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I had quite a tiresome journey from Chicago here, four days; 100 Miles by Canal, 200 Miles by Steamboat on the Illinois River, and 60 Miles by Railway. The Flood on the Illinois River is immense. The River Much of the way appears to be boundless; on the wooded banks the trees are to be seen, but no land. And the Villages, or Cities they call them here, along the banks are almost entirely submerged. Frequently the Steamboat landings are made to the second story of Warehouses and in some cases the second floor even has been exceeded by the water. I never saw any thing like it. As Naples we left the Steamboat for the second floor of the Depot Warehouse; Boats instead of Carriages were waiting to convey passengers up town to the Hotels, where we dined upon a floating floor, the water being considerably into the house, and four or five feet deep around it. After dinner we were carried in boats perhaps quarter of a mile farther to where the cars stood, above the Village. I should think they might have most any diseases at Natchez! And the Cholera does prevail there I understand and the Small Pox too, and brought from there, there have been a few cases at Springfield. I found some acquaintances here, families from Maine named Greenleaf. One is a Conductor upon this R. Road, and took the Varaoloid (sic its a form of smallpox) at Naples, and communicated it to his family. His wife, formerly Martha Lee of Milo, and a very beautiful woman, had it severely, and is like to be badly marked. She has but lately recovered.