can withhold the expression, "God save the queen." We may not respond to every sentiment of her own poet laureate,' contained in the ode with which he has dedicated to her majesty one of his latest works; and yet, in the present state of Europe, we know not how to utter any other wish. "Revered Victoria, you that hold A nobler office upon earth Than arms, or power of brain, or birth. "I thank you that your royal grace This laurel, greener from the brows "And should your greatness, and the care "Take, madam, this poor book of song; For though the faults were thick as dust "And leave us rulers of your blood As noble till the latest day! "Her court was pure; her life serene; God gave her peace; her land reposed; 1 Alfred Tennyson. "She brought a vast design to pass, When Europe and the scattered ends Of our fierce world were mixed as friends And brethren in her halls of glass; — "And statesmen at her council met, Who knew the seasons, when to take Occasion by the hand, and make The bounds of freedom broader yet, — "By shaping some august decree Which kept her throne unshaken stil, Broad-based upon her people's will, And compassed by th' inviolate sea.'" XXXVIII. THE VOYAGE-HOME AGAIN. FROM London to Liverpool, where I tarried a few days, visiting Chester, Birkenhead, and other places of interest in the vicinity, I went, and secured my place in the steamer which was to bear me to my own dear native land. I embarked on board the Europa, July 29, and passing out of the North Channel by the Isle of Man, the coasts of merry England and green Ireland faded from our view. Farewell, Liverpool, Birkenhead, the Mersey, and the rough, boisterous channel. Welcome, wide, deep, billowy ocean, for ye bear me to kindred and clime, to the loved scenes of youth, and the dear delights of home. A Sunday came-a dull, irksome day. We had no religious service on board, and the passengers went moping about, half sea-sick, sad and lonesome. week rolled away-a stupid week. There were no storms, no vessels in sight, not even a sea serpent to furnish us amusement. Another Sunday came, and we assembled in the cabin to hear the English church service read by the captain, and a sermon appended to it by Rev. Alexander J. Sessions, of Salem. The discourse was from these words-"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord."1 The preacher attempted to show that the religion of 1 Rev. xi. 15. Christ would ultimately prevail in this sin-ruined world. He argued, 1. That our hearts prophesy this better day; 2. The events of history teach it; 3. The Scriptures predict it. The style of Mr. Sessions is very peculiar, adapting him rather to a learned and select audience than a promiscuous one. He has been absent from home nearly two years, traveling in the East. One evening, just as the sun was setting, we had a fine view of an iceberg. It was supposed to be five or six miles distant; and those whose practiced vision was accustomed to measure objects at sea said it was about four hundred and fifty feet high. It presented a very beautiful appearance, as the motions of our vessel brought it between us and the sinking sun, whose last beams, falling upon it, adorned it with all the colors of the rainbow. The only striking incident which occurred on our way home took place on the night of the second Sabbath we were out. I had retired to rest about midnight, and soon after was started from a disturbed sleep by a slight shock, which was followed by confusion on deck, and a backing of the wheels of the steamer. That monstrous iceberg which we had seen the evening before rushed into the mind, and the idea that we had struck a mass of floating ice was not at all comfortable. I hastened on deck, and in a moment learnt that we had struck a vessel instead of an iceberg, and the steamer was running back to see what damage had been done. Sad were our feelings as we gathered on deck, straining our eager eyeballs to gather the first signs of the wreck. In a few minutes, we saw the vessel, and the boats were at once put off to the rescue, and soon fourteen men were brought on board. The vessel proved to be the fishing schooner Florence, of Wellfleet, Lot Higgins, master, a craft of eighteen tons, manned by fifteen hands, and having on board two hundred and fifty barrels of mackerel. Her only boat was smashed at the onset, and when the boats of the steamer reached her, one of the men had disappeared. Had the night been dark, or stormy, or had the steamer been five minutes longer in returning, all on board the wreck would have perished. The men were brought on board, destitute of clothing, having barely escaped with their lives. The cause of this sad disaster I do not pretend to know. The night was light, the vessel could be seen at nearly a quarter of a mile distant, her light was up, and as she saw the steamer coming, a gun was fired. kind occur. And it is a wonder that no more disasters of this The night after leaving Halifax was a terrible one. A dense fog enveloped us all night, and a vessel could not be seen one hundred feet ahead. The fog bell could be heard only a short distance, and the steamer was ploughing through the waves at the rate of thirteen miles an hour. When the morning dawned, and the fog cleared away, we found ourselves in the midst of a fleet of fishing vessels; and it seemed a miracle that they all escaped. The Europa was the steamer which ran down an emigrant ship a few years since, by which about one hundred lives were lost. We put into Halifax, and stopped about three hours. This is a dirty town, full of pigs and dogs, and has a dead, decaying look. We went up into the place to see what we could, and found a few soldiers; a great many negroes, most of them refugees from oppression in this boasted and boasting land of freedom; one or two goodlooking edifices, and a large number of unpainted, dilapidated wooden houses, which seem about ready to |