards the steamboat [p.9] returned with the cook who was scalded considerable with boiling water.
Nov. 10 In the evening we arrived at Montrose, a small town, on the opposite side of the river from Nauvoo.
11. In the morning we crossed the river and landed at the city of Nauvoo. . . . [p.10]
BIB: McEwan, John. Journal (Ms 8306, reel 28, item 8), pp. 7-10. (CHL)
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