July.] 



ARRIVE AT NEW-YORK. 



333 



parison with them." This description, I should suppose, would make 

 any alderman's mouth water. 



From the island of Ascension we shaped our course west-north-west, 

 with a strong breeze from the south-east, and fair weather. We crossed 

 the equator on Sunday, the 21st of June, in long. 30° 47' W., and on 

 Tuesday, the 23d, we lost the south-east trade-winds, in lat. 5° 42' N., 

 long. 32° 14' W. From this day to the 26th we had light variable 

 winds, and heavy falls of rain. On the last-mentioned date, at four, 

 P. M., we took the north-east trade-winds, in lat. 10° 4' N., long. 32° 

 51' W. We now had a fine breeze from east-north-east to north- 

 north-east, and fair weather for ten days. 



July 4th. — On Saturday we celebrated the anniversary of our na- 

 tional independence in an appropriate manner, by displaying the stars 

 and stripes, and firing a national salute at sunrise, noon, and sunset. 

 This ceremony was rendered the more interesting by its being beneath 

 a vertical sun, at twelve, M., — " a sun of glory, that threw no 

 shadow on the scene." At this moment the sun's declination and our 

 latitude only differed one minute and thirty seconds. Temperature of 

 the air 95°, of the water 83°. Heaven grant that the sun of our 

 national glory and prosperity, which is rapidly ascending to the zenith, 

 may there remain vertical, until time shall be no more. 



July 7th. — On Tuesday, the 7th, we lost the north-east trade-winds, 

 in lat. 31° 0' N., long. 63° 8' W. We now continued steering to the 

 north and west, with variable winds and occasional foul weather, for 

 nearly another week, when the cheering cry from the mast-head of 

 " Land, ho ! land, ho ! over the larboard bow," announced the appear- 

 ance of Mount Mitchell, .or the highlands of Navesink, and many anx- 

 ious bosoms throbbed quick in response to the welcome cry. In a 

 short time after we were boarded by a pilot. 



July 14th. — On Tuesday, at four, P. M., we arrived at the quaran- 

 tine ground, Staten Island ; and at five, P. M., I landed at Whitehall, 

 where I took a coach, and in a short time I had by the hand my wor- 

 thy old friend Christian Bergh, Esq., who greeted me with a cordial 

 " welcome home," affectionately inquiring after the health of myself 

 and crew. But not a question would he ask, not a word would he 

 hear, respecting the success of our voyage, or on business of any de- 

 scription, until I had embraced my family, who, he informed me, were 

 in good health. This instance of kindness and delicacy, so differ- 

 ent from the general conduct of " mercenary man," touched me sen- 

 sibly. 



While I was conversing with the old gentleman, we were joined by 

 his son, Edwin Bergh, " a son every way worthy of such a sire." His 

 greeting was equally cordial, equally delicate with that of his excel- 

 lent father ; neither of them would touch upon business until I had 

 discharged duties of a more tender character. On taking my leave 

 of these worthy men, I was met by their copartners in business, Jacob 

 Westerfield and Robert Carnley, Esqrs., whose reception, to my in- 

 creased surprise, was exactly similar to that of the Berghs. The 

 pleasure of seeing me returned in safety, they said, was a theme suffi- 

 cient for the remainder of that day ; to-morrow would be time enough 



