CHAPTER I. 



FROM NORFOLK TO MADEIRA. 



AT 3 o'clock P. M., August 18th, (1838,) the Vincennes 

 made the signal to get under-weigh, and in obedience to the 

 same we weighed anchor in company with the rest of the 

 squadron, namely, " Vincennes," " Peacock," " Relief," and 

 the two schooners "Sea Gull" and "Flying Fish." At 

 5 P. M., we came-to off Fort Monroe, on account of its fall- 

 ing calm, and of the tide making against us ; but at 9.20 the 

 breeze sprung up, and we again hove-up the anchor and stood 

 out to sea. At 4.15 P. M., on the 19th, we discharged the 

 pilot, and took our departure. The day was beautiful, the 

 sea smooth, the breeze favoring, and the vessels sailed finely. 

 Indeed, we could not possibly have commenced our cruise 

 under more auspicious circumstances. 



The day following we received orders, in case of separation, 

 to rendezvous at Funchal, the principal port of Madeira. 



On the 24th, the "Relief" was ordered to proceed to Rio 

 Janeiro, in consequence of not being able to keep up with the 

 rest of the squadron. 



At dawn on the 13th of September, we descried the Island 

 of St. Michael, the first land we had seen since bidding adieu 

 to our own shores. This island is of a volcanic origin ; its 

 conical-shaped mountains, and detached basaltic rocks which 



