It was all pleasure to the young man, who had never before been away from home, and he sees no reason why people should dread a sea voyage.

The journal of the return trip tells a different story, as we shall see later on, for the passage lasted fifty-seven days, and head winds, gales, and even hurricanes were encountered all the way across, and he wonders why any one should go to sea who can remain safely on land.

LIVERPOOL, August 7, 1811.

MY DEAR PARENTS,—­You see from the date that I have at length arrived in England.  I have had a most delightful passage of twenty days from land to land and two in coming up the channel.

As this is a letter merely to inform you of my safe arrival I shall not enter into the particulars of our voyage until I get to London, to which place I shall proceed as soon as possible.

Suffice it to say that I have not been sick a moment of the passage, but, on the contrary, have never enjoyed my health better.  I have not as yet got my trunks from the custom-house, but presume I shall meet with no difficulty.

I am now at the Liverpool Arms Inn.  It is the same inn that Mr. Silliman put up at; it is, however, very expensive; they charge the enormous sum, I believe, of a guinea or a guinea and a half a day.

If I should be detained a day or two in this place I shall endeavor to find out other lodgings; at present, however, it is unavoidable, as all the other passengers are at the same place with me.  You may rest assured I shall do everything in my power to be economical, but to avoid imposition of some kind or other cannot be expected, since every one who has been in England and spoken of the subject to me has been imposed upon in some way or other.

You cannot think how many times I have expressed a wish that you knew exactly how I was situated.  My passage has been so perfectly agreeable, I know not of a single circumstance that has interfered to render it otherwise, through the whole passage.  There has been but one day in which we have not had fair winds.  Mr. and Mrs. Allston are perfectly well.  She has been seasick, but has been greatly benefited by it.  She is growing quite healthy.  I have grown about three shades darker in consequence of my voyage.  I have a great deal to tell you which I must defer till I arrive in London....  Oh! how I wish you knew at this moment that I am safe and well in England.

Good-bye.  Do write soon and often as I shall.

Your very affectionate son,
SAML.  F.B.  MORSE.

Everything was new and interesting to the young artist, and his critical observations on people and places, on manners and customs, are naive and often very keen.  The following are extracts from his diary:—­

“As to the manners of the people it cannot be expected that I should form a correct opinion of them since my intercourse with them has been so short, but, from what little I have seen, I am induced to entertain a very favorable opinion of their hospitality.  The appearance of the women as I met them in the streets struck me on account of the beauty of their complexions.  Their faces may be said to be handsome, but their figures are very indifferent and their gait, in walking, is very bad.