The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-17

Early on the morning of the goth of September
sci was teesaphed from one OF the heights near Genoa
can Gag The vessels Of that distant nation have never
appeared IN the Mediterranean sea without exciting Pc
culiar enthusiasm among the people OF these beautiful
but unfortunate countries, and thousands crowded the
shores in eager expectation of the arrival OF the mystic
rous stranger for the telegraph had venured TO tell
what kind OF vessel she and the public curiosity
still more excited by the appearance OF battle ship
which was rapidly nearing the port without the aid OF
sails, or apparently of steam; for her slim masts sprang
gracefully up without sails, and the sea was all calm
around her. except far in her wake, where the early sun
light played the waters and yet and she
came, dashing up into the delightful harbor Of Genoa.
The crowd increased the vessel entered the port and
casting her anchor swung gracefully around to the breeze
which came freshly down from the Appenines. "Who
this mysterious stranger was the question that went
rapidly from one to another amongst the dense mass that
had already darkened the shore And yet no one
could answer There she lay, in the quiet blue water
of the port, thousands gazing her dark form and slim
yards, without pipe, smoke, or wheels, or sails! Who
| or what could she be- ~ ~
1t was not long that light boat was lowered from her
side, and went sweeping gracefully through the water
men, " Dew lesser un Americana" all exclaimed
perche 81 vede la bandera degli Stat uniti-non We
punto d dubbo-ma che razza di vasceo pno esser
quello che non mosra, ne iumo, ne ruOt, ne yele."
The Princeton had been two days IN port and invita-
tons issued to fair and noble party to 90 on
0r I'd oeos o y the
place of Columbus, if the day should be fair.
thousand hopes were excited and thousand Tears
|
tune had numbered them among the list of the in,
vited guests for the day the invitations were issued
it rained till o'clock in the evening, and there
seemed little hope Of enjoying the expected pleasure But
as the went down, he burst forth for single moment
from dark bank of clouds that hung heavily over the
Alps and flung golden stream Of light over the noun
all their fair weather saints for beautiful day. and the
Americans shook their heads and did as they do in Rome
let rain But that fair single glance of the sun, as he
went down, seemed but treacherous CLEAN for the
clouds went hurryDg away IN dark masses over the west
and the path of the live thunder was cut by orked light
Late that night black canopy, without a star shut
down over Genoa, and heavy peas shook the marble
city.
break, when heavy signal gun from the Princeton sent
echoes up the Apprentices to greet the sun IN his COM
ing and disturbed the sambers OF the city, by anaobn pun,
the steamer had lighted her fires.
At 10 o'clock the guests all on board Except
few who could not believe the ship would sail exactly at
turned her Prov to the sea. The Mediterranean, which
had so lately been ashed into fury sleeping as quiet
though its bosom had never been ru1ed, and as blue
The mysterious ship dashed the waters from her bow
as she swept round the lighthouse and went gliding
In an hour the birth place of Columbus came in sight
and many brave tar, who had heard so much OF the
first sailor that ever let go anchor on the coast OF the
New World, saw for the first time the scene OF the
navigaors childhood. The commander, the guests,
and all the officers who were not on duty, crowd
| ed TO the SIDE 10 catCh the SlSnt. ana II was d
sight to stir the blood Of any man born beyond the
Atlantic There lay the village OF Cogoetto white and
quiet on the bosom of the mountains. The commander
ordered the decks cleared and salute OF nine guns in
quick succession announced to the wonder-scken in
habants of the simple village that powerful but un-
known stranger, was approaching their coast. ihey
were lowered, Of light skifs were approaching
The commander the officers, and the guests landed
amidst silent and excited crowd Of thoand rustic
who on being told that the ship in the ong had come
from the country Columbus had discovered to visit his
acnatons and thanks to the house whose inscriptions
declare that within its walls the great navigator hrst saw
the light.
beach, inhabited by officer, and devoted on the
first floor the sociable purposes of cafe where the
villagers who have few Sold to spend. assemble at
times to talk the glory of their great citizen
While the party were standing in the room in which
Columbus is said TO have been born, proposed to
bust to him in the church where he baptsed
and which at that moment ringing out merry chime
in honor of the strange visitors The proposal was re-
ceved with universal EXPLANATIONS of joy and on the
spot the resolution made to do it. The sindaco told
the people, who received the joyful news with shouts OF
enthusiasm and gratitude They had long desired to
some monument erected TO Columbus; put the poor sn
felt able to do it, and no foreigners had ever profered
them aid.
filled the village the party proceeded to the nhal,
where the sndaco exhibited ancient portrait of Co.
umbus whose authenticity nobody felt inclined ques
!. u
(asi) that the world must have been in sad state when
painted, if such work of art had not made the
painter acquainted with the halter Then to the church.
where they showed the altar where the boy Columbus
was baptised The whole party stood silent and uncov
cred before it. Around were suspended many votlve
offerings, such poor fishermen might bring; among
others tiny ships full rugged OF course all brought
away some souvenir from the dwellng-some nail,
some stone, and some piece of plaster. One officer
seriously his eye up to iron ring firmly fastened
into the arched ceiling. The arrangement was soon
made; a blacksmith sent for, and a few solid
wrenches tore away the unmistakable relic 1t is
somewhat doubtful if the proprietor would have yielded
on any other occasion-and hardly on this perhaps the
petitioner had said that he wished to take it to one OF
the greatest in America He said the TRUTH Tor
il was intended for MIR. Benton.
But the day wearing away, and the party embark
ed for the ship AS the boats pushed Off an humble but
hearty salute of nine guns was fired from the village
cannons, which went ringing with thousand shouts
away among the hills
The moment the party on board the Princeton re-
turned the peasants salute with nine guns and turned
her bow towards Genoa. The shouts of the villagers
came back family the waters Eighteen States OF
covcrer" SAID the commander, ga gun for every State
The guns were reloaded; they followed another salute
of nine cannon which made twenty seven. They were
vet playing among the hills when the great gun the
poured forth its thunder and sent its reverberatons
away among distant mountains. The villagers returned
it, but could only the smoke OF their little guns
Every State had spoken. Not heart in all that broad
ance that day for all the enthusiasm for Columbus that
the magical pen of Irving has stirred In the breasts OF his
countrymen.
We swept round vine covered hill, and the little VII
+ age Of Cogoletto hid from our sight
While the last ten guns were firing, a hundred flags