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66 Monday Apr 28th

 Pleasant but some cooler - I have calling to-day making my last calls before starting for home - I shall start tomorrow morning if nothing happens to prevent - I have paid all my bills and leave with a clear conscience - 

Tuesday Apr 29th

   Started from Burlington at 8 oclock and reached Montrose about 11 - here we had to take coaches and ride 12 miles to Keokuk as it was raining this was decidedly rich - but we started off and after being jolted and shook and bespattered with mud (having to get out and walk up one hill) we reached Keokuk and found the boat all ready to start and at 2 oclock we were off for St. Louis - the river from Burlington to St Louis is very crooked and full of little islands which in the summer must look beautifully - the various kinds of trees and shrubs have already begun to leave out and blossom and in one week would look very nicely - we passed Nauvoo where I could see the remains of the famous "Joe Smith Mormon Temple" which it is said was a splendid piece of work but all that remains of it now are the stone walls - at 6 1/2  Oclock we reached Quincy which is a splendid city on the Illinois side of the river - I wanted to stop here but the Boat was behind time and it had to push along - soon after leaving Quincy night set in and put a stop to further observations - at 10 oclock I went to my berth and a good looking man therein who seemed to be taking so much comfort that I had not the heart to disturb him so I took a bunk on the cabin floor -

Wednesday Apr 30th

   Arose at 4 Oclock and found the same men gambling who I left at it last night - found that we had been lying too several hours during the night on account of the wind which blew very hard - at 7 1/2 Oclock we reached Alton which is on the Illinois side about 25 miles above St Louis and is a splendid looking place from the river the shore for many miles above Alton is a very high Limestone bluff - in some places perpendicular - it is worked away in a great many curious ways