New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-07
Letter from New-York.
From the Boston Courier.


the oppressiveness of summer in the city; but the
pleasantest are steamboat excursions on the river,
with plee clubs and bands of music. There have
been variety of these this season; but | think
none of them have offered quite as many attrac-
tons as the trip in the South America, on the
30th of July. This vessel ranked as queen
among our steamboats,, until the Knickerbocker
and the Empire were built and though outdone
in some respects by these magnificent rivals, she
is vessel of which any city might be proud, and
well worthy Of the noble river on which she
moves. She goes through the water with pTodi.
gious power, and IS fitted up with great e.egancc
The upper and lower cabins are spacious and airy !;
gay with profusion OF paintings and gi!ded orna-
ments. The saloGn contains quite gallery OF
pictures, in which South American scenes pre-
dominate; such as the c;yof Mexico, Vera Cruz.
the market of Bogota, &c. These are approprl
ate to the name of the boat; and the brilliant
colors of Spanish costume produce splendid and
cheerful effect Several of she paintings are ad,
dressed to the affections, with subjects highly in
teresting, and extremely well executed more
tasteful hand is manifested here than is usual in
the decoration of these snowy vessels. One might
pass many hours agreeably, and not without profit,
in examining this Heating gallery.
We had band of instruments on board, and
the New York Sacred Choir, of one hundred and
fifty singers. This attraction decoyed me. II
impaired something of sacredness, even TO a
crowded steamboat. l never came into the pre-
sence of music, without feeling inclined to uncov
or my head, and put on garland, as the ancienis
did. when they entered the temples of their gods.
This feeling docs not arise merely from the dc
light of hearing sweet sounds. 1t IS founded on
the conviction that music represents the motions
r.I.o, NJ hn mfr
teries of creation. The mind of man cannot per-
ceve this but his heart hears some OF the mystic
whisperings, and these, for the time, place him
in harmonious relation with the All-PervadiDg
One.
We left the city at FIVE in the afternoon. The
breeze was fresh, the sky bright, aud recent rains
had rendered every thing clean and vcrdant As
we passed the beautiful shores of the North river,
people waved their handkerchiefs from verandshs
and summer houses and boys threw up their caps
and hurraed. One little fellow, who was bathing
near the Shore began to dance in the water, 10
the music of our band Seen among the distant
shrubbery, he looked like Cupid frolicing with the
water.nymphs.
We went eighteen miles up the river, and then
returned. and wheeled round and round the city,
in the evening twilight. The circular battomen,s
of Castle Garden, brilliantly Lighted, projected
into the water like crown OF stars Hundreds
of boats, with lamps at the prov, were scattered
about like fre.Hies. A swarm OF club-boats lay
side by side, ready for race the next cay, bear
ing the graceful names OF Ianthe, Cygnet, Mist,
Spray, Dream, &c.
All at once the moon came above the horizon,
larger and more golden than ever saw 1t. 1t
really seemed like the satellite of noblcr earth
than ours. 1t was received with full salute from
our band Apollo greeting his regal sister OF the
silver bow. Two or three minutes after the moon
rose, a luminous circular cloud encompasscd her,
and gave her striking resemblance to Saturn
with his ring. Itbrought vividly to my mind the
beautiful transparencics used by DR.. Lardner, IN
his highly interesting lectures. was much I'M
pressed by the appearance of Saturn wheeling
across the glorious frmament of consultations
The lecturer had named all the other planets and
comets, as they passed; but Saturn sailed by un
announced This wakened in me proud and
majestic feeling. To be the greatest of clique,
a clan, sect, party, or nation, has evei
seemed to me pinful ambition. The world 1t
self is small audience for the inspired SOUL
But to be SO unique in the universe, as TO need nc
announcement-lfou found something grand IN this
For moment,.1 would have liked 10 be Saturn
thus to walk as god among the planets. Bat
the next moment our little Earth crossed the
starry armament, with its one own neon revolving
round it SO Lovingly forever My heart shouted
"There is our home. our own home" and
would be Saturn no longer.
With the moon, too, 1t was briei fancy. She
soon cast aside her luminous belt, and went up
serenely resplendent over the waters. BY Apo.
los golden harp it was magnificent 10 be rush
ing across the glitteripg mlrror OF the bay by
moonlight, with music 10 give utterance TO the
yearninps of the heart Then came haze and
fittering clouds, under which our foam wake
the ships, and the shore, wore the moon-veil SO
sleepily and dream-llke. Icould have lam thus
for hours on the bosom of drowsy Nature, while
every pulse kept time TO her lullaby
But Staten Island was our final destination,
where pic mic for our party OF seven hundred
awaited US in a lamp-lighted grove. Thither we
marched In procession, praccded by the music Of
the band. A concouIse Of people belonging to
the island assembled round our tables, and We ate
like kings and queens, for the entertainment Of
the pubic. When the hour arrived for returning
to the boat, the choir of singers gave Us F" AUD
lang syne" in full chorus and strangers VIC
were to each other, every one .ound response IN
the memory Of his heart
n,uring the whole of the excursion, was par
ticularly pleased with the good nature that pre-
vaded. Every body seemed happy, and deslrous
TO heip DIS ncighoof 10 Dc go. INC aihusSnen'
was OF too popular character for fashiona5es
even if there had been any thccity, at this un.
xeateel season. Therefore, there were no knots
OF exclusives scattered about, so excessively well
bred as to put every body else ii! at ease. Bal
there was no vuIgarity, no rude noises, no def
cheney Of poiiteness. Perhaps something mig +,
be attributed 70 the GENIAL influence Of the scene
bat IN the crowds of New.Yor ! have always
been struck with the general nisros,rlnyi 10 n,
good-nasured and oolieicg Such d rush Of
strangers have no opportunity 20 settle conven
tlonai claims, and they are compelled to fall back
on the common Brotherhood Of the race. For
his own sake, no man refuses tho cou,tssv oc
which he every hour feels the reed.
Choruses, gIees and songs, with occasional in.
teriudes of the band, ckeered Our return, and we
came up 10 the city 10 the tune ofS Home, sweet
home" TIE air, so Ike mothers voice, was,
as usuai, al especial favorlte. Il shared the
general favor with the g Ogd Grsnite State" and