COMPARATIVE MERITS OF FRENCH AND AUSTRIAN STEAMERS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
6th September 1852.
Sm—As you have called public attention to a passage in Dr. Aiton's book of Eastern travel, by quoting it "as a palming hint to Mediterranean tra- vellers," in your journal of the 28th August, will you allow me to say a word upon the
Dr. Afton caltastsharFrench steamers "in the Levant and Mediterranean, one and all, lazy dirty tubs" ; and accuses the officers, en masse, of conduct which one may almost be pardoned for regarding as incredible, even in a single instance, unless that instance was specified. I happened fast January to prefer to go from Alexandria to Marseilles in one of these " yellow-fever " French " tubs " ; and my companion on that voyage had already sailed in another from Marseilles to Constantinople. This vessel was clean and extremely well fitted up ; the food was excellent and plentiful ; the speed, though not so great as that of the English over- land mail, very fair—making Marseilles in eight days from Alexandria. Though we had 160 Algerine Arabs on deck, we were not troubled by ver- min • and the officers, with some difficulty, kept the greater part of the quarter-deck clear for us to walk. To the constant and great kindness and courtesy of the captain and his officers I bear a most willing testimony ; nor shall I easily forget the pleasure which we enjoyed in the society of French gentlemen. As I have had some experience in the Austrian Lloyd's boats, I can safely say that their accommodation, as I experienced it on board the Asia, Conte Sturmer, Mahmoudie, Forwarts, and others, is very far inferior to that of the French vessel ; which was superior in every respect. I ought to add, that the expense of living is lower in the French boats than either in the English or Austrian, and in my opinion better than the Austrian.
I trust Dr. Aiton will make some reparation to those French officers he has calumniated, by revising this vary offensive passage. If he wishes for a proof of my assertions, I have only to request that he will take his passage, the next time he travels in the Mediterranean, in the French steamer Le Caire, Lieutenant Groslicr (of the Nat. Navy) Commander; in which I cannot wish him a pleasanter voyage than my own.
A MarirrEILRANEAN TRANELLE.11.
P.S.—I need hardly say that we did not cross-question Captain Groslier upon the subject of Elba.
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