Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-11-11
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From the National Mteiligsncsr.

From the National InteLtgsncsr.
THE U. S. FRIGATE BRANDYWINE AT
GENOA.
A letter to friend in this city, dated
Genoa, September 25, has been received
by the October steamer. 1t furnishes a
delightful account of the visit Of the Bran.
dywine Frigate, commanded by Captain
GEIsINGER, TO the harbor Of Genoa, from
which we make an extract:
"As the birthplace Of Columbus" says
our young friend, :" il can never be view
ed by an American without recurrence
Of those hallowed associations due to the
daring genius who gave to the Old World
the greatest boon Of modern discoveries.
"The presence of our frigate at her an
ehorage excited great curiosity her gall
liant bearing, with the s.ar.spangled BAN
ner floating under an Italian sky, was the
theme of every frattoria, and from the
Croix de Mal,e to the humblest public
house. Our view of Genoa from the deck
of the Brandywine was indeed superb.
The splendor Of the maritime deiences
emerging from behind it, the city itself
rising like an amphitheatre Of archtectu-
raj stone, viewing itself in front in the mir
ror of the Mediterranean, was most graft.
flying.
"From the 18th to the 22d Of Septem-
Der, the crowds that rcshed to visit the
frigate, from curiosity and interest, were
surprising. In paraGing her decks and
peeping into her cabins they could scarce
~ be satisfied. A year would not have
stated their vision in gazing at this fine
ship, and reciprocating the civilitles Of her
officers and crew.
"Captain Geisinger, you know, is one
of The most gallant and efficient officers
in the service; and if burst trust myself
"a landsman) to remark on the perfect
discipline and order he has established
throughout his ship, the effective and ex'
cellent condition of her entire armament,
the cleanliness, "a most striking sight in
this country,) the health and animation
OF her crew, "a band Of brothers, which
would crafty the proudest officer in our
service, floating on one Of the finest war
vessels that ever swan on the Mediterra.
mean, what naval heart would not throb
to emulate Captain G.l
81 would say more: the choice Of
! commander could not have fallen on
more popular officer, esteemed as he is by
all who have made his acquaintance IN
Genoa, and most nobly sustaining in the
eyes Of the Italians the national character
of our Navy. You may recollect Captain
G. was an officer in the last war-was on
board the Wasp, and was only saved from
her mysterious fate (akin to the President
steamer) by being despatched home in
charge of the last prize-vessel captured
by the Wasp. | must not omit to name,
for the information of those whose con.
nexions are at or near Washington, that
Lieutenant Vail, MIR. Durable, {Mr. Clay's
grandson,) MIR. S. Nicholson, Mr.. R.
Fairfax, and nephew of General Mason's,
are, like the rest of the crew, in fine
health.
Before close my letter will take
another longing lingering look at this
magnificent bay and its scenery, as seen
at the anchorage OF the frigate. The
harbor forms the most beautiful crescent
figure the heights, covered with the bat
| tcTleS, dIo A,ooo iCCt apofo Nho "o'S'
level. Italian villas, here and there are,
to an observers eye, in very good taste,
shaded with canopies of vines. Below
the town itself, appropriately called the
city of marble palaces, from many of its
streets being devoted to these superb
structures, there are 100 churches; but
that Of Carignano, from its vastness and
its elevated site, is the most conspicuous.
A very high bridge conducts you to this
church, as famous in melancholy celebrity
as the Bridge Of Signs In Vence-being
the fashionable leap for suicides. The
palace Of the Doge contains painting Of
the landing of Columbus in Americas
design, believe, now being executed by
Vanderlyn, by direction of Congress, for
a panel in the Rotundo at Washington.
There is also in the same building very
fine marble bust of Columbus, and some
of his original letters, worthy the insPec
ton Of the American traveller"