Diary of a journey from Canaan, New Hampshire to New Orleans via stage, rail and steamboat, March 5-June 23, 1837, followed by a return to New England via sailing ship. Includes descriptions of the various cities, comments on the often hazardous travel conditions, visits to several Revolutionary War battle sites, a lengthy entry about meeting former president Andrew Jackson and family (March 20) and comments about travelling companions. Stops include Hartford (3/7), the island of New York (3/9), Philadelphia (3/10), Harrisburg, PA (3/11), Pittsburg (3/14), Wheeling (3/17), Bridgeport, OH (3/17), Cincinnati (3/19), Louisville (3/20), and St. Louis (3/24), where he notes seeing a man perform with an anaconda serpent. The next entry is May 13 after a stay of several weeks in Alton, Ill., recovering from "billious fever." On May 13 he left from St. Louis for New Orleans on the Steam boat Selma, arriving there 5/20. On 5/27 he left for Boston on the Barque Niagara which entered Boston harbor on June 21. His last entry is from home on June 23. Following the end of the 1837 journey are 4 later entries by other authors: Poetry composed on the death of W.P. Currier / composed by H.E.C. (possibly William's brother or father, both mentioned in the poem), Jan. 6th, 1838, which refers to a sudden death ; Obituary of Mrs. Elisabeth Banks [Elisabeth Pratt, married Rev. A.N. Banks in 1838] (not dated or signed, but handwriting appears to be the same as the following entry) ; Obituary of Nathaniel S. Currier [died Oct. 19, 1852, "aged about 30 years"] / signed Homer La. E---, n.d. ; Obituary of David Cummings Pratt, "died October last ... aged about 65 years" / signed ARB, February 1859.
