16 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



first saw her, but soon after took in her studding-sails and 

 hauled up so as to come near us. When abeam, and about 

 three miles distant, she showed German colours, laid aback 

 her mainsail and lowered a quarter-boat, which we immedi 

 ately squared away to meet, and ran up our bunting, every 

 body on deck, and great excitement. With a glass we could 

 see her decks loaded with emigrants ; and as her masts and 

 sails appeared entirely uninjured, it could only be conjectured 

 that she was distressed for provisions or water. The carpen 

 ter was sent to sound the water tanks, and the mate to make 

 an estimate of what stores might be safely spared, while we 

 hastened to our rooms to scribble notes to send home. We 

 finished them soon enough to see a neat boat, rowed by four 

 men, come alongside, and a gentlemanly young officer mount 

 nimbly up the side-ladder. He was received on deck by our 

 second mate, and conducted aft by him to the cabin compan 

 ion, where the captain, having put on his best dress-coat and 

 new Broadway stove-pipe hat, stood, like a small king, digni- 

 fiedly waiting. After the ceremony of presentation, the cap 

 tain inquired, &quot; Well, sir, what can I have the pleasure of 

 doing for you ?&quot; The young man replied that he came from 



the ship so and so, Captain , who sent his compliments, 



and desired &quot; Vaat is te news ?&quot; This cool motive for stop 

 ping two ships in mid-ocean, with a fresh and favourable wind 

 blowing for each, took the captain plainly aback; but he 

 directly recovered, and taking him into the cabin, gave him 

 a glass of wine and a few minutes conversation with a 

 most creditable politeness ; a chunk of ice and a piece of fresh 

 meat were passed into the boat, and the steerage passengers 

 threw some tobacco to the men in her. The young officer 

 took our letters, with some cigars and newspapers, and went 

 over the side again, without probably having perceived that 

 we were any less gregarious beings than himself. The curbed 



