I embarked at Portsmouth on board the British Queen steam packet, commanded by Captain FRANKLIN, on the 10th. of the 3rd. Month, (March,) 1841. During the first two or three days the weather was unusually fine for the season of the year, and gave us the prospect of a quick and prosperous voyage. The passengers, about seventy in number, were of various nations, including English, French, German and American.

The very objectionable custom of supplying the passengers with intoxicating liquors without limit and without any additional charge, thus compelling the temperate or abstinent passenger to contribute to the expenses of the intemperate, was done away. Each individual paid for the wine and spirits he called for, a circumstance which greatly promoted sobriety in the ship; but I am sorry to say three or four, and these my own countrymen, were not unfrequently in a state of intoxication. On one occasion after dinner, one of these addressed an intelligent black steward, who was waiting, by the contemptuous designation of “blackey;” the man replied to him in this mannner:— “my name is Robert, when you want any thing from me please to address me by my name; there is no gentleman on board who would have addressed me as you have done; we are all the same flesh and blood; I did not make myself; God made me.”