THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 91 



Spaniards, and the cargo Spanish property ; however, this 

 morning both vessels were in view making different routes. 

 The man-of-war deigned not to come to us, and none of 

 us were much vexed at this mark of inattention. This 

 day has been calm; my drawing finished, I caught four 

 Dolphins ; how much I have gazed at these beautiful creat- 

 ures, watching their last moments of life, as they changed 

 their hue in twenty varieties of richest arrangement of tints, 

 from burnished gold to silver bright, mixed with touches 

 of ultramarine, rose, green, bronze, royal purple, quiver- 

 ing to death on our hard, broiling deck. As I stood and 

 watched them, I longed to restore them to their native 

 element in all their original strength and vitality, and yet 

 I felt but a few moments before a peculiar sense of pleas- 

 ure in catching them with a hook to which they were 

 allured by false pretences. 



We have at last entered the Atlantic Ocean this morn- 

 ing and with a propitious breeze ; the land birds have left 

 us, and I — I leave my beloved America, my wife, my 

 children, my friends. The purpose of this voyage is to 

 visit not only England, but the continent of Europe, with 

 the intention of publishing my work on the " Birds of 

 America." If not sadly disappointed my return to these 

 shores, these happy shores, will be the brightest day I 

 have ever enjoyed. Oh ! wife, children, friends, America, 

 farewell ! farewell ! 



July 9. At sea. My leaving America had for some 

 time the feelings of a dream; I could scarce make up 

 my mind fixedly on the subject. I thought continually 

 I still saw my beloved friends, and my dear wife and chil- 

 dren. I still felt every morning when I awoke that the land 

 of America was beneath me, and that I would in a short 

 time throw myself on the ground in her shady woods, 

 and watch for, and listen to the many lovely warblers. 

 But now that I have positively been at sea since fifty-one 

 days, tossing to and fro, without the sight or the touch of 



