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May He, who bade you cross the wave, 



Through care for Afric's sons and daughters ; 

 When round your bark the billows rave, 



In safety guide you through the waters ! 

 By all you love with smiles be met ; 



Through life each good man's tongue approve you : 

 And though far distant, don't forget, 



While Yarra lives, she '11 live to love you ! 



April 3. 



The trade-winds which facilitate the passage to 

 Jamaica, effectually prevent the return of vessels 

 by the same road. The common passage is through 

 the Gulf of Florida, but there is another between 

 Cuba and St. Domingo, which is at least 1000 

 miles nearer. The first, however, affords almost 

 a certainty of reaching Europe in a given time ; 

 while you may keep tacking in the attempt to 

 make the windward passage (as it is called) for 

 months together. Last night the wind was so 

 favourable for this attempt, that the captain deter- 

 mined upon risking it. Accordingly he altered 

 his course ; and had not done so for more than a 

 few hours, when the wind changed, and became 

 as direct for the Gulf) as till then it had been 

 contrary. The consequence was, that the Gulf 

 passage was fixed once for all, and we are now 

 steering towards it with all our might and main. 

 Besides the distance saved, there was another rea- 

 son for preferring the windward passage, if it could 

 have been effected. The Gulf of Florida has 



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