CHAPTEE 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," " Eelief," 

 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 separa- 

 tion, to rendezvous at Funchal, the principal port of Ma- 

 deira. 



On the 24th, the " Belief" was ordered to proceed to 

 Pio 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, 



