Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1827-04-14
SKETCH OF A STORM AT SEA.

vi all the magnLcent SpcctacleS pre-
sented by nature to the eye Of man, there il
no one which impressos the mind ofthe be.
holder more powerfully than heavy gale
| at sea. On the land storm is divested ol
great part of its awful grandeur, by q
sense of security-we hear it raging, but
our habitations are immoyeable, and the
warning of the elements is scarcely needed,
rs we sit sheltered from their Violence
The attention may, however, be OCCASION
ally and transiently excited as gust more
furious than the rest, sweeps howling by,
or when an uncommonly VIVID flash OF
lightning, or heavy peal Of thunder, strikes
US with momentary awe, and 'clicits an
emotion Of fear and admiration in our bo-
SONS Ii is different at sea, and no one
who has not experienced tempest on the
ocean, can conceive an idea Of the subiim-
iy Of the scene.
We sailed from port in the United
States. and were bound for the North of
Europe. The favourable winds and charm
ing weather which attended US during the
iifrt part of our passage, almost induced
had been greatly exaggerated, and l was
joyousy anticipating that We at least would
escape beng subjected to any of the peris
that attend sailors life. The sky and
ocean smiled, hope flattcred, and every
anxious feeling sunk to rest. There is
something exceedingly delightful in the
sportive dashing of the waters as they
glisen in the bright sunheams, or sparkle
beneath the mild rays of the moon; and to
gaze over the vast eXpanse of waves, bound
ing in their beauty before the freshening
breeze. When the clear azure sky, crown
cd with the splendour of the meridian sun,
or spangled with innumerahle stars, is
spread like canopy over the scene, the
roams with delight amid the
brilliant and lovely visions which the beau
ty Of the prospect excites, aud the cares
and tumults Of the world, are banished from
our thoughts. The ma jestic ship, with her
snowy wings expanded to catch the wan
drring winds, proudly divides the waters,
and appears like the monarch Of me deep.
w ell may we exclaim with the poet:
: Oh, who ran tell save he whose heart has tried,
hrl danced in triumph DER the waters wide,
The eyu'tiIg sense. tho pulses nad'ning play,
That thrill the wandrer of that trnckless way"
To one who is fond Of meditation, there
is no place better calculated for the indul-
gencc Of his disposition. All is Gained and
quiet; the silence unbroken, save by the
sweet and soothing music of the restless
AID the SQUAD of the vessels pas
sage through the ocean, as she abruptly
dashes away the little bilow that curls and
glittcrs across her path.
Cur ship was occasionally a scene Of
mirth and frolic. The sailors, when their
duties permitted, diverted themselves and
the passengers with their sea tricks, rem
1ered by the drollcry Of the actors rresist-
ably ludicrous, and there was not heart on
board penetrated by feelings Of pleasure,
lnd good humour. A distant sail, some
lines seen gliding along the verge of the
horizon like snow white speck against the
dark blue sky, would afford subject of
great interest to those of us who had never
crossed the western main.
At length, on the 25th Of August, two
weeks after we bade America farewell, we
we're, by observation, almost up with the
meridian Of the Western Islands, and in the
Attn deg. Of North latitude. Early in the
morning Of that day, shoal Of porpoises,
he sure forerunners of boisterous winds,
we're seen leaping and gamboing in their
course towards the east. The sun arose
With its usual splendour, and promised con-
inuance of the lovely weather we had thus
ar enjoyed, but about nine o'clock, A. NJ.
he western horizon became obscured by a
,azc, which gradually advancing over the
acc of the heavens, at length enNolopcd
he whole in misty veil, through which
he sun could scarcely emit pale and
;ickly light So unfavourable a change
having taken place, the seamen were busi-
y engaged in making preparations to meet
any sudden emergency. The lighter sails
were all furled, and the larboard, fore, and
main top, and top-gallant studding sail
booms rugged in. Her canvas being thus
greatly reduced, our ship appeared depriv-
ed of much Of her majesty, and under her
topsails and fore-coursc only, continued to
advance on her way. The breeze about
noon began to freshen and rapidly increas-
ed our speed, the atmosphere continued to
darLeD, and the scud flew swiftly along.
The little waves that had hitherto been
our companions, assumed loftier height
and more disturbed appearance, as the in
creasing gale hurried them on and crested
them with foam. A further reduction of the
canvas became necessary, and orders were
given to double reefthc topsails. The ship
bowed beneath tho pressure Of the gale,
L., l. Al cx-