Boston to London

“Abigail Adams was terrified of the sea.” That information comes from the beginning of Chapter Six of John Adams by David McCullough. He goes on to describe her trip to Europe in 1784 to join her husband John, who had been negotiating support from France, peace with England and financial help from The Netherlands.

Having been separated from him for four and a half years, she gathered her courage to join him in Europe. Prior to that she had never been away from her home in Massachusetts or the home of a close relative for more than a night or two.

It says of the passengers, no sooner was the ship out of port “than they were all horribly seasick.” In her words, the passengers “crawled upon [the] deck whenever we were able, but it was so cold and damp that we could not remain long.” 

“The ship was filthy and carrying a cargo of whale oil and potash.” The rolling of the ship caused leaks in the cargo containers resulting in a very unpleasant odor from below. The only way to get air into their cabins was to leave the doors to the main cabin, where the men slept, partially open, with only curtains to afford the women a small sense of privacy.

When they dropped anchor in the English Channel, after 30 days at sea, the only way to get ashore was in an open pilot boat exposed to “squally rain and the roar of the heaving waves, with everyone soaked to the skin.”  She had to be supported by some of the crewmen to avoid being swept overboard.

The next day they traveled seventy-two miles to London in one day, twice what was at that time considered a hard day’s journey, exposed to robbers and highwaymen along the way, dangers that were in those days a rarity along roads in the United States.

Her return trip was described later in the book as a 58-day “rough crossing.”

Consider that today it takes six and a half hours to travel from Boston to London. When they arrive passengers will complain about long security lines at the airport, the size of the seats, the food service and a fear of flying that can only be conquered with the help of a comfort animal. Perspective anyone?