at another time and in another mood, would scarce | derangement or disorder on shore could possibly inflict. cast the shadow of a gnat upon one's brain, are there I speak now of what sometimes occurs at sea. made the objects of delighted interest. They are sought have not had anything quite of this order. with the zeal of hungry childhood; and if by chance the incident, as in the present instance, assume a familiar feature of domestic life, a household seeming, it is seized with the quick avidity and enjoyed with the zest of a stolen pleasure.

to cull its withered leaves and replenish the water. It|pared to the annals of an era in the existence of one of has become a matter of ambition with us to carry into those greater members of the world's community. There New York a flower still fresh, though plucked in Eng- is this difference, that while men remain sufficiently unland. How incongruous it seems that a simple violet changed at sea, to carry still the seeds of discord and should become the testimony to a great achievement!-disunion within, it is left to a nobler influence from even to beard the philosopher himself.

Saturday afternoon on board ship is made to bear some likeness to a termination of the same day on shore by a likeness in its duties-a general clearing up and marked preparation for Sunday. We have had enough of it. Forgetting all else in the bustle, I will merely mention that our decks were "holy stoned!" Hast ever seen or heard of holy stones? They are of the good old family of grindstones, bearing a relationship to it, kindred to that of squeaking pigs to their grandmother. To describe them: they are blocks of stone, something larger, and nearly as heavy, as a square of fifty-six pounds weight. They have brush handles attached, and are used with as much sand as may be needful to aid the operation and bring the music to a certain pitch, to scour the decks. Now imagine a dozen or more of these put in motion over head, some two or three feet above you, for the purpose and in the manner I have named; that is, "holy stoning simply," infliction in the first degree, and suited to an age ere the inquisition became an exquisite. But the moment chosen invariably happens to be that at which you have just fallen into an afternoon nap, or are enjoying the raptures of delicious morning dreams! and this-but I cannot find a name for the foul torture.

The day being smooth, the engines were stopped at noon, for the first time on the passage, to examine the paddle-wheels, and to "screw up." Lay by two hours. SUNDAY, 15TH.-Commences with a fine breeze from the southward and a smooth sea-a brilliant morning. All sail set, our ship going nobly on. Nowhere is the influence of fine weather upon the spirits more strongly felt than at sea-a bright day, a fair wind, and the sea glittering in the sun, seem spells which charm every element of happiness within us into activity and life. This seems strange in the absence of so much generally associated with our pleasures, yet it is so; and the reason I take it to be, is this: that though deprived of much that under other circumstances might minister to feelings of a grosser birth, yet the freedom from care, and the abstraction from the world which every one at sea feels, leaves us the more susceptible to a subtle influence and a high enjoyment.

without, than that of a fear of our fellow men—a dread of the elements themselves, to overcome them; an influence, that in its character of an appellant to our fears, one is almost ready to believe involves the only princi. ples of combination-the only impulse to a common purpose, to which our imperfect natures are susceptible. A member of our state, of the plebeian order, was this morning given over to the chief judge, and by the chief judge to the king! In plain truth, Jack had been refractory, and refusing his work he was brought to judgment. The hearing was a short one; a negotiation was entered upon with the belligerent, and terms offered for his ratification, either to do duty and share the pri vileges and protection extended to faithful subjects, or to do nothing and share nothing appertaining to those things which men are pleased to deem wholesome and comfortable-meat and drink. Jack was too much a man of the world to desire to place himself in a position so peculiar as the latter would have entailed, so accepting the former, the affair was ended.

TUESDAY, 17TH.-An appropriate figure-head for our ship would be, Vulcan with Neptune by the beard, and old Æolus fairly under foot. Such had been the picture had Ovid told the story of our voyage, for it seems little short of a conquest of the elements.

The past night and day have afforded us, in some measure, an opportunity of testing the powers of steam against the adverse influences of weather-a gale in our teeth, and a sea a-head, which in volume is seldom found in any part of the Atlantic beyond the limits of the banks of Newfoundland. Our ship behaved nobly. She plunged and rolled, as every vessel in similar circumstances must have done-often burying her paddlewheels to the shaft, and was as uncomfortable as any huge cradle well tossed and tumbled could be: yet her motions were easy, and her progress without intermission.

In consequence of the heavy sea, the working of the engines was reduced to ten revolutions per minute, during which time it is shown, by the result of the observations of the morning, that we made an average of five and a half knots per hour.

MONDAY, 16TH.-Morning comes and evening goes The morning found our cabin in some confusion, as is at sea, as elsewhere, and every day has its chronicle. Ausual on ship-board after a rough night. Among other ship is a little empire; it has its monarch and its chief councillors, its patricians and plebeians, its codes and customs, its laws and their vindication, its fashions and its follies; and the history of a voyage might be com

mishaps, the little pitcher holding our bouquet had "fetched way," and the flowers lay bruised and strewed about the carpet. Our drowsy senses, after a wakeful night, seemed little affected by the event; an undisturbed

nap, and an absence of care for our own proper equili- | enemy-cannot cast his eyes aloft but, feeling a new sense of safety, he will turn to the squall with a grin, and looking it in the face, bid it "blow his heart out."

brium on a smoother sea, will doubtless leave us more alive to our loss.

The richness below-the cabin-seems the expression of individual taste, and the elegance of a bountiful hospitality, rather than a provision for the common participation of the wayfarer; and this at sea, too! The change is a pleasant one, and to the old voyager, unfamiliar as it may be, it is perhaps the more delightful, as he

the endurances to what may be called the luxuries of the enjoyments of a sea life.

WEDNESDAY, 18TH.-It is quite clear we have no fraternity with the fishes. The porpoise, the most frequent of our ocean visitors usually, whose gambols around the bows are often the subject of a moment's interest to the voyager, comes now, dashing forward with its merry troop in all their accustomed glee, until near our paddle-wheels they turn-startled by the splash-alone can truly estimate the change-a transition from ing-and dash off, tumbling and rolling, it would seem, upon each other in their haste, like a bevy of frighted children who had become suddenly assured of having mistaken a hobgoblin for a well-known friend. In making a voyage in the Great Western, every day affords occasion for the expression of astonishment at the progress of science and the attainment of human power; and as vain or as common-place as the question may appear, it seems to present itself there, invested with something like solemnity-when and at what point shall the pile be shaken which constitutes the sublime fabric of human knowledge? But a few generations since, and the ocean upon which we sail, the continent to which our course is directed—aye, more than half the world, were beyond the ken of men! and now, what are they? What is man himself, and what are human means, wrought out by the divinity within us, compared with the creature and his aids of those days? The question, where will these things find an end? is irresistible.

FRIDAY, 20TH.-A thoroughly uncomfortable day, and decidedly a bad road, with such tracks left us to crawl over as the wind-god makes when there has been heavy work-our coach rolling and pitching to the very hubbs. A more than usually heavy sea has left us little with which to occupy ourselves to-day, beyond the care needful to maintain that position which is the pride of our nature-a well-poised equilibrium on both legs. The motion of the ship was greater this morning than any we had before had. Nearly calm, or the little wind there was nearly a-head, our sails were of no service, and heavy sea, such as usually follows a violent gale, tossed us like a floating bird upon the waves. It was satisfactory, however, as affording further illustrations of the capabilities of the vessel. Her engines were eased, ye she continued at a speed of not less than six or seven knots per hour. And those features in her model which THURSDAY, 19TH.-To an accustomed sailor-a mi- before sailing, were the only grounds of doubt, as far as nion of the winds-it is long before the novelty of a mere model was concerned-her length and sharpnesssteamer at sea, with all the attendant circumstances of seemed now the characteristics best adapted to her pur its internal economy, can wear itself into familiarity. pose. She cleaves the sea upon her water-line, while he Chiefly he feels a strange relief in the absence of care bearings below are quite sufficient to give her buoyancy about the weather or the winds-sources to which he almost without a plunge; and a remarkable consequence has habitually looked for a large proportion of his con- of this, aided by her length, is, that her way, thougi tentment. The never-ceasing question of the morning abated, as must ever occur to any vessel upon a heat to which he is used-"how is the wind?" or, "how does sea, is yet never wholly lost; hence have we been dur she head?" presents itself at his waking like the remem-ing her whole voyage without that jar and check, by the brance of some nauseous morning dose now discontinued; stroke of the sea, to which vessels are usually subjec and in place of the excitement among his fellow voy-under similar circumstances. The nature of the prope agers by a fair wind and the prospect of a fine run, or the despondencies by a foul one and all sorts of evil forebodings, he hears the common parlance of every-day life, or, issuing from his room, finds them distributed in groups awaiting breakfast, in the discussion of the merits of their favourite picture! The space, too, and, as far as regards the Great Western, the splendour around, continually surprise him. The light spars, light sails, and light rigging on deck, look like light walls and great windows to an accustomed prison-robbing it of half its terrors. A sailor, to whom a dark cloud has ever been a thing of watchful apprehension-like a stealing, crafty

ling power has, also, an important agency in this dis tinction; the action of the paddle-wheel being from the centre of the vessel horizontally, has no effect upon her perpendicular motions, while that of the mast under heavy press of sail, being from above, acts partially as i lever upon the hull, to make every plunge the mort severe.

Towards the evening the sea became more smooth. the wind hauling to the northward. Sudden transition of this kind, more than once upon our voyage, have le us to the idea that the power of locomotion gives us E advantage never before dreamt of; that we are enabled =

some measure to verify the Munchausen story of keeping | the excitement of anticipated arrival. The anchors were the rain at our horse's tail-that, in short, we may very got over the bows, the cables were got up and bent, and much decrease the endurance of foul weather by running all those arrangements made which mark the approach to out of it. It would, at all events, be an interesting sub-land; and, as is ever the case among the idlers, the disject of inquiry, by a comparison of log, from time to position to do little else than lounge and talk and dream time, with the account of other vessels, to ascertain how of the things of the morrow, prevailed over every other far the changes arising from this circumstance really do incentive to occupation.

occur.

SATURDAY, 218T.-We have to congratulate ourselves upon another fine morning and another smooth sea. With a fine breeze from the northward, we are staggering under all our canvas, and the engines in full play-it is impossible to conceive any thing of human sway or human power upon the deep more exhilarating or delightful. Few positions in life carry with them a greater spell upon the feelings, or excite us to a nobler sense of our own nature, than that of the voyager upon the ocean, when his ship, bending under a press of canvas, and mounting majestically at every succeeding wave, she urges her rapid way. Such magnitude, such power, and yet so child-like! A word-the slightest movement of the helm-and she is governed; the winds and the very sea seems to be at her commander's control.

With us, too, there is much to aid the excitement; we are of the first to make the great adventure, to establish that success which may, and probably will, mark an era in the intercourse-in the fraternity of a wide world.

MONDAY, 23RD.-The morning of arrival to the journalist is one of brief periods. Objects multiply upon his attention too fast-the occasion itself distracts him. The number of vessels within the horizon, the bustle of active preparation, the momentary expectation of making the land, and the dimly-descried pilot-boat in the distance, are excitements too great to admit of that equanimity which is needful to prolonged remark. One almost breathes hurriedly at the thought of all that flits before him in the delighful picture of gratified curiosity, or of home, and friends, and fire-side enjoyments which his imagination paints as so nearly within his reach.

At ten, A.M., we were joined by the pilot. His boata graceful little schooner-came down before a fine breeze, and hauling up to windward, salutations were exchanged, his skiff was launched, and a few moments brought him to our deck. It was amusing to observe the wonderment of the tenants of the little craft at our vessel. If eyes and mouths be any indices to feeling, there must have been something not often of this earth

The afternoon was diversified by a sharp snow squall.in theirs. It continued until our masts, sails, and rigging were completely hung in its fleecy drapery, and until the snow lay nearly two inches deep upon our decks; the result of all which was, a thorough set-to at snow-balls by all the idlers of the cabin.

A mass of heavy clouds had gathered above and around, darkening the day. It broke in the west, and rose in a broad, low, and strongly-defined arch, like the lifting of a curtain, displaying the setting sun through an atmosphere so rich and so pure that the fancy might almost deem it such as angels dwell in. The ocean lay tinted in its hues, blending the gold and purple with its own deep blue; and as the sun sank still lower, streams of light shot upward, bathing the heavens and the whole canopy of clouds in floods of richest crimson. It was a sunset and twilight of the new world.

At twelve, noon, the cry of land ran through the ship; and in an instant there was a rush to the poop, the rigging, the forecastle, the highest point of the vessel-it was there-a-head, and "land, O!" was reechoed loudly and merrily upon every tongue. It is difficult-impossible, justly to describe the expressions which pervade a ship at the moment of first discovering land. It is a look of joy-not the expression of a common passion, but a highly-wrought sense,-an eruption of the feelings which displays itself in all that tongue can utter, all that smiles can say, all that eye can speak. It is a time as well of grave ejaculation as of merry jest.

My country!" cried one, extending his arms half solemnly, and with a look of thought. "And there," cried another, peeping through his nether eye, and pointing to the broad sheet of foam which marked our way upon the water, as far as eye could reach-"there is the road to mine."

Saturday evening on board ship is mostly a time of some distinction, and this being the last we looked for on our voyage, both dinner-time and evening were made There is something, too, of the ludicrous with all at merry; at the former the health of our captain was such a time. The resurrection of "other" clothes, and drunk for the tenth time on the passage, I believe, and the exchange of hats for caps, make such changes as responded to with that enthusiasm which warm hearts seem almost to claim the necessity of other introducown, when feeling points to an object worthy their high tions. The rusty jacket has suddenly become the superregard. fine black long-tailed, and the out-at-elbows of yesterSUNDAY, 22ND.-The day has partaken something of day, sports now perhaps the finest fleece in the flock.

Our progress was rapid, and the land which at first | lowered in acknowledgment of the compliment, and the was but a dark line on the horizon's verge-a cloud burst which accompanied it from our decks-drinking to seemingly at its early birth-soon became distinctly the president and the country, and breaking wine again, visible-the heights of Neversink. was more loud and more joyous, than if at that moment we had unitedly overcome a common enemy. Proceeding still, the city became more distinct-trees, streets, the people-the announcement of the arrival of the ship by telegraph had brought thousands to every point of view upon the water-side; boats, too, in shoals were out

Before crossing the bar, our "poles," which had been some time" housed," were all aloft, and flags streaming at each; the British ensign at the gaff. That at the fore was one adopted at the launching of the ship-a combination of the British and American ensigns, the stars quartered on the British union, the stripes on the field-to welcome her, and every object seemed a superadded an emblem one might fancy of that regard for each other, if one may so speak of states, of that alliance in a noble fellowship of parent with its daughter empire, which it is quite certain the intelligence of both countries ratifies, and would desire should ever be.

At one moment it seemed probable we should be afforded the opportunity of adding an act of kindness to the events of the day. The wind light and baffling. A little schooner at some distance, in attempting to pass too near the edge of a shoal, was so drifted by a strong tide, that her grounding amidst the breakers seemed to us inevitable; and it was only after the most positive assurances of the pilot that she would work clear, that our captain would allow the steamer to proceed further, without first sending her a hawser, and relieving her from the difficulty. At three, P.M., we passed the Narrows, opening the bay and harbour of New York, our sails all furled, and the engines at their topmast speed. The city was scarcely discernible, reposing, it seemed, in the distance in the quietude of majesty, while little islands on either hand, cannon crested, stood like Nature's ushers to this queen of the western world.. The country around looked arid and unsightly, the vegetation of spring having not yet put forward.

impulse to our feelings. The first to which our attention was now given was the Sirius, lying at anchor in the North River, gay with flowing streamers, and literally crammed with spectators-her decks, her paddle boxes, her rigging, mast-head high! We passed around her, receiving and giving three hearty cheers, then turned towards the Battery. Here myriads seemed collected; boats had gathered around us in countless confusion, flags were flying, guns were firing, and cheering againthe shore, the boats, on all hands around, loudly and gloriously, seemed as though they would never have done.

It was an exciting moment-a moment which in the tame events of life find few parallels; it seemed the outpouring congratulations of a whole people, when swelling hearts were open to receive and to return them. It was a moment, that if both nations could have witnessed, would have assured them, though babblers may rail, and fools may affect contempt, that at heart there is still a feeling and an affinity between them. It was a moment of achievement!-we had been sharers in the chances of a noble effort, and each one of us felt the pride of participation in the success of it, and this was the crowning instant: experiment then ceased-certainty was attained

THE RED ROVER'S SONG

As we proceeded, an exciting scene awaited us. Com--our voyage was accomplished. ing abreast of Bradlow's Island, we were saluted by the fort with twenty-six guns, and the coincidence of this with our own movements on board, heightened our enjoyment of it immeasurably. The sky-lights to our cabin abaft are made to form two tables on deck, mahohogany topped, and with a most bewitching look of invitation to a repast upon them, whenever a smooth sea and sunny day make it pleasant to dine or lunch beneath the awning.

A MERRY life is ours, I trow,
While o'er the billow's surge we go;
Our birthright joy to care unknown,
For time and pleasure are our own:
O'er bounding main we boldly dash,
'Mid thunder's peal and lightning's flash.

The skies may frown, or be they fair,
We seldom look, and never care:
But gaily sail, our track to keep,
Upon the proud and peerless deep.
The land we loathe-the sea we love,
For joys it hath all joys above.

We joy to see the dolphins play
Beneath the sun-lit sparkling spray;
To mark, while on the course we run,
The splendour of the setting sun :
But oh! our greatest joy must be
To feel to know we're brave and free!