The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-31

the sunt waters Of the Narrows and away with s plea
seeking freight Of excursionss through the broader
expanse Of the Lower Bay opening into the yet wider en-
panse Of the broad Atlantcevinced sound judgmen.
selecting favorable site, as well as thorough appre
citation OF lovely scene Very few people disembNke'
al the nrst second landings and was evident from h'
general of conversation from time TO time that thu
great point Of attraction that spot which commanded
the best view Of the Narrows. Some there were witt
knew exactly where they were going, and many there
were who trusted by following crowd TO come right al
last and thus by andby the leaders and the led all mel
on the high bluff Of land which overooks Fort Hamilton
AS the living freight from each boat that arrived
crowded the Vanderbilt pier they spread themsel ges
along the principal road leading 10 the point Of attrac
ton The greatest excitement prevailed in anxiety "a
get seats on the different convey which offered
lift over the heated roads, and in which exctemen
par amecs, with long strings Of young olive branches
behind them, principally figured But what surprised
these when at nome good easy men, was the exoronate
demand Of the iehus-wth painting horses, just fu
rousy driven 10 catch the boafor drive over the short
mile Of road that lay between the wharf and the hill
In many Instances the dread OF losing the grand sight
which had induced them 10 leave for time the dusty
city behind conquered the repugnance felt individually
for these arveys and stage and buss and
buggy and rockaway ratified along the road In contnu
string filed with miscellaneous parties Of citizens
from the heat rendered many degrees more intolerabe
from their own hurry and impotence, and fear
Of being late. At last the hill was gained
from which the expectant crowds TO command a
view Of the Great Eastern, she steamed between the
batteries either shore And rarely indeed have eyes
turned upon scene more lovely than that which pre-
sented itself 10 he gaze Of the thousands who congre-
gated together upon the summit Of that hill stranger
arriving late would first be struck perhaps, with
vore point Of observation casting his eyes around
the homogeneous throng, he would, byandby, take in
the details which made up that great whole, and III
reasoner, mgpt easily connect the individuals Of party
after party and 80 to the cause which had
brought 80 many strangers 10 each other together,
all an1iously intent on enjoying pleasure common TO
children, some seated on the neatly trimmed green
sward which borderedhe fort, grim with guns and their
shade of grateful arOor Of trees looking an1iousIy
towards the point where the Great Eastern had been
moored in the morning, while others, intent
along the echong ahores through the shady groves
which offered retreat from the hot Thus the beau
tifu plateau which commands An uninterrupted view Of
both the inner and outer harbo presented 10 the spec
tator from the continuous line Of human beings
and - fair compliment Of the throng made up Of
the genter s needless 10 say that the scene
very gay and animated one. But the view from this
point looking from the high bluff down the harbor
out 70 sea- or over the rich and varied landscape Of the
Long Island shore which spread out before the eye
one of almost matchees beauty, grandeur and extent
Towards the distant city spread the deep blue waters Of
our noble bay, dancing in the warm sunlight, rolling
further and nearer approach Of the graceful
craft which bounded upon their bosom, no.
thing 10th TO make further acquaintance. Far
ther and nearer the city appeared innumerabe
se their white sails gancng in the and contrast
ed the dark shadows thrown upon the by the
line Of hills upon the Jersey Shore presenting their beau
tful sharp outlines reflected in calm waters upon
which they oated. In contrast again these the
long tortuous line Of shipping anchored at the wharves
and beyond these again the tall spires and seepes of the
city ben ling with their towering rivals Of the city Of
Churches. To the len, embosomed in uxuriant foliage,
appeared the white buildings of Hudson City, and
further on till abruptly lost the sharp termination
OF tho palisades upon the Hudson. To the right
stretching from Brooklyn commenced the green uxuran
plains and cultivated slopes OF Long Island, with numer
Gus villas whose gardens appeared 3, If guarded from
the food by those tall green sentnes which pctu.
resquey sdorn the shores Ranging the gaze along this
almost aSy scene, again rested for moment and Is
lost on the boundess expanse OF ocean over which the
anxiousy looked for Great Eastern Is TO take its
way II near i've O'Clock when at last the booming
Of announced that the Great Eastern fairly
her and at once the scattered throngs began again
TO assemble upon the most favorable spots for a
view as she steamed up and through the Narrows.
and more distinct her vast, yet symmetrical pro-
portions, and every eye was turned towards her, and
glass passed from hand TO hand until she fairly under
the and scrutiny OF the thousands who looked down
upon her with admiration and wonder Slowly ami ma
estcally sne gdod through the waters, attended by
eTous small steamers as her satellites but not one OF
whom did not create greater spater the water than
She Scarcely a ripple passed from her bows, and her
wake could scarcely be markod so smoothly, perhaps
lovingly, the mpld waters bowed before her. And thus
did the Great Eastern pass through the Narrows. The
thousands who had 90 long waited for that moment now
that IL was passed. Immediately turned their faces home
wards. There was but little time 70 spare 10 catch tile
seven O'Clock boat, and there time lost 10 making
tracks for IT, In conclusion may be said that acc
dent on the return home although one OF the boats
perousy crowded. occurred to mar the pleasure Of the
day.