Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-20

book will be found interesting and instrucllng
PHILO-EDlTOR.
NOTES ON RIO DE JANEIRO,
Taken during residence in that city IN the mon ths
&C January, February and March, 1872, by young
gentleman of Baltimore.
Aly DEAR FRIEND: The mono,ony of sea-
voyage does not admit Of my giving you very
interesting account of my voyage from bal'lt
more to Rio de Janeiro, in The new frigate Bal
,more, (now called the Imperial Prince,) but
as know you will expect something from me,
| offer you this brief and plain account as an
apology for something better and mus, beg you
10 bear in mind that il was hastily written al
st a on my return voyage, more for my own a
musement, than with the impression that 1t
might prove interesting to others, for am con-
ined within too narrow limits to give much
scope to my pen; more especially as relate
what came Immediately under my own obser-
walton, more than W hat gained by hearsay, IN
which latter case, however, my authority is un'
questionable, and not idle speculation.
We weighed anchor on The 3oth Oct. and
scharged our pilot at the Capes on the Sd
November. 1926, destined for Rio de Janeiro.
Nothing Of any importance occurred until We
had been out about three weeks, when we eXpe-
rienced very severe gale, which commenced
on Saturday night, and continued with much
violence until late on Sunday morning. Wesus-
tanned but little injury from loss OF spars, but
much damage was done 10 clothing and other
articles in the cabin and wardroom by the water
getting into the air ports, which proved 10 nave
been improperly made, and would admit the
water into The stats o Inc G va
ring the storm, highly amusing at the time, &
viii h afforded US many a hearty laugh, but
they are Of 100 local a nature to make them
worth communicating 10 paper; one, however, |
mus, relate, being myself the hero had turn
ed in, htore the commencement of the gale, in
a rsnpd place here had not been accuslom-
ed 10 sleep. but nv slulnbers were Of short du-
ration. ASH was soon awakedb by the severtytof
the gale; but the commo'ion was so great from
the tossing and pitching oi,he ship, that every
thing movable was flying abou, at such a rate
on the gun deck as to render il 4 dangerous ex-
pertinent for NE to attempt to get out of my
hammock, as il would nave been utterly impos-
sible to have kept on my feet; so | was obliged
to lie and listen to the bowling OF the winds,
and dashing Of the angry waves against the
sides of he ship Thus was | "stowed away
until 10 O'Clock on The next morning mot know
ing il was vet day light, in consequence OF the
ports s ha;cies all being closed which rendered
The ship perfectly dark in my situation ny
this time the gale had much abated and the
matches were again opened:-then It was that
! was discovered in my hammock by the stew
ard-he opened his eyes as large as saucers,
exclaiming with much surprise, why, they all
thought you was overboard-they told The cap
tain SOL" so off he ran TO report was found
| at first though, il a quiz, but on turning round
I observed half dozen fingers pointing al me,
considering me second Jonah They all assur-
ed me they really believed was overheard, and
were just speaking of the sad catastrophe as
they saw my head peeping over the hammock
The sailors. who had heard ofmy supposed late,
stared at me as il they had beheld my ghost.
On the morning of the Sunday succeeding
the gale we lost man by his falling from the
rigging on deck, which caused his instant death.
The burial service was read; he was then
s.wed up i'm his hammock and consigned 10
the deep.
We experienced much stormy weather and
adverse winds until VIC reached the line, with
frequent squalls, which are more 10 be feared
than settled storm, as they are more sudden
in their effect, frequently not affording time TO
use the necessary precaution Of taking in sail
before the vessel is struck, the wind is then so
violent as 10 render it very difficult matter
In one Of The squalls which struck US we lost
three very large spars-,he flying gib-boom,
and fore and maintop-gallant mast lhe form
err Of these spars is nearly four feet in cIrcum-
ierehce-you may form some idea OF the severn
ty of the wind, when timbers OF such dimen-
sions were snapped like splin,ers. We owe
every thing to Captain Buchanans experienced
seamanship, and excellent conduct during the
voyage.
We were two or three times becalmed for
day or two,which proved excessively annoying,
for the desire to be making some progress, if
it be ever SO ,riaing, towards the port Of desti-
nation, is very great; particularly after having
been at sea thirty or forty days-we however
endea, ored to drive dull care away" by fishing
for dolphins, great numbers ofwhich were to
be seen swimming round the ship, but we were
not successfulin catching any. They are about