8 A STORM. 
anticipated, afforded a satisfactory presumption 
that their courage and spirits would not fail 
when they should be really called into exercise. 
With a good ship and a cheerful crew the suc- 
cess of a voyage is almost certain. We fired a 
salute of seven guns, in reply to the farewell 
from the fortress of Kronstadt, and, the wind 
blowing fresh, soon lost sight of its towers. 
As far as Gothland all went well, and nothing 
disturbed the general cheerfulness ; but here a 
sudden storm from the west attacked us so un- 
expectedly as scarcely to give time for the 
necessary precautions. Tossed to and fro by 
the swelling and boisterous waves, I was not, I 
must confess, altogether free from anxiety. 
Vith a new and untried ship, and men some- 
what out of practice, a first storm is naturally 
attended by many causes of disquiet not after- 
wards so seriously felt. Inthe present instance, 
however, these untoward circumstances were 
rather productive of the ludicrous than the 
terrific; and whatever might be my solicitude 
as commander, I experienced but little sym- 
pathy from my officers. The strength and 
extent of the motion to which we were about 
