28 
LETTERS FROM 
cept when taking in coal, everything is kept 
scrupulously clean and neat. Early every 
morning there is a vehement scrubbing and 
washing of the deck, the noise of which over 
our heads is not very pleasant to those who 
like to indulge in a comfortable morning’s nap. 
Our cabin is very neatly fitted up, but in 
quite a plain style, with very little ornamen¬ 
tal work. The ceiling is decorated with pis¬ 
tols, cutlasses, and signal-rockets; and on 
deck we have two beautiful long brass nine- 
pounders. Our state-rooms are comfortable, 
and well-ventilated. They each contain two 
berths, one over the other; but as there are 
so few passengers, we escape the misery of 
the close companionship which is the conse¬ 
quence of this very common, but most bar¬ 
barous and disgusting arrangement. We 
find the unoccupied berth a very convenient 
substitute for a chest of drawers. 
