The New York herald., 1851-08-05
Oar Naval Correspondence.


Oar Naval Correspondence.
u. s. FRIaArE CONGRESS,
ISLAND OF Sr. GATHERINGS, June 6, 1851
Notes at Sea--Arival at Rio--Rsigious Ceebra-
tions, &C., &c.
You will perceive by the date Of this that we
have at last quit the river, and Monte video is no
longer head quarters for the U. S. forces on the
coast of BRAZIL and very glad individual is, that
such is the case, l assure you. l am very much
afraid that the river weather was beginning to affect
my health, SO that our leaving there was matter
of special and unqualified enjoyment on my part.
The passage up here was pleasant AMI interesting
enough; each succeeding day the weather became
more mild, and every body appeared to enjoy its
cheering influence. We came to anchor here on the
I'd, dull, misty kind of day, and it was not till next
morning the glorious landscape lay revealed before
our delighted eyes. do not know how to give you
description of this enchanting island-I am not
equal to the task. 1t differs from magnificent Rio,
and yet one would hardly know which to prefer.
In Rio, the character of the scene is grand and i'm
posing; bold rock-faced mountains, clear, well de-
fined peaks, rushing cataracts in the distance, and
the rest of the picture filed in by sober, solemn
high lands. This is the outline of her scenery;
but here all is changed. To be sure we have high
lands and mountains, and picturesque houses to fill
up the view, but the peaks gently rounded, the
shamelessy naked rocks are clothed in perpetual
suit of green and the whole face of the landscape
wears that soft, dreamy, voluptuous look that marks
the Italian school, and that Durand to give
to his pictures. The Rio scenery reminds you of
bold but beautiful woman challenging the admira-
tion Of the world; the st. GATHERINGS, that of
modest retiring beauty, that wins its way insensi-
bly, to the heart and retains its place there through
life. Such view as can take in minutes space
of time, will be remembered as long as ''memory
holds seat in'' my poor brain, and can never be
recalled but with the most pleasurable emotions
Talking about return reminds me that just
year ago to- day we dropped down from off the hos
pital, preparatory to our voyage to .furrin parts
How the time flies Just think, have been at
tached to this ship nearly fourteen months! In
about that length Of time, ahead we shall be look
less pass quickly enough, as we have some places
to visit yet to the northward. The fruit here is
abundant, cheap, and good, and the manner in
which it is consumed on board the Congress, is
frghtful to behold such vast quantities are daily
bought that an " outside barbarian" would natu-
rally suppose we were trying to get cargo of fruit
for some other market. | am ashamed to say how
many oranges eat daily-but then am so fond
of them, and they are so good.
MONDAY, 9th.-Here we are fairly at sea again;
and, faith, you would think so were you on board,
for the old ship is pitching into head sea, perfect
y regardless as to tender sensibilites or deli
cacy of nerves. We left the "Isand Of Tranquil
Delights yesterday morning, and my heart grew
heavy within me as its dim outlines faded from
sight in the glorious sunset OF tropical sea. We
miss the light and graceful canoes, laden with
golden fruit, that wont to steal so noiseessly
over the calm surface Of the bay and around our
ship; and oh how l miss those pleasant rambles
on shore, where the narrow road is bordered on
either hand by the orange, pine apple, banana,
coffee, and great many other trees, whose names
i am unacquainted with, where the 'perfumed air"
steals upon the and luls them to repose, and
Al H. lzavs kalsk z( 49,
ed in every house, however humble, that you meet.
Is it not too bad to think that, in oil probability
we will never visit St. GATHERINGS again
"WEDNESDAY, llth.-Three days out, and just as
far from our port Of destination as when We left
Santa Catharpa. The reason is obvious, however,
for would defy any vessel but steamboat to
make headway against such strong wind and ugly
sea. The prospects little brighter this morn-
ing though for the weather y sqqaiiy and RAINY
change of wind. predict our arrival in Rio for
next Saturday. We were thoroughly aroused from
our listessness, last evening" by the appalling cry
deck, found the ships headway had been already
deadened, the life buoys cut adrift and volunteer
crew in the quarter boat ready to be lowered For
tunately for the man, at the time he fell the top
sails had just been clewed do wn ready for "taking
the second reef" and other sail had been taken in
80 that the ship had comparatively little headway
on. His cry for help had been heard and the prompt
measures Of the officer of the deck had given him
gathered courage as he saw the topsails taken
aback, and deliberately swan to one of the life
buoys and divested himself Of his pants so his white
undercothes could be better distinguished in the
increasing darkness of the squall. He was picked
up and brought on board, to the great satisfaction
OF every one. My old schoolmate, Ned Simpson,
went in the boat after him. little while later,
and the poor fellow wouli have been beyond rescue,
for the squall came down upon fast and furious.
SUNDAY, I5th.-Still at seq, in despite of all my
anticipations to the contrary. The hard-hearted
wind, after holding out hopes to us of speedy
change, obdurately haued into its old quarter, and
blew heavily again for n couple of days. To-day,
however, the weather is delightful the sea smooth,
and the wind fair We shall not be over a hundred
miles from Rio a. meridian, so that our prospects
are bright.
I6th.-Wc are lying becalmcd within thirty miles
of Rio, with the Concorado, the Garia, the Sugar
Loaf and the 1ijuca in the distance, with their
heads enyeloped in clouds, tantalizing US by
seeming proximity, but whose real distance, am
afraid will be very little lessened from u.s. unless
the sea breeze sets in fresh, and enables US to
close in with the land. We passed an English
ship of war last evening, evidently cruising, and
supposed to be the Tweed, Lord Francis Russell
commanding
18th We are safely moored again in the " most
beauti ul harbor In the world and strange to say,
We have the man. Of war anchorage almost entirely
to ourselves. There is a large French frigate be-
low us, near Fort Santa Cruz. waiting TOR fatr
wind TO sail for the Pacific; Dutch brig-ofwar is
also near us, bound out; and an English steamer,
coaling further up the bay. These are all the
naval forces at present here. Ii was really painful
yesterday, when we arrived, to the place de-
serted. The English admiral had sailed for Monte
video, and the Brazilian squadron were already
there, so that our old " stand bys" were sadly
missed. However, our spirits we're raised very
much, when VIC found the fever had entirely dis
appeared from the town, for we had augured most
mnous accounts from the state OF things in the
barbor. We are just IA much at home here now as
FIVE had quilted the place, so easily Is II to
fall naturally into the traces" IN well regulated
| ship. We are daily looking for the steamer Sus-
quehanna ard the soop Jamestown, NC former 10.
the East Indies and the latter for this station and
the wonder is they have not arrived before this.
| We we're afraid we should miss the steamer, but
| our fears unfounded as you perceive.
FRIDAY, 10th Yesterday was the grand lay Of
the year in this city, il having been the ftsta OF
| Corpus Christi and the Emperor humbled him.
self so far TO walk in procession bareheaded, and