tomed to lie at anchor on the banks. (42) The wind was blowing a smacking breeze, and we were going at a great rate through the water. (43) Suddenly the watch gave the alarm of a sail ahead!' it was scarcely uttered before we were upon her. (44) She was a small schooner, at anchor, with a broadside toward us. (45) The crew were all asleep, and had neglected to hoist a light. (46) We struck her just a-mid-ships. (47) The force, the size, the weight of our vessel, bore her down below the waves; we passed over her and were hurried on our course. (48) As the crashing wreck was sinking beneath us, I had a glimpse of two or three half-naked wretches, rushing from her cabin; they just started from their beds to be swallowed shrieking by the waves. (49) I heard their drowning cry mingling with the wind. (50) The blast that bore it to our ears, swept us out of all farther hearing. (51) I shall never forget that cry! (52) It was some time before we could put the ship about, she was under such head-way. (53) We returned as nearly as we could guess, to the place where the smack had anchored. (54) We cruised about for several hours in the dense fog. (55) We fired signal-guns, and listened if we might hear the halloo of any survivors; but all was silent—we never saw or heard anything of them more."

(56) I confess these stories, for a time, put an end to all my fine fancies. (57) The storm increased with the night. (58) The sea was lashed into tremendous confusion. (59) There was a fearful, sullen sound of rushing waves and broken surges. (60) Deep called unto deep. (61) At times the black volume of clouds overhead seemed rent asunder by flashes of lightning that quivered along the foaming billows, and made the succeeding darkness doubly terrible. (62) The thunders bellowed over the wild waste of waters, and were echoed and prolonged by the mountain waves. (63) As I saw the ship staggering and plunging among these roaring caverns, it seemed miraculous that she regained her balance, or preserved her buoyancy. (64) Her yards would dip into the water; her bow was almost buried beneath

Y the waves. (65) Sometimes an impending surge appeared ready to overwhelm her, and nothing but a dexterous movement of the helm preserved her from the shock.

(66) When I retired to my cabin, the awful scene still followed me. (67) The whistling of the wind through the rigging sounded like funereal wailings. (68) The creaking of the masts; the straining and groaning of bulkheads, as the ship labored, in the weltering sea, were frightful. (69) As I heard the waves rushing along the side of the ship, and roaring in my very ear, it seemed as if Death were raging round this floating prison, seeking for his prey the mere starting of a nail, the yawning of a seam, might give him entrance.

(70) A fine day, however, with a tranquil sea and favouring breeze, soon put all these dismal reflections to flight. (71) It is impossible to resist the gladdening influence of fine weather and fair wind at sea. (72) When the ship is decked out in all her canvas, every sail swelled, and careering gaily over the curling waves, how lofty, how gallant, she appears-how she seems to lord it over the deep! (73) I might fill a volume with the reveries of a sea voyage; for with me it is almost a continual reverie-but it is time to get to shore.

(74) It was a fine sunny morning when the thrilling cry of "land !" was given from the mast-head. (75) None but those who have experienced it can form an idea of the delicious throng of sensations which rush into an American's bosom when he first comes in sight of Europe. (76) There is a volume of associations with the very name. (77) It is the land of promise, teeming with everything of which his childhood has heard, or on which his studious years have pondered.

(78) From that time, until the moment of arrival, it was all feverish excitement. (79) The ships of war, that prowled like guardian giants along the coast; the headlands of Ireland, stretching out into the channel; the Welsh mountains, towering into the clouds; all were objects of intense interest. (80) As we sailed up the Mersey, I reconnoitered the shore with a telescope.

(81) My eye dwelt with delight on neat cottages, with their trim shrubberies and green grass-plots. (82) I saw the mouldering ruin of an abbey overrun with ivy, and the taper spire of a village church rising from the brow of a neighboring hill-all were characteristic of England.

(83) The tide and wind were so favourable, that the ship was enabled to come at once to the pier. (84) It was thronged with people; some idle lookers-on, others eager expectants of friends or relatives. (85) I could distinguish the merchant to whom the ship was consigned. (86) I knew him by his calculating brow and restless air. (87) His hands were thrust into his pockets, he was whistling thoughtfully, and walking to and fro, a small space having been accorded him by the crowd, in deference to his temporary importance. (88) There were repeated cheerings and salutations interchanged between the shore and the ship, as friends happened to recognize each other. (89) I particularly noticed one young woman of humble dress, but interesting demeanour. (90) She was leaning forward from among the crowd; her eye hurried over the ship as it neared the shore, to catch some wished-for countenance. (91) She seemed disappointed and agitated; when I heard a faint voice call her name. (92) It was from a poor sailor who had been ill all the voyage, and had excited the sympathy of every one on board. (93) When the weather was fine, his messmates had spread a mattress for him on deck in the shade, but of late his illness had so increased that he had taken to his hammock, and only breathed a wish that he might see his wife before he died. (94) He had been helped on deck as we came up the river, and was now leaning against the shrouds, with a countenance so wasted, so pale, so ghastly, that it was no wonder even the eye of affection did not recognize him. (95) But at the sound of his voice, her eye darted on his features; it read, at once, a whole volume of sorrow; she clasped her hands, uttered a faint shriek, and stood wringing them in silent agony.

(96) All now was hurry and bustle. (97) The meetings of acquaintances-the greetings of friends-the consultations of men of business. (98) I alone was solitary and idle. (99) I had no friend to meet, no cheering to receive. (100) I stepped upon the land of my forefathers-but felt that I was a stranger in the land.

GRACE PREFERABLE TO BEAUTY.
LETTER LXXVI.

FROM HINGPO TO LIEN CHI ALTANGI, BY THE WAY OF
MOSCOW.

(1) I still remain at Terki, where I have received that money which was remitted here in order to release me from captivity. (2) My fair companion still improves in my esteem; the more I know her mind, her beauty becomes more poignant; she appears charming, even among the daughters of Circassia.

(3) Yet were I to examine her beauty with the art of a statuary, I should find numbers here that far surpass her; nature has not granted her all the boasted Circassian regularity of feature, and yet she greatly exceeds the fairest of the country in the art of seizing the affections. (4) "Whence," have I often said to myself, "this resistless magic that attends even moderate charms? though I regard the beauties of the country with admiration, every interview weakens the impression, but the form of Zelis grows upon my imagination; I never behold her without an increase of tenderness and respect. (5) Whence this injustice of the mind, in preferring imperfect beauty to that which nature seems to have finished with care? (6) Whence the infatuation, that he whom a comet could not amaze, should be astonished at a meteor?" (7) When reason was thus fatigued to find an answer, my imagination pursued the subject, and this was the result.

(8) I fancied myself placed between two landscapes, this called the Region of Beauty, and that the Valley of

the Graces: the one adorned with all that luxuriant nature could bestow; the fruits of various climates adorned the trees, the groves resounded with music, the gale breathed perfume, every charm that could arise from symmetry and exact distribution were here conspicuous, the whole offering a prospect of pleasure without end. (9) The Valley of the Graces, on the other hand, seemed by no means so inviting; the streams and groves appeared just as they usually do in frequented countries: no magnificent parterres, no concert in the grove, the rivulet was edged with weeds, and the rook joined its voice to that of the nightingale, (10) All was simplicity and nature.

(11) The most striking objects ever first allure the traveler. (12) I entered the Region of Beauty with increased curiosity, and promised myself endless satisfaction in being introduced to the presiding goddess. (13) I perceived several strangers, who entered with the same design; and what surprised me not a little, was to see several others hastening to leave this abode of seeming felicity.

(14) After some fatigue, I had at last the honor of being introduced to the goddess who represented Beauty in person. (15) She was seated on a throne, at the foot of which stood several strangers, lately introduced like me, all regarding her form in ecstacy (16) "Ah, what eyes! what lips! how clear her complexion! how perfect her shape!" (17) At these exclamations, Beauty, with downcast eyes, would endeavor to counterfeit modesty, but soon again looking round as if to confirm every spectator in his favorable sentiments; sometimes she would attempt to allure us by smiles; and at intervals would bridle back, in order to inspire us with respect as well as tenderness.

(18) This ceremony lasted for some time, and had so much employed our eyes, that we had forgot all this while that the goddess was silent. (19) We soon, however, began to perceive the defect. (20) "What!" said we, among each other, "are we to have nothing but lan