The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-01-25
! "A THRnL1NG SCENE.

gentry Of Portsmouth, invited TO psriici.
piIe ia The 1esiigiliesiof albalI, translated
for the Philadelphia aEnq,tirer from the
/" Foriy,eighl Years Memoirs Of Consii-
iuiional 0fTicer.'', ss extracted 10 the No
yember number Of that most admirable
monthly. Meyer'a MonatslgfsaPublish
in New York, will DO read with Interest, /:
In the summer of 1880, the Royal
George, stately three decker, Of "a guns,
after an absence Of two years on a foreign
station, cast anchor in the Spilhead Roads.
Al the end Of a week, winch had been
employed in remoeing all traces Of their
long voyage, and in thorough cleansing.
the CaplOin issued invitations 10 the ofi-
GERS of The fleet in the Spilhead waters,
and TO the nobility and gentry of Ports
mouth, Tor IA grand BALI on board The
interior oiathe upper deck, ,freshly painted
from stem io Stern, and elegantly decorated,
appeared like floating a palace. D, .,,
The appointed hour for the commence
rheht Of the tste had arrived, and the har.
Fbor was gradually covered by hundreds Of
boats, some carrying the invited guests TO
the Royal George, and olhersattracied by
curiosity 10 witness the delicate homage
which British naval officers are accustom.
ed TO bestow upon beauty. All that the
most refined taste could suggest, and The
most lavish expenditure ppcgre, had been.
bestowed on the establishment Of lhe ves-
sci. The deck, whose entire space was
appropriated 10 the ball, resembled vast
pillared hall, over which, from The .masls
and yards, noaled the inlermingled, folds
Of numbeHess flags and sireamers of every
variety Of color. Instead Of tapestry. the
sides were covered with velveis and silk
hangings. Among the furniture were 10
be seen the most precious ivory work, and
divans and chairs Of rose and sandal
woods, carved and fashioned in manner
10 rivsf the most ingenious Chinese fasie.
The awniDing was composed Of carpets
Of The richest oriental fabric, ornamenied
with gold and silver embroidery, and The
rugs Before the state rooms were produc.
lions Of Cachemme, which might have
figured as articles Of luxuryoin the ward
robe Of pripcely ,danes.a yl7gq sarsan
The side, boards gliitered with gold and
silver vessels, among which was magnif-
cent vase, SCI with cSsily jewels, the gift
of an East Indian pfiHce!.i Otto Of roses,
in crysiaijars, from inches expressly made,
scattered in profusion its delicious psrfumel
In a word, the whole, scene, with jls
splendid decorations, resembled rather the
kbanqueting room Of royal palace, than
The interior of'a lag.sbip.' ''l''9s .''''
After The Admiral had cast last salts.
fed glance upon The tasteful embcIlish.
menls, and had passed in review The brill
liant preparations he repaired to the deck,
where. in state, and surrounded by his
officers, as a king By his mobiles, he iook
his post to receive bis guests. While a
select band Of music filled the air With
melody, from every side there was seen
gliding over ihe smooth walers, forward
10 the ship, gaily dressed boats, bearing the
elite Of beauty and nobility from Ports
mouth Porlsea, the Isle of Wight 2and
other neighboring points on ibe coast
The universal joy of the officers and
guests was enhanced by The beauty of the
night, no, cloud Admitting The radiance
of the stars, and not breath Of air
rufiling !he surface Of the sea, .-.rB gal
And yet destruction was maliciously
hovering in this hour of fesliviiy, over The
finest ship in the fleet. Already death
inyisibly sa, grinning behind The seat Of
these pleasurs.deVoted guests. 0f ma,iny
there was no apprehension. as the whole
crew were all true and loyal, and warmly
attached to the commanding officer. nor
was there any possibility Of leak, as the
ulmos, precautions had been adopted, and
the powder magazine had been addition.
ally secured by triple faslenings, Who
could have believed that The swelling of
gentle west wind would be sufficient to
produce a catastrophe, as unparalleled in
its character as in its awful incidents! q
% Abon, two hours later. as the ball was
in full movement, there arose, not light
breeze, but rather breath Of air, from the
southwest, which hardly stirred curl Of
hair among the crowd Of dancing beauties.
The oscillation, which ii brought as ii
stole across the motionless face Of the
water, appears 10 have been unRo,iced.
But, unserulsbe fate! This insensible puff
Of air, not sufficient 10 draw a sound from
the cords of an Eolian harp. by The Under
swell II created, disturbed the equilibrium
Of two immense chain anchors which,
with some heavy guns, had been slowed
in the open ports. and. oo account Of the
calm weather, had not been secured by
fasleniugs. This ponderous mass started
lromils balance by the beaving Of ,hesea,
with lightning speed rolled 10 The opposite
side Of the vessel. and in moment threw
The Royal Georgeupon her side.
a One heartpieseiog cry Of woe from .
| thousand voices, sound before which The
sloutesl sailor 'quailed rose in frightiul
dssonance, and broke upon the startled
ears OF ihpse in the Surrounding ships,
while echo bore the dealh.wail to the ad-
jacent coasts, where it rolled aleng like a
Handicapped, ,leadening the roar Of the
surf and strikiag with terror the shudder-
in,r is,h hilan 49,. u 10 -... ...-..