A New Torh Packet. 385 



antly, until we approached the banks of Newfoundland, 

 when we began to fear and dream of icebergs and disas- 

 ters j but none came, and the Gladiator kept her course 

 steadily onward, when, just five weeks after leaving Eng- 

 land, in the afternoon, the highlands of Neversink were dis- 

 covered, about fifteen miles distant. The welcome news of 

 our approach to the Hook thrilled my heart with ecstacy. 



" The evening was dark, and no pilot in sight ; and 

 rockets were thrown up from the ship to attract one. 

 This soon brought one alongside, and an American tar 

 leaped on board. Oh ! my Lucy, thou knowest me, but 

 I cried like a child, and when our anchor was dropped, 

 and rested on the ground of America, thy poor husband 

 laid himself down on his knees, and there thanked God 

 for His preservation of myself and our dear son. 



" All was now bustle and mutual congratulations ; our 

 commander was praised for his skill by some, and others 

 praised his whiskey punch, which the waiters handed 

 about, and the night was nearly spent in revelry ; but 

 John -and myself retired at two o'clock. 



"It rained hard and blew all night, but I slept com- 

 fortably, and awoke the next morning at four o'clock as 

 happy as any man could be three thousand miles from the 

 dearest friend he had on earth. As a gleam of daylight 

 appeared, my eyes searched through the hazy atmosphere 

 to catch a glimpse of the land, and gradually Staten Island 

 opened on my view ; then the boat of the custom-house 

 officer appeared, and soon he boarded us, arranged the 

 sailors and passengers on deck, and called their names. 

 Then followed breakfast, and soon another boat with a 

 yellow flag flying landed the health officer, and there be- 

 ing no sickness on board, myself and John returned to 

 Staten Island in the doctor's boat, and were taken by the 

 steamer Hercules to the city, where we were welcomed by 

 relatives and friends." 

 17 



