492 



RETURN TO NEW-YORK. 



[1S3L 



Paris, eighty-seven miles south of Kochelle, forty leagues from Tou- 

 louse, thirty-three from Limoges, fourteen from the Saints, and about 

 seventy-five miles from the mouth of the river on which it stands. In 

 the present geographical division of France, Bordeaux is the capital of 

 the department of Gironde. 



The ancient city of Bordeaux, it is said, though considerable in point 

 of size, was ill built, badly paved, without police, or any of those muni- 

 cipal regulations indispensably requisite to render a city splendid or 

 elegant. I was told that it has entirely changed its appearance within 

 the last forty years. The new city is well built, the streets regular 

 and handsome, and the public edifices present a noble appearance. 

 The newest as well as the finest part of it is the public square facing 

 the harbour. The population is estimated at one hundred thousand, 

 and their commerce is very extensive. 



The harbour is capacious and well secured ; and from its crescent 

 form is called Le Port de la Lune. The city and harbour are defended 

 by three forts, which were constructed by the famous Vauban. The 

 Garonne is a noble river, with depth of water sufficient to enable the 

 largest ships to come up to the city ; it is considerably wider than the 

 Thames at London Bridge ; is bordered by a large and elegant quay 

 between three and four miles in length ; and the water rises in it twelve 

 feet at full tide. The commerce of this place is also greatly promoted 

 by the celebrated canal of Languedoc, which communicates with the 

 Mediterranean, and through which Bordeaux can furnish the south of 

 France with colonial products at a cheaper rate than Marseilles. 

 Wines, brandies, and fruits are the staple articles of export ; but the 

 wine trade is most attended to. Bordeaux is in latitude 44° 50' 20'' N., 

 long. 0° 34' E. 



July 15th. — On Friday, the 15th, we took leave of all our French 

 friends, and at eleven, A. M., got under way, and once more directed 

 the Antarctic's course to our long-looked for home, in " the drooping 

 west." After leaving the river and the Bay of Biscay, our patience was 

 tantalized with contrary winds, and still more vexatious calms, which 

 protracted out passage to the unusual length of nearly six weeks. 



August 27th. — On Saturday, the 27th of August, we entered the port 

 of New-York, after an absence of two years lacking six days. My 

 owners received me in the most kind and cordial manner, which was 

 more than I anticipated on returning from a voyage attended with such 

 a succession of misfortunes. This was truly a cordial to my wounded 

 spirit, and enabled my wife to bear up against the melancholy intelli- 

 gence which awaited us on reaching our long-deserted home — her father, 

 her aunt, and her aunt's child were all dead! as were likewise a female 

 cousin of my own, and her husband ! Thus ends the narrative of my 

 " Four Voyages." 



THE END. 



