Ellen Axson Wilson to Margaret Axson Wilson

I understand that some time tomorrow we touch land—the Irish coast—so I must have a little letter ready to mail;—we do not reach Liverpool of course for another day;—Wednesday forenoon.
We are having a delightful passage. I have been perfectly well from the first—not a single qualm. Papa of course has been well too but that was more to be expected. We had beautiful warm weather for the first three days. Since then there has been a good deal of fog and drizzle but broken with sunshiny hours. The fog is going now; some people seem to dislike it very much, say it makes them nervous & keeps them awake, but I am sleeping like a top.
Absolutely nothing has happened,—we haven't even sighted a vesslel. We had a very nice little concert on Sat. night in honour of the 4th of July. Papa made a speech which was a perfect little gem, and so singularly tactful that the English were as much delighted as the Americans. Then there was a Yalequartette who sang negro melodies very well, as very good comic reciter, &c. &c. They cleared some $300.00 for the seaman's orphans. The only trouble is that Papa's speech made such a sensation that all the men are coming up to him and talk him to death. I am impressed with the fact that men are much greater talkers than women anyhow. They talk all day long and until twelve at night in the smoking room, while the women all keep perfectly quiet,—reading most of the time.
We have a lovely large cabin, a $330.00 outside one; though we paid for a $250.00 inside one. We found ourselves transferred to this when we came on board. We also found such quantities of fruit and other “goodies” sent us by various friends that we could make no impression upon it & gave it away to the little children in the steerage.
Your letters came in time & were most welcome,—a great comfort. We had a number of others among them a very enthusiastic one from Miss Fine about her present. Her surprise and delight over it was pretty. I got her a beautiful heavy silver bread tray and had it engraved with her initials.
I hope you are all well but you didn't say so! Please don't forget in every letter to reassure me expressly on that point. I was never told whether or not Jessie recovered promptly from her attack. You must try, dears, to realize how much all this means to me while we are separated.
We are perfectly well. We are going from Liverpool to Chester then on to the Lakes, where we will probably stay a week.
With devoted love from us both to our darlings and to all the dear little party, I am as ever,—