New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-10-14

y
Seemed bathed in hues of brighter pride,
AT last like withered leaves appear,
And sleep in darkness side by side.
<ERs-----
Letters from hlr. Weed -. No. XIV.
Correspondence of the Albany Evening Journal.
OK BOARD STEAMER LONDON MERCHANT,
August u, ls43.
DESTROYS of seeing more of The Thames, we
left London this morning, direct for Havre, IN
stead of taking the more frequented routes by
Brighton or Southampton, and esteem ourselves
fortunate in having done SO, for we have been
gliding all day through still waters In view of a
delightfully."- cultivated country. The Thames,
for the first thirty miles, is narrow and serpen-
tine. At Woolwich, where the Government cast
Cannon and manufacture Engines, &c. the Boil
ers in view covered several acres, and looked like
clusters of Irish cabins. At place In the river
called the Long Reach, counted over two nun
dred sail of Merchantmen at anchor waiting for
wind or tides. Farther down saw the glorious
stars and stripes displayed by noble ship, but
we were not near enough to make out who she
was In the afternoon we passed close to Mar
gate and Ramsgate, two rival watering places,
much frequented in the summer months, by
wealthy commoners and trades people. The
shore, in front of these ambitious towns, is lined
with small dormitores Oh wheels that are trun-
died out into the surf, and from which the vlsi-
tiers enjoy a sea-bath. Near .Ramsgate, half a
mile from shore, lay her Malesty's Ship of War
the Lord Howe, Of 100 guns, riding peacefully
and quietly at anchor This floating Palace
made truly magnificent appearance. There was
not breath of air, and every thing on board the
ship seemed as tranquil as the sea. Unpoetical
as | am, while looking at this majestic ship
s. moored" in the Downs, | found myself hum
ming INoLEDoN's popular song of
All in the Downs tie Fleet moored
The banners streaming III tie wind,
When blackeyed Susan board"
In their models the British Ships of the Line
are less beautiful than ours. They are ''pot-bel-
lied'' in their construction. This is deemed nc
cessary on account of the immense weight of arm
ament while in our ships the "line of beauty /" is
preserved and though our guns are farther from the
water, do not understand that the evils apprehend-
ed by the English have been experienced.
Our superiority in ship-b building is apparent
In Foreign In American ports. You YES
sells from all the commercial nations of the Earth
and of every form of construction, in the Liver
pool and London docks. But you look in vain
for those that compare, III grace and beauty, with
our own. The English and European ships,
though admirable in many respects, have palpa-
bic defects There arc many with beautiful sterns,
present tolerable bows with high, awkward, top
ling sterns. Again you see good hull, the effect
of which is spoiled by disproportioncd masts.-
And in their more ambitious and successful ef-
forts, there is want of that perfection III symme-
try, that elegance of model. that exquisite taste
In rigging, spars, &c. &C., which present an
American ship to the eye and imagination as 81
thing of ife.''
Soon after passing the Lord Howe, we came in
sight of Dover, and as the atmosphere was re-
markedly clear, we had good view of CALAIS,
its French neighbor. The channel between these
two places, as you know, is only about lS miles
wide. During the wars between England and
France, these towns, howning and growing like
Gagged lions at each other, must have been points
of exceeding interest. The shore upon the
French, as upon the English side of the channel,
presents high ami bold chalk cliffs, the character
and conformation of which create AN impression
that in some remote time back to which the me-
mory nor the annals of ''nan runneth not
there was at this point no water-lne Of demarca-
ton between what are now the boundaries of
England and France. The day was so clear
that by the aid OF spy-glass not only the houses
but even the people at Calais Were seen.
Dover makes but a sorry appearance, squattcd
down, as it is, in gull, and looking dull and
dingy. The high bill on It's left, has an old and
strongly fortified Castle. On its right, too, there
are remains of formidable Notifications The
Cliffs of Dover are high bold, and perpendicu
lar; and as viewed from the steamer, realize the
description OF them which Shakespeare puts into
the mouth Of Edgar in King Lear
1" Come on, sir; here's the place! stand snl
How fearful
And dizzy Ills, ones eyes so low
The crows, and chongis, that wing the midway ayr,
Scarce show so gross IS beetles Halfway down
Hangs one tina, gathers samphire; dreadful usis
Me,hnks he seems bigger than his head
The 6shermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice: aud yon tall aachoIing baak,
Diminished TO her hoat her boat a buoy.
Almost TOO small for sight: Ths murmas,ng surge,
Tha. en- the unnumbered idle pebbles chates,
Caapos be heard so high,-il look no more;
Les, the brain turn, aud the deficient sigh;
Topple down headlong
Soon after leaving Dover the channel widens,
and before dark we lost sight ofeither Coast AT
5 o'clock this morning. when cameon deck, we
were running along the French Coast, quarter
OF a mile from shore, and fourteen msies irosn
Hayre. The French Pilot, who came on board
at o'clock, informed our Captain that Hafre
was filled with People yesterday, drawn together
by Boat Races, which the Duke do Nemoltrs,
the Aing's eldest son, attended We reached
Hapre at halfpast six, but not until the tide had
fallen 80 much that we were compelled TO drop
anchor In the outer harbor, where we remain un-
til IL o'clock. when the return tide will enable US