The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-07-03

so many cascades.
Al half-past six we were at the wharf il
Newpor--and such a scrambIiny on shor,
was never seen in that place since the land
ing of the army Of Count Rocbambeau, il
the days ofthe revolution. Every hotel and
boaFding house was occupied as quick as
speed would allow-aIl eager for breakfast
and rooms 10 make their ioileues for the
day. The Rhode Island papers having
been recently loud in their praises of the
tautog-a marine animal said 10 abound
IN Newport, known in New York as the
bfnek .fsh,-ihe call was universal for a
tautog breakfast. Very few, however were
forthcoming-ihe fishes Of those waters hav-
ing probably read the newspapers, and
heard OF the expected invasion from New
York, and therefore wisely kept themselves
out OF the way. Suffice it to say, that the
historian was enabled ony 10 obtain for his
breakfast the gill eff "A strayed tautog, and
the tail of a porgy moistened by cup of
coffee to weak too run down hill.
But enough of the miseries of the morn
ing, and now for the pleasures of the day,
which were sufficiently manifold to COM
pensate for all. Eleven o'clock was the
hour appointed for Reconciliation on
board the Cleopatra, to board the Hercules.
The sun was careering proudly through q
cloudless sky; "A cool breeze swept over
the waters; and never did the charming
pay oi Narragansett, with its rocky shores
and verdant islands, repose in greater
beauty-benring upon its bosom, in stately
majesty, L'Hercule, with her thousand crew
and her hundred guns-the corvette Fa-
vorite and the Alexandria East Indiaman,
all decorated with flags and banners, and
streamers of every hue and device compre-
hended in the wide range Of nautical taste
and the exemplifcations Of national blazon-
ry and glory.-At the topmnsl of the Her
cules floated the stars aud stripes of our
own country, while among the other float
ing escutcheons was the broad and an
cient banner of the city of New Amsterdam
black beaver and dragon
OR something worse--upon a plain white
grousd. 1t was a gorgeous spectacle, as
all who beheld will testify.
From the steamer the guests of the Prince
including numerous additiens from New
port, and few from parts more distant,
were transferred on board the Hercules in
The barges of the ship and corvette, without
accident, and with such celerty that all
we're on board before one o'clock. The
most ample and tasteful preparations had
been made for the reception of the compa-
ny--the internal decorations vying with the
beauty and magni6cence Of the external.
A finer crew, officers and men, we never
beheld, and a nobler ship of a hundred
guns floats not in any service. Having
been presented to the commander, the first
hour was occupied in surveying the sLip
above, between and below decks. Every
thing exhibited the utmost neatness and
order, aud the greatest exactness Of disci-
pline, while the crew, comprising nine
hundred active, middle aged men, all of a
size, appeared to be the happiest set OF
fellows that ever trod the deck of a man-of-
war.
The Prince WAS all attention to his guests
and all others of his comrades and suite,
superiors and interiors in the commission,
were emulous Of his example TO please.
The actual rank Of the Prince is that Of a
lieutenant, the duties of which station he
performs, Of course, in the same spirit OF
subordinntion as though not Of royal blood.
Among the curiositics on board of the ship,
to say nothing of the parrots, the monkeys,
and the ayinry, were lion of three years
old, and young grsly bear--dwelling to-
eether in close proximity, while both were
hail fellows with the sailors. We saw one
of them carrying the lion about the main
decks in his arms, as shepherdess would
carry Il pet lamb.
After the examination began the dance
which was led off by the Prince, but which,
in SO large company was of course par
ticipated in by but comparatively few. The
spacious deck afforded ample room for
several sets of cotillions, and, though keep
ing at respectful distance, we could not
avoid, observing the fact tha, there was
more graceful and beautiful WALKING than
ought ever to be INDUCED in any couRtry,
or on any occasion. But ii must be borne
in mind that the pageant was Freneh.
Nevertheless we must ever, aud on all oc-
casons, bear our testimony against the
lascivious waltz, however, beautiful aud
fascinating in the eyes Of the fashionable
world.
At three o'clock a dejeuner a Ia fsmehette,
as beautiful and rare in its excellence as
princely nuni6cence could provide, and as
various in its dishes sRd tasteful in its ar
rangemcnts as Delmonico could devise,
was partaken. Tables for the ladies were
spread in the spacious cabin of the ships
com mander, aud in the yet more spacious
state, ward or drawing room, or whatever
it is called, (alas that we have no sailor
near Us to lend a helping hand in the pres
ent emergency y between decks. From
the number, variety and excellence of flavor
Of the dishes, it seemed-as though the art
of French cookery could no farther 60,
while the choices, wines Of France and the
Rhine the sparkling champagne the
blood-ied juice of Burgundy, and the
purest Rhenish-fowed as from exhaust
less fountains.