Intelligence and Miscellanies. 169 



ed himself of opportunities, in which he was liberally indul- 

 ged, of visiting many places in several of the interesting 

 countries that surround the Mediter»^anean. 



In observing these regions, the cradle of man ; famous 

 alike in song and story, in arts, in commerce and in war; the 

 seats of empire, risen, fallen and gone ; the birth place of true 

 and false religion ; the theatre of noble struggles for liberty, 

 both ancient and modern, he was not an idle obseiver, and 

 men and things were alike embraced in his survey. 



But his leadmg object seems to have been, to unfold the 

 interior of the American navy, so that this national institu- 

 tion, so much spoken of, but so little understood, may be dis- 

 played to the national eye ; and to present such graphic 

 sketches of those scenes which are beyond a landman's 

 view, that he may see them as if he were sailing with the 

 traveller. 



We have obtained permission of the author, to insert the 

 following sketch of a night squall. 



U. S. frigate Constitution, Monday, Sept. 4, 1826. 

 ******* 



On Friday the green shores of Sicily came in view, but 

 the breeze was light, and we advanced slowly. On Satur- 

 day it left us altogether, and, when I turned in at night, the 

 sea was smooth and bright as a mirror; the vast firmament 

 seemed to descend below us ; the ship appeared suspended 

 in the centre of an immense sphere, and if I may say so, 

 one felt in awe and silence the majesty of space. The sails 

 hung idly by the mast, and the officers' tread along the deck 

 was the only sound heard. So I left them. About midnight 

 I was awaked by a heavy swing of my cot, succeeded by a 

 sudden dash to the other side : the water was pouring into 

 our room, and I could hear its rush across the upper decks, 

 where all was noise and rapid motion. I hurried on my 

 clothes and ran up : the gun deck was clear ; hammocks 

 had already been lashed up and stowed ; it was lighted up, 

 and the lamps shewed it flooded in its whole extent. I as- 

 cended to the next : the rain came down in torrents, but I 

 did not feel it, so deeply absorbing was the scene. I wish I 

 could describe it. The sky was in a constant blaze : the sea 

 was not high, but the waves were broken, confused and 

 foaming, and taking from the lightning an unnatural hue. 

 Above me were the vards covered with human beings, 

 Vol. XVI.— No. 1. ' 22 



