and heavy gale of wind, which shortly after set in with considerable force from the south-west, and continued with unabated violence for near twentyfour hours in succession. Our only casualty on board was a foretopsail, in an attempt to close reef it to the yard; and beside the severe rolling, and other heavy motion of the vessel, with an occasional sea that washed our decks, suffered no other inconvenience. The gale, as is sometimes usual, was succeeded by a calm, and variable weather, which, much to our annoyance, and general discomfort,

to explain what has heretofore remained in incertitude and doubt. The following are the gallant Lieutenant's own words:

"MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS.

"Sir,-At page 330 of your April number (of 1836) an allusion is made to these extraordinary birds, and the writer says that although the fact has never been ascertained, they are supposed to frequent rocky and uninhabited isles to lay their eggs and rear their young. I am happy to be able to bear testimony to the fact, that they do frequent such isles for the above purpose.

on which there is geneBut we found the place Soon after sunset there

"While employed on the coast of Newfoundland, in the year 1827, we had occasion to moor a small vessel I was in charge of, off Wadham Cove. The island which forms it is very small and rocky, with here and there a little soil, rally nothing but a species of grass. completely occupied by sea-fowl. appeared to come out of the ground. a great number of Mother Carey's Chickens, and, supposing that they had nests there, we immediately commenced a search for them. We were not long in discovering that these birds made holes in the ground to lay their eggs in, which generally consisted of three or four. The mouth of the hole was invariably just large enough to admit one bird at a time, and the stench proceeding from it was very offensive, we were also much disturbed I remember by their noise at night."

We were,

continued for several successive days. however, sometimes amused by the numerous whales, sharks, and merry porpoises, in their wanton tricks playing around, frequently so near, as almost to touch the vessel's side. We had also frequent opportunities of seeing, and indeed of examining the nautilus (argonauta), or as seamen usually term them, “Portuguese Men of War," with a variety of other submarine inhabitants, that occasionally sported round the vessel, as she lay becalmed on her wide expansive bed, with her sails indolently flapping to and fro against the mast.

If there is any situation, save actual shipwreck, in which a vessel may be placed at sea, more truly distressing, and ungrateful to the feelings of those on board, than another, it is surely the calm, that immediately succeeds heavy blowing weather. The swell, that still rolls undisturbed, mocks each effort of man to subdue its influence, and in despite of his authority, continues to disturb the peaceful serenity of all else around, by the violent, and incessant rolling of the unfortunate bark, until every plank and timber in her frame, groans under the infliction. It is frequently the case, especially in the Bay of Biscay, that vessels in the most settled calm, but under the influence of a heavy Atlantic swell, are nearly thrown upon their "beam ends," and otherwise suffer far greater injury, particularly in their spars and rigging, than could result from the

severest storm.

There are two understood routes from the British

THE GULF STREAM.

25

Channel to the northern ports of the United States; one or other of which is selected by the vessels making for this destination, according to the season or time of the year, they may have to cross the Atlantic. These are distinguished amongst seamen as the northern, and southern passage; the first continuing to the northward of the Gulf stream, in 40° to 45° degrees northern latitude, until it crosses the great bank of Newfoundland, as also Saint George's bank on the American coast, which it usually meets in 64 degrees west longitude.

The Gulf stream, which escapes from the gulf of Mexico, from which it derives its name, by the Floridas, through the old Bahama channel, runs nearly parallel with the east coast of North America, decreasing its velocity in its progress, from three knots per hour; at the same time extending its width, as it proceeds to the northward, and verging to the southward of the great bank of Newfoundland, is joined by the arctic current from Bherring and Davis Straits, which diverts its course to a southeasterly direction. Its breadth is supposed fifty miles on the American coast; off Charleston it is probably sixty miles off Cape Hatteras, near ninety; and off the Capes of Virginia, from one hundred to one hundred and twenty; and extends to about one hundred and sixty leagues at the Azores. After passing Gibraltar, Madeira, &c. it unites with the tropical current, passes through the Caribbean sea, and again falls into the gulf of Mexico, after running a circuit of near fifteen thousand miles.

It was formerly supposed that this current was principally occasioned by the Mississippi, and other giant rivers of western America, that flow into the Mexican gulf. But this opinion is now exploded, and has given way to the received notion, that it is altogether produced by the trade winds, that, blowing continually from the eastward, in the latitude of the tropics, propel a vast body of the water of the Atlantic, to the north-eastern coast of South America, and passing the West India islands, is forced along the shores of Caraccas, Carthagena, &c. into the Bay of Honduras, and subsequently escaping through the narrow pass between Cape Cartouche on the continent, and Cape Saint Antonio on the island of Cuba, enters the gulf of Mexico, and unites itself in its further progress with the waters of the Mississippi.

The other, or southern passage to the United States, crosses this stream, or great "oceanic river,” as it is sometimes called, first in its progress to the south-east, and running for a considerable distance almost parallel to its southern boundary, again crosses it within about eighty leagues of the coast of America.

Vessels sailing by the northern passage, though exposed to much blowing weather, generally make the quickest run. The distance, too, is somewhat shorter. Our captain selected this route, regardless of its difficulties, and particularly of the ice, that at this time had broken up to the northward, and was known to have drifted in very considerable quantities

by the arctic current across the bank of Newfoundland. He affected to despise all notion of attendant danger; though it had become a matter of notoriety before our leaving Liverpool, that an unusual number of icebergs had already been met with by homewardbound vessels, deterring many others, proceeding on the outward voyage, from selecting this route.

Several days had now passed by, without any remarkable incident taking place to divert the scene from its usual monotony. We had sometimes a fair wind to cheer the prospect of a speedy release, and termination of our voyage, but in general had to contend with strong westerly winds, against which it was difficult to make much head way. A vessel was now and again descried from the mast head; sometimes visible from the deck. Those astern were soon lost sight of, whilst our superior sailing generally enabled us to come up with any that might be discovered a-head. The coming-up-with and hailing a vessel at sea is always a joyous occurrence, and exhilarating to all on board. It in a manner brings us back to the world, -to a communion with our species, and dissipates for a while the feeling of solitude and utter loneliness, that frequently seizes upon the mind when at sea; independent of the curiosity to which it gives rise, in the minds of all, to discover the name and character of the stranger-the nation under the protection of whose flag she is proceeding on her way. But our captain seldom felt any anxiety on this head; and, if that a half quarter of a mile might bring us within hailing distance of a