Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/57

31 it—some 10 or 12 and all drunk and doing all sorts of things. They did not impress me favorably and were more allied to being blackguards than gentlemen or, as they styled themselves F.F.V. Suffolk is 12 miles from Norfolk, which it took us the greater part of the day to reach. From Norfolk it was my intention to take passage up the Bay to Baltimore in one of the Packet sloops. Steam Boats were talked of but none had yet run. The three gentlemen who had travelled with me determined to continue and we remained two or three days at Norfolk waiting for the packet which sailed in by-weekly. It took us 5 days to reach Baltimore, having a large number of passengers, but the weather was pleasant.

On my arrival at Baltimore I found my money exhausted and frankly told my fellow traveller. He at once offered to supply my wants and I took just as much as I thought would carry me home, & gave him an order on my father for the amount.

In two days I reached home, just after dinner time, and was indeed welcomed. They had not heard anything of me for several weeks and it was somewhat of a surprise, altho' I was expected. As I had exhausted all the money I had, I had gone without Breakfast & Dinner, and as my dear father said on seeing me that I was indeed a hungry boy and must be well. I was indeed very happy to get back to home once more. My return home was a happy one and I [have] everything to say about the Capt's kind treatment and the little ship. So different had been my treatment from the last voyage that my father was amused at my fun and descriptions of what I had seen and undergone.

Several of the Gentlemen in Wilmington were very attentive and kind to me, among them Mr Brugiere at whose house I was made at home for the time I staid. This was the first time I had been in the South and the first time I had seen the black race and slaves. My notions of them I can very well remember. They struck me as little removed from beasts of burthen, susceptible of being directed but acting without thought and through compulsion only or fear of punishment. The large gangs working at the wharf loading and unloading vessels were those that I principally saw, except the town labourers and house servants. They were generally badly clothed, indeed most of them scarcely clothed at all and what clothing they had was extremely filthy and their persons uncleanly, and when not employed, lying basking in the sun. The whites who were overseers [were] generally an ill favored set for whom I had imbibed a great dislike from the impressions which had [been given] me by the stories I had read of the cruelties practiced in the slave trade. Towards Evening [from] the floats or scows coming down the river were heard songs, or rather catches of rude music, as they approached the landings. At a great distance the sound was somewhat musical—melancholy, and became harsh on the nearer approach—not the happy strains of even the free savage. These voices have been called melodious, but I could not perceive it. I could not separate them [from] the feeling of their