The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-05-12

contemplated making pleasure excursion IN
steam yacht, to the principle cities of Europe,
awoke many onJectures as to its scope and the
person. From the New York Herald, cf Friday
we coudense the following account of the plan
of the proposed excursion. The Herald, after
commenting upon the rapid extension of our
commerce IN the last twenty-five years, and The
superiority of our ships, says:
The sovereigns of Europe nave but little idea
of the refinement of a republic, and associate it
with all that is rough, course and unpublished,
and that it is only by personal observation the
Gar Of Russia, and other crowned heads of Eu-
rope, can obtain true knowledge of the facts
in the case. lie will, in very few months,
have opportunity of seeing OF most
distinguished and wealthy citizens III his
capital. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Esq, generally
! known by the title of g Commodore has had
as we have already said, in contemplation for
several months past trip to Europe, in his
splendid steam yacht North Star, which was
built expressly for the purpose. This is the first
voyage of pleasure which has ever been under
taken from this country, and in its extent and
maguihcence far exceeds anything of the kind
ever got up by the wealthiest monarch in Eu-
rope Although it is solely personal matter,
| 1t partakes somewhat of n national character.
| There are, we believe, only two three of the
| European soveregns who possess steam yachts;
| but none of these at all comparable with
| the North STAR Besides the contemplated plea
sure trip, which, including the cost of the boat
will exceed half million of dollars. Mr.. Van
derbilt has another object in view. He has long
been impressed with the belief-a belief found
! LED on ample experience-that steamer prope-
| ed by beam engines could not only cross the
ocean in safety, but that she would possess many
advantages oyer the present class of ocean
steamers How far this may be correct we do
not undert axe to fay, but there be doubt
whatever of the success of those employed in
running to the 1sthmus, among which we may
mention the Star of the West, and the Prone
. THUS. Mr. V. will be accomp panied by the mem
bers Of his own family and relatives, Rev. DR..
Chouies, and his physician, Dr.. Lindsay, num-
berlng between 80 and 80 persons altogether.
The vessel .wiiPbe splendidly furnished and will
no doubt give Ihe monarchs of the Old World a
more perfect idea than they have hitherto had
OF the wealth, the commercial prosperity, aud of
the refinement to be found i'll the great western
republic. The first port at which she will touch
is SnnthnInptnn- -Mhere AIR Vanderbilt intends
remaining II lew days, giving his company an
opportuuity Of seeing the curiosities of that inn
por;Ant seaport 1t from this port that
! Henry the Fifth set sail in August, l4l5, about
two months before he gained ms famous victory
! at Agincourt. Southampton the last port
/ in England at which the pilgrims stopped before
the departure to this country. 1t is also replete
with "reminiscences of the wars between the
houses of York and Lancaster, commonly
! known the E.Wars of .e Rosses.''
From Southampton a Rail Road brings them
within three hours ride of London. Leaving
Southampton, they will pursue their course east
| ward, passing through the celebrated Straits of
| Dover into the North Sea, and stopping tempo
rarily their way at the Hague and other in
termediate places. Navigating the North Sea-
as far a the extreme northern part of Denmark
they will pass through tha Skager Rack and
perIlous Cattegat, the waters of which
! crowded with innumerable islands and sand
banks. B-fore entering the Baltic they intend
! coming anchor at Copenhagen.
| This city is distinguished as possessing the
best works of the great Danish sculptor, Thor
waidSen. Some of the public buildings are said
| to be really perb, and its library, containing
! 45O,O 900 volumes, exclusive of manuscripts, is
| the best in Europe. Our yoyagers will find here
| the great globe of the famous northern astrono-
mer Tycho BralIe.
! The next place of note at which they win stop
| on their passage through the Baltic Sea is
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, opposite the
entrance of the Gulf of Finland, at the extr enc
| eastern end OF which st. Petersburgh is situated.
! Stockholm, which might appropriately be named
the City of Islands, presents grand and impo-
/ sing view when approached from the sea.
Among the most interesting notabities of this
! city is the Riddarhom in which the kings of
Sweden are buried, and in which are preserved
many national military trophies taken in the
wars of the Great Gustavus, and Charles XII.
Stockholm is inferior in some respects to the
Danish capital, but its business, believe, is
more extensive. The present reign ng monarch
is Joseph Francis Oscar, son of the poitie and
willy Bernadotte.y
from Stockholm, the excursion will proceed
direct to st. Petersburg. Its population at
present. Is about equal to that of New York, and
its public buildings splendid specimens of
architecture--hardly inferior to those of Paris
or London. The number of churches is between
sixty and seventy, of which little than
three -fourths belong to the Greek faith. and the
remainder to Catholics, Protestants, and Dissen-
ters The Cathedral of st. Peters and Pauls
is, historically. the most important, from the
fact of its containing the tombs of all the Rus
sian sovereigns, from the founder of the Empire,
Peter the Gi eat to the late Gar with the ex-
ception of Peter the Second who was inferred
at Moscow. The Church of the Convent of ST.
Alexander Nefski, is one of the magnificent edi-
fees in the city, and contains the remains of its
patron saint, which are enclosed in mausoleum
of solid silver.
The appearance of a company of Americans
at the capital city of one of the first monarchs
of Europe will attract no little attention among
the celebrities at ST. Petersburg. The Russians
are noted for their hospitality, and we have no
, doubt that the Gear will be among the first to
welcome his republican visitors. The meeting
of Nicholas the First, Emperor of all the Rus
sias, and Mr.. Vanderbilt, one of the wealthiest
citizens of the great Republic, will form era
in modern history. 1t will furnish food for the
epecuations of long headed politicians and busi-
ness men OF the present day, and historians will
record it hereafter as one of the most remarka-
bic events the world hassever Witnessed. We
urderstana that several 1ppiications hare been