Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-04-15
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
BAY OF BIscAY, off Coast of France,
Oct. lst. 1857

t BAY OF BIscAY, off Coast of France
e Oct lst, 1857.
D Mn. EprToE:-Our voyage at the BE
ginning was rough, and We see bnt It'll
improvement yet. The bay of Bscay i
never quiet, but exposed to the full fore
} OF the winds from the broad Atlantic. !
, is often difficult and dangerous of navi
cation. The bay is about 400 miles i,
length and 200 in width OF course W.
can see no land, and the motion Of tn
ship Is anything but agreeable If ",
can keep quiet in horizontal position
we are content.
49, Oct Sd.
We passed Cape st. Vincent at the
Southern extremity of Portugal at hall
past three this morning, and our course
rs now nearly due East It is very evid.
ent from the change Of climate that we
have been making progress Southwark !;
the day is clear and the air is soft and
balmy as Spring. The children are in
high glee, and the old ship, from prov to
stern, rlngs with their merry voices.
MEDI1ERRANEAN SEA, near Gibraltar,
,,.. 90. Ost. 4th.
We have just passed one of the most
interesting points of the yoyagc-the
straits of Gibraltar. This strait, as your
readers all know, connects the waters Of
the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. is
about l5 miles wide at the narrowest pass.
The principal object of interest at this
Point is the rock Gibraltar. This rock
is very remarkable. 1t forms the South.
ern extremity of the coast Of Spain, ex.
tending some four or five miles from the
main land, with which it is connected
by narrow sandy isthmus. The rock
itself is about three miles in length from
North to South and very narrow, being
only about seven miles in circumference 4
1t Uses 1900 feet above the level OF the
sea, and on three sides, North East and
South $3.50 steep as to be almost inacces.
sible, The West side slopes down to the
water. and here is located the town of the
same name. The most remarkable feature
OF this work is the mannerin which il is
ortihcd. The immense galleries, between
'wo aud three miles long. aud of sufficient
width to admit Qfa carriage, are cut in
ne solid rock From these galleries open
'ort holes. 80 or 40 feet apart. in such
manner as to command the bay aud the
narrow pass to the main land. l.
Thus fortified and defended by thous.
nd guns, manned by q strong garrison
MS rock forms one Of the strongest fort.
esses In the world. Vessels passing are
equlred to show their colors, when intel. 4
sence may be telegraphed at once to |
'ns'and; Since the early part Of the o
lst century. the fortress has been in the i
ands Of the English, and though severe I
beseiged for three years, at period I
ear the close of the last century, by the d
'moined forces of France and Spain, it d
roved impreguable ~ n
The day is delightful, the sea calm il
nd tho sun so warm that the awning 0,
used for the first time this morn,nc
Ids much to our comfort. We are sail
g to-day in full view of the coast Of =
pain, and the rocky heights. rising in y
me instances several thousand feet on y !,
any of which are seen massive rims 80 y
Moorish watch.towers, make the seen. r
y exceedingly picturesque. Aab IL
Sat. Eve, Oct 9th y
The morning was cold and rough. bnt u
wards evening, the weather became e.. I"
ID the children had merry time upon y
e deck. This eve, gathered in the 81.
'n' We have been singing sabbath. school
INNS with the children, which on, y
eek and English friends appeared to "
Joy very much, @ a.
4 " A Monday. Oct. 7th ri 4,
Yesterday We had religious services on =
ard conducted BY Rev Mr.. my assol
te' with an excellent sermon, from tho r !,
rds' "Tho knowledge Of the Lord shall Il
the EARTH asthc watofs cover tho sea. +" d