These two stories were published in the "The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction:' of 1846.

They might well have come from one of the travel books. As he is returning to Switzerland it might well be 1835 but i have really no idea. There was an adaption of Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit' on TV and that begins with a ship in quarantine - this time in France. J.A St john describes the event very well though he rather does overdo the description for today's taste. It is interesting that he drifts off into a dream towards the end.

Here's a piece of travel writing by J.A.St.John about reaching Malta after a long trip The author describes himself as having a beard and a moustache - and he smokes The problem of ennui is caused by the long voyage and the event is described with quiet humour.

The article is reprinted from "Chapman's Magazine". I don't know if this is John Chapman who seems to have been a friend of radical writers,  

•The Yellow Flag

•The Plague Prison

•Reaching Malta