among the vain and presumptuous, we find many who personate the character of a soldier; but none who pretend to assume that of a sailor. The fact is, that the trade of turning out toes, slow march and quick march, resting, poising and presenting, the right wheel and left wheel, is to be learned in a week; but the art of putting the rigging over a lower mast-head, swaying up a top-mast, crossing a top-sail yard, bending, reefing and handing sails, requires something more than the duty of the parade, and the tuition of a drill serjeant. The steward informed us he had been a soldier; that he had fought the Maroons at Jamaica. -"You impudent fellow," cried the mate, " 'tis well for you I am not a soldier. If I was, I "would knock you as far with one blow, as it "would take a hackney coach a week to bring you back." It was laughable to hear Mr. Potpan called. Sailors.-Steward! Steward! Steward! Steward!-Black cook. Teward! do Second-mate.-You steward! how many calls you stand? What you say you won't come ! Steward! (violently agitated) I am getting the plates out of the pantry. I am coming as fast as I can. Black cook.-Teward! Bear a hand up! Sailors.-Steward! Pass the word there for You loblolly boy! Steward! the steward! Steward. How many more times will you call me. I vish I vas ashore. Chief-mate.-I say, Mr. Steward; if you don't bear a hand upon deck, I'll come down and rope's end you, you miserable fellow, till I can't find you. Steward.-I am coming, Sir. Chief-mate.-Coming! you Jonas! So is Christ mas coming. 66 mate. The steward went forward to wash his dishes. This provoked the wit of the sailors. "The "steward!" cried one fellow. "Look out there "for your bread-bags! The steward is adrift!"Hang it," exclaimed the steward, "I can get "no peace."-" Hang it!" cried the second"What kind of swearing is that? Why you ease your oaths off with a round turn. They taper away like a marlingspike. I have "heard a child of five years old swear more lus"tily than you. Swear a good oath, or not at "all. Say damn it! man."-" Well, then d-n "it," cried the steward, "I wish we were taken "by an Algerine."-" A mutiny!" exclaimed "Get ready your half pikes, there! “A mutiny! The steward is going to take the "ship from us!" the mate. In our passage down the Chesapeak, the winds were so contrary that we frequently let go our anchor, and the first time brought up in the mouth of the Potomac. This noble river rises in the Allegany Mountains, and after receiving a number of tributary streams, discharges itself into the Bay of Chesapeak. Of the tributary streams the principal are the Nomini, Machodock, Yocomoco, and Occoquan. The State of Maryland is divided into nearly two equal parts by the upper part of the Chesapeak; and by way of distinction one side of the Chesapeak is called simply the Eastern Shore, and the other the Western Shore. Had the wind been less favourable, I should have enlarged my speculations on men and manners, by a visit to the Eastern Shore. It was here Captain Norman was born; and here his family dwelt on a wide plantation. We hoped for a head wind that would force us to drop our killick. We then purposed to dress ourselves in our gayest apparel, and take a parting look at the girls before the wind wafted us from them and happiness. Proceeding down the Chesapeak, we passed the Potomac, the Rappahannock, York and James Rivers, and shaped our course through the promontories of the Bay. Having taken our departure from Cape Henry, we kept in a direction to catch the Gulph stream. It is of great importance in a navigation across the Atlantic to be acquainted with the Florida current; for by keeping in it when bound eastward the voyage is shortened; and by avoiding it when returning to the westward is it equally faci litated. A thermometer would ascertain whether a vessel is in the Gulph stream, better than any other means that can be devised; for the water in the stream is always warmer than the air. By a comparison, therefore, with a thermometer between the temperature of the water and that of the air, it would be determined, beyond all doubt, whether a ship was in the Gulph. I was now upon the wide ocean again; than whose unstable waters, there cannot be a more perfect emblem of the unsettled condition of human life. Trouble follows trouble, like wave rolling after wave. My spirit was not, however, much troubled during the voyage. Indeed, for the first week, the beautiful vision of Virginia lived unimpaired in my thoughts. I recalled the wood through which we had so often strayed, and the locusttree under whose shade we had so often sat and listened to the mocking-bird. She was present in my mind's eye. Her look of softness and intelligence still penetrated my heart. I beheld her heaving bosom distended with a sigh at the inability of the woodmen to make an estimate of my merit; and the music of her voice still vibrated on my car.-I, therefore, suspect that my gaiety was at first somewhat forced. Like a coward who rushes from one extreme to another; * A difference will be found of more than eight degrecs. 4 I abandoned my excess of sorrow for mirth not less violent. Doctor and Mrs. had frequently pro claimed in the cabin that they had written a 'letter to their friends in Bristol, announcing their embarkation; and that they had sent it by a Falmouth Packet, called the Lady Hobart. The only wish now ungratified was, that the Lady Hobart might reach port before the Olive; as their coming unexpectedly on their friends might produce fits, swoons and faintings. The night after we had got into soundings, coming upon deck, I saw a sail upon the weather beam. "Well," said the Captain, "I have now "commanded the Olive three voyages, and that 65 ship is the first she ever outsailed!" We hauled up a point. We got within hail. I handed the Captain the speaking trumpet. The bell was ringing for midnight on board the other ship, and a man calling the watch in English. We hailed. Hoa! From whence came you?From Santa Cruz !—Where are you bound? To London!-What ship is that? The Racehorse !What soundings did you get? Ninety fathom !— Here a fellow called the watch in our ship, striking a handspike against the deck, and bawling, "Starbaulins stout, "You must turn out, "For if you do, "I'll cut your clue, “And let Larbaulins in.” |