WE are at length, dearest Mary, through the good providence of God, brought about midway up the river on which the city of Philadelphia stands; but, in consequence of the cholera still prevailing there, we shall be obliged to perform a short quarantine of two or three days in a place about twelve miles on this side of it, and after that we may possibly be detained, previous to our passing the Custom House, for a day or two longer. In less than a week, however, from the present time we are hoping to proceed to New York, and thence on our Canada journey. Like the great Apostle we should thank God and take courage. Many have been his tender mercies towards us, and I feel a calm and blessed power to resign all the future into his hands. We have just passed a most beautiful village (Newcastle), built completely in the English style; but everything now is so fresh and novel that we view it with tenfold interest. We are all, thank God, in very good health, and the cholera has considerably abated at New York. I should hope we are running no risk in proceeding in our intended line, and, indeed, no prudence would be any sufficient safeguard, for I hear that it has spread to very many of the surrounding places, and therefore there is no possibility of getting entirely out of its way; but that God, who directed our steps through the United States, will, I am confident, preserve us. I have been reading twice with great attention a small work of Dr. Granville, which has thrown great light upon my mind, both as to the origin, treatment, and prevention of the disease. It was given by Mr. Grant to Arthur, and I consider it quite providential that it was thrown in my way.
AND so, my Mary, through the mercy of my God, we are brought at length to the long-wished-for shore, and the thrilling feelings of pleasure which we experienced as we stepped once more on land were half delirious—it seemed scarcely a reality. In a short time, however, the delirium of joy subsided into a most delightful state of peaceful gratitude. We came here yesterday afternoon, and soon began to reconnoitre; passing from street to street in rapid succession, and for the first time since I left England I was thoroughly tired, but at the cost of my poor bleeding toes, which were so sore that I could hardly put on my shoes, but on they went, and a little after five I awoke our party to proceed on fresh adventures. The first exploit was in the captain’s boat, which he kindly lent to us, and a fine rowing we had across the Delaware to a small island near the State of New Jersey, where three of the young people enjoyed a most delightful bath. On our return to breakfast such a scene of rapacity was exhibited as would have astonished even an indulgent and ever apologetic mother. The captain had previously talked of a good blowing out, but now we experienced it. Your half-famished eldest son has, I think, taken precedence, but we were none of us far behind him, with such relish did we apply to the abundant and novel and delicious fare which was set before us.