Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-23
SKETCH OF a STORM AT SEA.

OF all the magnificent spectacies presented
bv nature 10 the eye Of man, there is no one which
imp,-,sr, the mind Of the beholder more power.
fully than heavy gale AZ sea. On the land
storm is Invested Of great part oil its awful
grandeur, by . sense Of securlty-we hear II "a
ping, bu; our hahitations are lr,moveable, and
the warning Of the elements is scarcely needed,
a. we sit sheltered from their violence. The at
tention may, however, be occasionally and tran
silently excited as gust more furious man the
resi-, sweeps bowling by or when an uncommon
ly vivid fash oflightning, or heavy peal OF thun
DIR. strikes us with momentsry awe, and elicits
an emotion OF fear and admiration in our bo'
SONS. 7, is different at sea, and no one who
has no, experienced a tempest on the ocean, can
conceive an idea Of the sublimiiy the scene.
We sailed from port in the United States
and were bound for the North ofEurope. The
favourable wiUdS aud charming weather which
attended US during the first part Of our pass.Se,
almost induced me TO believe that the dangers
of the ocean had been greatly exaggerated, and
was joyously anticipating that we at least
would escape being subjected to any Of the per-
iIs nat attend sailors life. The sky and o.
cean smiled, hope flattered, and every anxious
feeling sunk TO rest. There is something ex-
ceedmglv delightful in the sportire dashing OF
the waters as they g'isten in the bsght sunbeams,
or sparkle beneath he mild rays OF the moon;
and TO gsze over the vast eApaDse OF waves,
bounding in their beauty before the treshe ming
breeze. When the clear azure sky, crowned
with the splendour Of the meridian sun, OF span
eled with inmumerable stars, is spread like a
CANOPY over the scene, the Imagination roams
with DELIGHT amid the brilliant and lovely vi
.ions which the beauty Of the s2ect excites,
and the cares and tumults of the world, are
banished from our thoughts. The majestic
ship, with her snowy wings expanded to catch
the wandering winds, proudly divides the wa.
tiers, and appears like the monarch OF the deep
We'll NAV we exclaim with the poet:
&c nh. wbo can tell, save he whose heart has tried.
And danced IN triumph DER the waters WIDE,
The exulting sense, the pulses mad'ning play,
That thrill the wand'rer Of that trackless way"
To one who is fond Of meditation, there is no
place better calculated foi the indulgence ct his
disposition. All is Gained and quiet; the si'
hence unbroken, save by the sweet and soothing
music Of the restless waters, and the sounc Of
the vessels passage through the ocean, as she
abruptly dashes away the little bilow that curls
and glitters across her path.
Our ship was occasionally = sceLe OF mirth
and frolic. The sailors, when their duties per-
mitted, diverted themselves and the passengers
with their sea tricks, rendered by the drollery
Of the actors irresistabIy ludcrous, and>there
was no, heart or board unprecedented by feel
ipes Of pleasure, and good bumor. distant
sail, sometimes seen gliding along the verge OF
the horizon like snow white soeck against the
dark blue sky, would afford \ subject Of great
interest TO those of US who had never crossed
the western main.