26 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[September. 
four, A. M., it blew with a violence seldom witnessed, even in 
this region of tempests. The sea, which the evening before had 
been comparatively^ smooth, now rolled in mountains before the 
storm. Seldom had the electric fluid assumed such a variety of 
colours in so short a period of time. Though the flashing was 
incessant, yet in the space of a few seconds were exhibited, in 
the coruscations of the subtile fluid, all the varying colours of the 
rainbow ; twice did it pass down the fore-conductor, assuming on 
the second descent a most singular appearance. As the fluid fol- 
lowed the conductor, at each link of the chain, an electric spark 
was thrown off of the deepest red, while the livid line of light 
simultaneously marking the direction of the conductor, rendered 
it a singular phenomenon. 
The rain, at intervals, fell in torrents ; indeed, the roar of 
winds, and heavy peals of thunder, the successive and vivid 
flashes of lightning, laying bare the angry surface of the troubled 
waters, and presenting to the view, masts, ropes, rigging, and 
the men toiling upon the yards, and at the next moment all in 
darkness, imparted to the night a character of wild and terrific 
grandeur seldom surpassed. 
To the green reefers, as the younger midshipmen are some- 
times jocosely called on board a man-of-war, this was rather a 
rough introduction into the mysteries of their profession. Indeed, 
it may be doubted, if any protege of Neptune, even one of his 
eldest sons, could view, without concern, the high and soul-stir- 
ring sublimity of such a storm at sea ; his stately ship, like a 
huge animal struggling with the elements, now poising on the 
top of a deeply undulatory wave, now sinking in the trough of 
the sea, and again rising and bursting through the phosphoric 
gloamings of the crested billow, and dashing the water from her 
sides, as the lion shakes the dewdrops from his mane. 
As the morning dawned, the gale abated, and moderate breezes 
from the north succeeded, with a high and irregular sea. The 
latitude was 36° north, longitude 66'' west. 
The metamorphosis which a vessel undergoes, after the abate- 
ment of a storm, is always a pleasant sight ; and hence no sound 
is heard with more joy, on such occasions, than the vociferation 
of the boatswain, as " all hands make sail, ahoy !" is repeated by 
his mates through all parts of the vessel. To this call officers 
