Leaving Europe. 51 



A calm still prevailed near Europa Point, but as the clay 

 wore on, the easterly breeze blew strong through the Straits, 

 and, in company with innumerable other ships, the Pillars of 

 Hercules were at length passed. The wind freshened, and 

 the frigate cracked merrily on down mid-channel ; for, though 

 the set of the current was dead against us, yet the wind 

 proved more than a match for it, which in our case was the 

 more apparent, that those merchantmen which sailed along the 

 coast, not having the advantage of this wind, seemed as 

 though left motionless in the rear. 



When towards noon the Novara was off the place where the 

 Caroline had been anchored, that ship was no longer visible. 

 She had probably set sail in the morning. We supposed her 

 to be among the crowd of ships which were sailing in the 

 fog, but did not discover her, even after we had overtaken 

 and examined all of them. We now endeavoured to reach 

 the Atlantic as speedily as possible, making from nine to 

 ten knots an hour, and, with joyful sensations, sailed through 

 those beautiful straits, on whose shores the ancient world 

 unrolled its grand panorama, thanking Providence here, at the 

 ~ entrance of that vast ocean, which now shone so brilliantly, 

 that we were permitted to carry the Austrian flag into dis- 

 tant regions. 



At 4 P.M., aided by the fresh evening breeze, we passed the 

 most southerly point of Europe. We were just going to 

 dinner when the last glimpse of the old world passed before 

 the cabin windows, and we gazed once more with sorrowing 



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