Excursion to the Orkney Islands

"Excursion to the Orkney Islands" by Jacob Abbott is a children's travel narrative written in the mid-19th century. It follows Mrs. Morelle, her children Florence and John, and their capable cousin Grimkie as they cross the Atlantic to meet the father in England and then venture north toward Scotland’s Orkneys. Blending story with gentle instruction, it uses their journey to teach young readers about travel, geography, history, and practical know‑how.

The opening of this travel tale begins with a letter from Singapore inviting the family to meet in London, prompting Mrs. Morelle to plan a voyage with Florence, John, and—by special arrangement—her nephew Grimkie, who is tasked with baggage and accounts. They book Cunard passages from Boston, choose adjoining staterooms, and prepare: buying trunks and a “night valise,” securing a letter of credit, and exchanging money for sovereigns, with clear explanations of banking, currency, and travel logistics. The embarkation brings crowded decks, snug cabins, seasickness for mother and daughter, and shipboard routines; the boys explore the saloon and engine rooms, while fog, the stop at Halifax, the grim Banks of Newfoundland, and the relief of Irish landfall lead to arrival in Liverpool. There the narrative sketches quiet English hotel customs, a fried-sole breakfast, and the boys’ early walk among the docks, before plans form to press north: inspired by Norse history and near-solstice light, Grimkie maps a route via Inverness and Wick to Kirkwall by steamer, outlining options by rail, coach, or the inland lochs-and-canals passage—setting up the journey to the Orkneys. (This is an automatically generated summary.)