Kvetch, Kvetch, Kvetch
In his letters home, Mendes often complained about the difficulties of travel.
In a letter dated June 13, 1830, Mendes wrote:
England - June 13, 1830
“[I] could not have been more seasick and came to the conclusion that a trip on the water is always preferable on board of a sail boat to a steamer.”
This was despite his November 6, 1829, letter regarding his initial voyage from America.
Liverpool, England - November 6, 1829
“...tho’ all considered the passage rough I thought it much otherwise in comparison to what I had expected and anticipated from steam boat sickness.”
In the same letter, Mendes also discussed seasickness preparations, which included:
"...gingerbread made by sister…mint drops…mint lozenges …lemons and limes…pickles…Congress water…[and a] medicine package …of powders…laudanum, lavender [and] cologne d’lard.”
Despite his kvetching, Mendes did fare much better than one of his traveling companions, as he explained in this letter:
On board Ship Caledonia - October 26, 1829
“Thomas Midwood, a fellow passenger, died with dropsy in the chest – was indisposed when he came on board…. A coffin [was] made during the afternoon and the next morning, he was put in [it] with spirits, to be taken to Liverpool as he requested.”