10 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



and what with the attention of the men, the recollection 

 that we were celebrating the greatest festival of the 

 Christian year under circumstances so novel to myself, and 

 the many nations and creeds and languages represented at 

 it, I felt that I had never taken part in any service so 

 peculiarly interesting, albeit the roll of the vessel in the 

 Atlantic waves necessitated continual caution and a firm 

 hold of the table to enable me to retain my balance, as I 

 stood to proclaim the Resurrection of our Lord on that 

 Easter morning. 



The afternoon of that day proved thoroughly hot, and 

 the delicious warmth coming upon us so rapidly after the 

 bitter winds which had followed us from England, was all 

 the more welcome and more duly appreciated, from the 

 contrast ; and it was positive enjoyment to sit on deck and 

 drink in the balmy air of the south, and ruminate as day- 

 dreamers at sea are apt to do. 



There were plenty of subjects to crowd in upon the 

 mind as we traversed those waters, so prolific of glorious 

 enterprises, grand discoveries, and disastrous losses. Here 

 sailed, in far distant times, those hardy mariners the 

 Phoenicians, creeping out of the Mediterranean beyond the 

 Pillars of Hercules and coasting northwards towards the 

 Cassiterides, undeterred by their ignorance of what lay 

 be3^ond, or even by the fearful rumours of dangers which 

 prevailed, and still venturing onwards till they reached the 

 shores of Britain. Hence, long ages afterwards, went forth 

 the bold discoverer, Vasco de Gama, the first to double 

 the Cape of Good Hope and open out the way to India. 

 Over these waters sailed the invincible Armada, that vast 

 squadron which started from Lisbon with such confidence 

 of success and such determination against England, but 

 which the winds and the storms of the Bay of Biscay and 

 the valour of our countrymen so signally defeated. Hither, 

 too, in later times, came our own fleet, and hereabouts 



