The southern press., 1851-11-05
From the National Intslhgencer.
"Naval Life," by Lieut.. Lynch.
THE MIDsHTPMAN."

There has recently been issued from the press
volume under the above name, by Lieut. (now
commander) Lynch, of Dead Sea" celebrity.
Ii purports TO be the first of a series on naval
life, illustrating the various cares, deprivations,
duties, and enjoyments of that life, by his own
experience Of thirty-two years in the different
grades of our naval service. And Judging from
the number before us, " The Midshipman," the
work promises much enjoyment and useful in.
formation to the reading public The author
commences his work with his first youthful aspi-
ration to don the bright buttons, and "warder
DER the sea-" excited by the weather view of
large frigate, and the gallant, dashing bearing
Of her officers and crew with their port togs on.
He obtains appointment to her. end starts on
a cruise to the East Indies, touching at Madeira
and the Brazils, of which places, and indeed Of
many others, he notes many curious and inter-
esting facts and throughout the whole work
carries the readers attention with peculiar inter-
est with him, as he wanders from land to land
and sea to sea-
The author draws us into an unusual degree
of sympathy with him in his trials and dar gers.
and we feel a thrill Of excitement and apprehen-
sion during the perusal of the many hazardous
positions and narrow escapes of the cruise.
This, his first cruise, proves to be an eventfu
and in some respects dastrous one, for, after
n variety of miraculous escapes from the perils
of rocky shores and mountain waves, when
about returning, that dreadful epidemic, the
cholera, made its appearance on board and soon
turned the proud frigate into hospital and
charnal house. On the first appearance Of this
drea iful disease, tho anchor was weighed, and
sail made for home, IN the hope that the pure
sea air would dive it from their midst but
such was its virulence, that during few days in
the vicinity Of Java Head, seventy of the crew
were cast into the waves.
The authors description of this awful period
when death in its most repulsive form was daily
hourly among them, is most impressive.
He arrives at length safely at home, and after
many amusing incidents which occur to the au-
thor during trip to the far West he joins the
squadron for the suppression of the slave trade
the futty Of which under the system, he
amusingly illustrates.
He returns from the coast Of Africa, and vol
unteers for the naval expedition fitting out
against the pirates then abounding in the Gulf
and West Indies
OF this expedition, of the hardships and de-
privations suffered, and skill and gallautry dis
PLAYED by those ohio composed H. the author
gives graphic and wildly interesting account
Besides the different events of interest incident
to active service, and much beautiful description
Of persons, places, and scenery, the author has
diversified his work with mnltitu1es of spirited
anecdotes, suggested during the progress of the
yarn, or connected with persons or scenes which
his wanderings associate with him; these being
introduced so nppropos in illustration of charac
ter add greatly to the interest and beauty Of tue
WORK. The work il meritorious and will
richly repay pcrsua The style is chaste and
elegant, the matter interesting and instructive,
and but wish the author aproper appreciation
of his labors by the public