ABSTRACT
Lübeck Wednesday 29 September Left Kronstadt at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning 26th by the Nicolai steamer, & after a favorable passage without adventures of any kind reached Travemünde at 8 o’clock this morning. My stupid English servant lost my carpet bag containing my dressing apparatus, linen, etc, and some despatches from the Legation, in coming from St Petersburg to Kronstadt. […] On our arrival at Travemünde we came on shore without seeing police officer or custom-house officer to demand passports or luggage – found a large assembly of German Saxons, who were entertained today at a dinner & an excursion to sea by the City of Lübeck – was invited to join them but my head was too much disturbed by the sea voyage to be fit for numerous introductions, so after breakfasting, & resting a few hours, I proceeded in company with our Consul Mr. Bihnke, who had been so good as to come down to meet me, to Lübeck, a pleasant drive of 9 miles. This is the ancient chief of Hanseatic cities, of which three still remain – Lübeck, Hamburg & Bremen – it is fallen from its ancient grandeur. Found Colonel Hodges 1 from Hamburg at the table d’hôte a fine manly intelligent man – we walked through the old town which presents an interesting appearance with its quaint gables & pointed spires, reminding me in its middle-age style of architecture of Danzig.
