saved the vessel from destruction; as when discovered, we were, what seamen term, "running free," with a fine nine knot breeze, stem on to the first descried, while the second, and third, lay a little further on, the one on our larboard, and the other on our starboard-bow. Though the wind still continued fair, our captain, who at length appeared somewhat conscious of his position, adopted on this night the precaution of shortening sail, which was the more necessary, as the evening had set in with an unusually dense fog, intercepting all look-out from the vessel.

Beset as we now were on all sides, without knowing which way to turn, our situation seemed too precarious to induce a very peaceful night's rest. The ship continued to roll on at the lazy rate of four knots, under single-reefed top-sails; the stillness being occasionally interrupted, by the bounding and splashing of the porpoises, on either side, as well as the grampus which sometimes neared the vessel, disgorging water almost upon our deck. As the morning approached, the wind fearfully increased; but as the day appeared it dispelled all apprehension. The light however had scarcely beamed, when our attention was aroused by an unusual noise, and a clatter on deck, the vessel leaning heavily to the breeze, and which strange uproar we found some difficulty in reconciling as being caused by the usual morning's work, of adjusting and trimming the sails, washing decks, &c. We in part hastily dressed and rushed on deck, where all was in the most alarming, and seemingly inextricable state of con

DANGEROUS SITUATION.

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fusion. The top-sail-haulyards, preparatory to closereefing the sails, were already let go; the sails flapping with a boisterous fury to and fro; while the numerous ropes, disengaged from their usual fastenings, kept swinging through the air at each motion of the vessel, as if discharged from all further office. The seamen, apparently under no control, kept running fore and aft in the wildest alarm, uncertain where to lend their aid, or where such could avail; whilst the captain, whose presence of mind had nearly forsaken him, seemed immoveable, and riveted to the deck on which he stood. "What's the matter," we eagerly inquired-" what's the matter?"" Look !-Look!" replied the captain, with a tremulous anxiety, as he pointed to the ship's lee bow, where amidst the haze we now clearly distinguished a large island of ice, towering almost perpendicular above our reckless vessel, from which there appeared no hope or prospect of escape, with several small icebergs to windward and around. There was certainly no time for deliberation; our first object was to apprise our unconscious fellowtravellers of the extreme danger of their situation : having done so, and secured whatever papers were of any value, we again immediately reached the deck, to assist wherever our services could avail, or to await whatever other fate might now betide us.

But the squall, which was unusually severe, and accompanied by a shower of cold sleety rain, had now in part blown over; and in its progress had given a sudden and very unexpected change to the

wind, by means of which alone, under Divine Providence, we fortunately escaped the most imminent danger, and very probably a fate, that has overtaken many as gay and well trimmed a vessel, as the one in which it was our fortune on this occasion to cross the Atlantic. Having thus altered our course, and miraculously escaped this large iceberg, with numerous others in its vicinity, all hands were employed in setting the ship to rights; while, favoured by a further slant of wind, we had nearly cleared the several islands by sunset, and on the following day found ourselves considerably to the westward of the Newfoundland bank, with its usually disagreeable and murky fog.

The storms we had passed, were as usual succeeded by a calm, with occasional light breezes from the north-west. We had now been one month together on board; sufficient time, in all good reason, to become acquainted with each other—our good and amiable qualities-for of foibles, or imperfections, we, of course, had none: yet were we weary of each other, and almost of ourselves. In proportion as we lessened our distance, and neared the American shore, our anxiety, and I might almost add our discontent increased. In truth we were heartily tired of our confinement, and sighed for a release. At length, about noon, on the thirty-fourth day of our departure from Liverpool, we made soundings, for the first time, in thirty-six fathoms, on the south-east point of Saint George's bank, 41° 19′ north latitude, 67° 45' west longitude; and on the third day suc

ceeding, descried the land, Long Island, bearing by compass N. w. by N. sixteen miles. On the following morning the high lands of Nave-Sink, or as they are more commonly called "Never-Sink," greeted our arrival and bid us welcome. The wind was fair, blowing dead upon the land; the ship going near ten knots through the water: but yet no pilot boat to point the way, or to assist us to our long expected and eagerly looked-for port. We passed in quick succession, two or three other homeward-bound vessels, lying-to-afraid to venture in without assistance, and very soon after opened the entrance of the harbour, the navigable part of which is exceedingly narrow. Still no pilot at hand, or within view, to help or guide us to our anchorage, which made it a matter of some uncertainty with the captain, whether to run the chance of being again driven out to sea, or upon the coast, or attempt upon his own responsibility the dangerous passage across the bar;-the risk, it appears, was great-the occasion no doubt imminent. It was blowing hard upon the shore, and threatening every moment to increase to a gale of wind from the south-east. We at length approached the barrier; still no pilot, or hope of meeting one! There was now but little time for deliberation, and our captain, having calmly surveyed the different land marks, and attentively examined his charts, determined, coûte qui coûte, to risk his own, and the vessel's fate, and try the passage. He deserved better; for we had scarcely run on for twenty minutes longer, when the vessel struck with very

considerable force upon the north bank, where she continued until one of the news-boats, connected with one or two establishments of the New York daily press, and who are generally in the offing to meet foreign vessels, or from foreign ports, on arrival, came to our assistance, and through whose timely aid we fortunately soon after succeeded in getting off, without sustaining any very great apparent injury. We anchored on the same day at the quarantine ground, Staten Island, having thus completed the passage from Liverpool in thirty-eight days.

The scenery in nearing the inner bay and harbour of New York, particularly after a long and wearisome voyage, is truly beautiful, and of the most grateful and fascinating kind; the bright and vivid colouring of all around, at this particular season, imparted a vigour and freshness to the scene, that gave new buoyancy and life to all on board. The approach to the inner harbour is strongly fortified and well protected, by several formidable and newly erected works.

We had now let go our anchor, furled sails, and were setting all to rights, when a boat from the shore brought on board the officer of customs, with the medical officer of the station. Being fortunate in escaping all kinds of epidemic sickness since our departure from the Mersey, our cabin passengers were permitted to land, with dressing apparatus and change of linen only; the general luggage not being allowed to go on shore without undergoing a very particular search, and written permit from the