58 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[October, 
genius, years of toil and repeated efforts are necessary to attain 
eminence. In the many attempts some must fail, and are 
thrown out of the vocation by dissipation, and find themselves 
from necessity on board a man-of-war. On board the Potomac 
there were one or two rather above mediocrity ; who, being well 
qualified to take the management, as a matter of course, entered 
into the subject with great spirit. 
On Saturday, the twenty-ninth of October, the theatre was 
rigged on the quarterdeck, and invitations were sent on shore, to 
the ladies and gentlemen with whom the ofiicers had become 
acquainted ; and, among these, several natives of the country. 
The piece selected for the evening had been frequently rehearsed ; 
and, as the performers improved and acquired confidence in every 
new attempt, it was hoped that the evening's amusement would 
pass off well. At eight o'clock, the deck was thronged with the 
officers of the Warren and Lexington, the former having just ar- 
rived. It was indeed pleasant to meet thus, on a foreign station, 
so many acquaintances and former shipmates; and memory, ac- 
tive in the reminiscences of other days and bygone times, brought 
up incidents again to be talked over and enjoyed anew. , 
But our brightest anticipations are often subject to disappoint- 
ment, and the sunny smile of beauty was doomed to be lacking 
on this occasion. The weather suddenly changed, the heavens 
became overcast, and the prospect of the attendance of the ladies 
from on shore every moment grew more faint. The perform- 
a:nce was finally opened without them ; but still it contributed 
greatly to the amusement of all who were present. 
Matters, however, were not allowed to terminate thus. Another 
evening was set apart for the purpose ; the theatre was again 
opened ; and all who had not been able to attend on the preceding 
evening, were now present. The performance went off with 
spirit ; a dance followed, and the ladies and gentlemen from the 
city seemed much pleased with their visit on board, and the enter- 
tainments prepared for the occasion. But the time had now come 
for the Potomac to depart, and pm-sue the objects of her destination. 
" Her massive anchors, near this Eden land, 
For twenty days had bit the golden sand ; 
But duty calls, new perils to endure, 
And the hoarse boatswain pipes — ' All hands, unmoor V " 
