Voyage from Europe to Boston
Maximilian’s expedition began with a 48-day voyage from Europe to America. Maximilian, Bodmer, and Driedoppel departed from the Dutch port of Helvoet on the brig Janus. Always at the mercy of the weather, the sail-powered ship was frequently subjected to violent storms, then becalmed by windless days.
May 18, 1832
At two or three o’clock, the Janus weighed anchor and the pilot steered out to sea. The weather was nice. The shores disappeared on both sides. At five thirty we were opposite the lighthouse at the tip of Goeree Island,
roughly opposite the gunboats, which lay at anchor here. Toward noon we could no longer see land. The sea was rough, all of us somewhat seasick; Mr. Bodmer was very sick; he slept on deck that night since our ship has a poor cabin, where an unpleasant odor causes the sickness to be worse. At noon, northern latitude 51°32′, eastern longitude 2°30′.