and extensive farms; and the attention arrested also by a succession of flourishing villages and cities.
The Mississippi is also more dangerous than the Ohio; exacting from its navigators during the winter many precautions, for the river is then low, full of sand-banks, sawyers and floating ice. We were several times in dangeri and three different times our boat ran aground, and we believed her lost. On our way we saw the wrecks of five boats., Five Lazarists, who shared our disasters in the Humboldt, arrived in St. Louis some days before us, but only after having undergone a second shipwreck, and having been immersed in water to the neck.
On the 26th we reached St. Louis in safety, and animated with joyful and grateful sentiments on finding ourselves at our destination. An hour after my arrival I had the comfort of celebrating mass, in thanksgiving for the special protection and blessings extended to us in our journey from Ghent to St. Louis.
Believe me, Dear Brothers, Your devoted brother, P. J. DE SMET.
My Dear Friend:4
To accomplish my promise, I hasten to give the news of our voyage. I am well aware that you will not only be pleased, but that you will expect a letter with a certain impatience.
We have just safely arrived in America, after a delightful and tranquil passage. Embarking at Antwerp on the 21st of April, we reached New York on the 7th of the month of Mary. I send you a sketch of our itinerary.
4 This letter was sent from New York May 15, 1857, to Father Terwecoren, to be copied for the Precis Historiques and forwarded to its (unnamed) destination. It was also sent from St. Louis in Flemish, to a Mr. Cuyten on the 3d of June, and in French to the Father-General about June 22d. It was published as Letter XXIII, Second Series, Cinquante Nouvelles Lettres, and thence translated as Letter XXXVI, Second Series, Western Missions and Missionaries. The latter version is here followed.