Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-11-29
From the PittsSurs Gazette.
EXTRACTS PROM THE JOURNAL OF A
VOYAGE TO THE MEDITERRANEAN.

VOYAGE TO THE MEDlTERRANEAN.
CHAPTER v.
August II. The wind was fair,
and the weather more settled than a
NY we had yet had Towards even
lug the wind fell, the tired elements
seemed for moment to repose. and
the pillows, no longer aSitated,
sunk to rest. The night was serene
and beautiful. and to complete the
scene, a brilliant neon shed her rays
over the deep.-For the want gilmore
amusing company, assembled to tho
deck ABOUT midnight, to
Associate with serious night,
And contemplation her sedlte compeer;"
and was delighted to find my sober
friend in so lively mood. She was
certainly dressed to see company, and
was attircd in her most brilliant habit.
Ifoaed captain K. already there, pay
Ing his respects. and as it presently
occurred to us, that some of our long
lost friends were bowing to the same
idol in a distant part of the saloon,
we naturally fell into a conversation
respecting them-It was the first in
terval OF peace We had enjcyed, and
forcibly recalled the quiet homes and
aifectiUuate friends we had left.
{" / thought Of the days when to pleasure
alone,
Ny heart ever granted wish or sish;"
and contrasting the ease and safety
of social life with the turbulent and
ragged path that we must travel in
pursuit Of glory, could almost fancy
that ! felt momcntary regret for the
former. and that the latter would ne
yer compensate for the pains she had
cost. The ardour of pursuit, and the
difficulty of attainment, generally
correspond with the value of the OBJ
ject which is sought. He. therefore,
who aspires at an honest and last
ing fame, seeks the highest object Of
human ambition, and must pursue it
with steady eye and an unwearied
foot. II he attains his object, he may
be happy. Bat the event of all hu-
nan schemes shews their fallacy. A
plan formed by the eaterprising and
fruitful genius of youth, and matu-
red by the rigDr and perseverance Of
manhood, often fails to yield the an
,icipated enjoyment. The passions
and the desires that prompted the
unl-rtaking have cooled and faded "a
way'before its accomplishment, and
the repast designed by the glowing
fancy Of youth, affords but little plea
supe to the decrepid taste of old age.
We we're reused from our sentiment
tai recreation by swell which snd-
denly struck the vessel, and DASH
ing over, at once overwhelmed us and
drowned. our reflections. The wave
passed and in mohient all was still
as before. This is one of the pheno-
meba of the Gulf. and was probably
occasionch by Sudden gust III wind,
which had passed near US. We had
resumed q station, when we were a.
gain disturbed by the appearance of
heavy black ciond rising in the no.
rizon st drove towards us with
great rapi,iity and before the sails
could be taken in, we were visited by
a violent gale Of wind, accompanied
by heavy shower Of rain. Thus sud-
denly are our most tranquil enjoy
ments changed to turbulence and COM
motion, Shortly alter the squall had
passed, the sky became clear and Sc
rene Tor a moment, the moon shone
out with peculiar brightness. and dis
played complete and brilliant rain
bow in the north. do not know
why the moon should not make rain
bows as we'll as the sun--but never
recollect TO have seen one of tie kind
before. The sailors, ever ready to
indulge a superstitiaus fancy, viewed
it as the fore-r unncrof misfortune.
Since we have been out, l have seen
a number of flying fish every day
Hnttering about the vessel. To-day
one of them dropped on deck. 1t was
a5out z or s inches hng-its shape
and appearance rbody rcsembled that
Of a caa6b-and the wings like those
Of a bat. The general size Of this
fish is from IT,. . inches long: num-
hers of them are frequently to be seen
flying together, and the sun shining
upon their wings gives them a beau
tiful appearance. The dolphin is the
nanv ,.b;ch nhlires them thus ia