Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-22

Butt reckon twill b. fsr the roots oar way.
And now Sir, I've done. and n menbeu aredodgdgs
vooebs tho Lass 10 sss 10 sur Lodging
AN INCIDENT AT SEA.
By the -aslhor Of "7xe Ev1s;Das&."
Among the common occurrences Of life, there arc
few, perhaps, calculated interest and animate
the mind of spectator, than the sight of numerous
feet Of gallant vessels leaving port to proceed on
feelings which are naturally called forth by rejecting
on the spirit and intelligence which b embarked 10
these noble machines, to beur the name, the riches
and the power Of Britain, to the uttcrmost parts of
the gote, the sccue teems with objects Of more than
ordinary and present interest. Phe shore is a astir
with hurry and hustle: crowds running from diff
ferent quarters, all to the eamc pont groups equip
pad for their voyage, throug to the quays beach,
attended BY relatives and friends, who proncr OF re-
cive those wordsof encouragement or comfort, which
the party with the strongest nerves fails to
pour into the duh eur Of grief Yhen may be heard
tho cheerful, hearty well wishinga Of such ss havip:
bot Of che anticipated success and speedy return of
those who Departing the hurried hall artculatcd
blessings Of others, whose fears all awake 10 the
pris Of the mighty deep; the isuppressed Sob that
perhaps looking for the last time those who are
tle1 hope. their joy and every thing in life Thcse
aud all the various workings OF grief misery and des.
pair, may be viewed In close and striking contrast
With indifference and redklesncss With gaety and re-
joicng in full many and widely diversified FORMS
The keen observer may motto the downcast, fearful
eye,-the quvering p.-the fervent, speecllessgrasp
OF hands that may never again be joined together
the quick irregular step of those who have already
uttered that hcattbreaking word, "adieu" and who
hurry from the spot, but still lnger and turn to eaze
upon the bark which holds the object of theirf care:
he may trace all this amid the hustle Of business and
the eagerDess Of adventure, which charactcrzes
others Of the multitude, the idle curiosity or cool
Indifference which marks the common herd.
But the hustle at length decreases thronp d.
minshcs. Phe numerous boats with their heads d.
Yd Inf cp,vf,> 81
proclaim that the partings are passed-ihat the ad.
venturers have departed. The groups, now more
rarely scattered over the beach, quit ene after an
other; and retiring to the heights abo gaze on the
receding skis. Tho movement, which has diminish
ed on shore, may be now seen commencing and in.
crcasng among the stately ships, that ride upon the
blue waves, full in view of the spectators Pie busy
sDund of human multitudes comes mcIlowed by dis.
fancc across the watcrs sheet after sheet of
drops, as it by magic, from the long wards and
rise dutterDg and spreading along the tall spars of
sach vessel, until after fsw rapid mannuvfes among
its complicated machinery the sails gradually FILL and
the ship yielding gracefully to the influence of the
breeze begins "to walk the waters Like q TING Of
life" rejoicing as it were in her own element
But observe yon lofty vesseb anchored far outside
oil the rest, conspicuous for the squareness of her
yards the taunncss of her taper asts aud above ALL
Tor her long, low, dark hul With it's raish-
tier Of red ports scarcely rising above the water
IKE the halt disclosed teeth ofd serpent. The Blue
Peter at the FORE and the loose foreopsad, are of
themselves sufficient to proclaim hsr the commodore
Of the convoy, and one of his maiestys LARGEST md
most dashihg frgstes, even if her seaward station
protecting as il were her charge-tho siguaI.Aaes,
which every nov and then ascend, like party-coored
BIRDS to tho several points of her masts and rigging
With the sheets Of flame, and Of thunder Which
occasionally issue from her red ports, should have
failed TO convey that information to her beholdcrs
AT length the last tagging ship has passed to sea.
ward, and the small boats once more seen return
ing to the shore Another combination of fiags now
appears on the masts of the Gigateanother dash is
mes ron her bowport, and her topsais ore Ioosed
and shectcd home. In one instant more, down fail
Courses and top-gallaut sals,-stay sails arc run TO-
and royals sct,Caud 10 the twinkng of an eve the
?obe vessel, like an eagle in full sweep re seen PASS
ing the ships OF her convoy as they were at anchor
until, having shot far ahead of the foremost she s
and top-gaanAails kauls Der nainsail up
and with her three topsas, fsresantsh and spapker
holds on her course; while With all the canvass thew
Sah pack, her moro heavy sailing charge Gun scarcely
keep way with tergallant commodore, bat press on.
wards IN his wake, like flock Of wild fowl folIownr
tbu1r sagacious leader. e
week had elapsed since the frIcatc and her
convoy lcn tiIc porl OF u, and the wind, which
vas fair as tho heart of n SEAMAN could dog;ro' lad
gradually increased from pleasant brecze m a ha,J
dry gales but whcre is the sailor vho doss No, lono
the 1rseze,-iude though it bo,-vhich waits him
and the few fcecy clouds which drilled ac,os. .;
grey SKY, we're quickly lost in the dense atmosphen,
winch shrouded every object near the horizon. H.
nag the gay, the ships Of the Convoy wcrc scattered
49, 20 VI sea; ana even the utmost ex-
S =. o. .nc commodore were not aIways success
tnI ~ collecting them around him. within ooJe,nt,
distdncc at niglfdll:-a close order would No, hsvo
been desirable; for such was the indsnctn es, ~
sion by night,-not from the darkness but the b,1s
Ina. me pest lookout might have proved insult
nient to guard against accidents and 70 keen TIC @
ees OF the hcet from running each othc. down in tho
sviftnos Of their course, before they conId he
aware OF cach others vicinity. In the evening. there
Tore as one alter another they fell into their respec
tive stations either quarter of the conono1a.. |
e1cb vessel took IN what canvass she could spare ali
except some wretched tubs, which embrace ed this Oh
portvpity OF crowdjng every stitch to make I'D the
way they had lost during the day, while the stsplhe
Y gate was often forced to furl every inch Of canva.
lint slo might not run out Of sight of her cbns1e
Deforc the light Of morning should render h mfe IN
~ 10 srfnvcto, snd ri. iSr thor connyun.