THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



97 



'• Here 's to your Honor," — " Long life to your Honor," 

 — "God bless your Honor," — Honors followed with 

 such rapidity that I turned away in disgust. The breeze 

 freshened and we proceeded fast on our way. Perhaps 

 to-morrow may see me safe on land again — perhaps to- 

 morrow may see us all stranded, perishing where the 

 beautiful "Albion" went ashore. 



St. George's Channel, Thursday, July 20. lam approach- 

 ing very fast the shores of England, indeed Wales is 

 abreast of our ship, and we can plainly distinguish the 

 hedges that divide the fields of grain ; but what nakedness 

 the country exhibits, scarce a patch of timber to be seen ; 

 our fine forests of pine, of oak, of heavy walnut-trees, of 

 magnificent magnolias, of hickories or ash or maple, are 

 represented here by a diminutive growth called " furze." 

 But I must not criticise so soon ! I have not seen the 

 country, I have not visited any of the historic castles, or 

 the renowned parks, for never have I been in England nor 

 Scotland, that land made famous by the entrancing works 

 of Walter Scott. We passed yesterday morning the 

 Tuskar, a handsome light on a bare rock. This morning 

 we saw Holyhead, and we are now not more than twenty- 

 five miles from Liverpool ; but I feel no pleasure, and 

 were it not for the sake of my Lucy and my children, I 

 would readily embark to-morrow to return to America's 

 shores and all they hold for me. . . . The pilot boat that 

 came to us this morning contained several men all dressed 

 in blue, with overcoats of oiled linen, — all good, hearty, 

 healthy-looking men. ... I have been on deck, and from 

 the bow the land of England is plainly distinguishable; 

 the sight around us is a beautiful one, I have counted 

 fifty-six vessels with spreading sails, and on our right are 

 mountains fading into the horizon; my dull thoughts 

 have all abandoned me, I am elated, my heart is filled 

 I with hope. To-morrow we shall land at the city of Liver- 

 |Pool, but when I think of Custom House officials, accep- 



VOL. I. — 7 



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