152 
VOYAGE OF THE SHIP PRESIDENT. 
to windward, became visible, proving- that our drift, during the 
thirty-six hours of the gale, had been nothing like vi^hat we 
had anticipated, and correspondently strengthening our good 
opinion of the noble ship. It still blew nearly a gale from 
about W. N.W. but the sea Avas smooth, and as much sail 
crowded as the gallant President could well " stagger" under. 
She swept through the water, and by midnight the lights on 
the highlands were a second time discerned. 
Wednesday, December 7. — This morning, at an early hour, 
we were again greeted with a sight of the Jersey coast. The 
weather however looked doubtful, and we all felt more anx- 
ious than rejoiced, lest the unhappy occurrence of Sunday 
night might be repeated. Yet as the morning advanced the 
prospects were more cheering, and under a light, but head 
breeze, we were making a gradual progress toward the Hook, 
when about twelve o'clock we were boarded by the news- 
boat Thomas H. Smith, and nearly all of the cabin passen- 
gers, and some of those in the steerage, agreed to take ad- 
vantage of her lighter and more expeditious sailing to New- 
York, being much encouraged by the intelligence that our 
fellow- voyagers had safely reached the city on Sunday night. 
Before two o'clock we were all embarked, by six o'clock we 
were within the Hook, and at nine we were safely landed on 
the wharf at New-York. 
Thus ended our tedious and dangerous voyage, a voyage 
of more than fifty days in length, and in which we struggled 
against more than a month of head wind, encountered at 
least a dozen gales, and two or three hundred severe squalls. 
But, owing to the strength of our excellent ship, and the rare 
skill and vigilance of our captain, no serious injury was sus- 
tained either by the crew or passengers. Although we press- 
ed on our way wreck after wreck, and found, on our arrival, 
the newspaper columns crowded with disasters of fellow-voy- 
agers, all of our great company (nearly one hundred and fifty 
souls) were landed, safely landed at our long-sought haven. 
We found, too, that other vessels which had left London som« 
days before us, were yet unheard of. Such distinguished pro- 
tection and kindness as we have experienced from the Father 
of mercies, demand unfeigned gratitude, and a life of future 
obedience. May these claims of our great Benefactor be felt 
by us all, and may the result of these trials be our better pre- 
paration for the termination of the voyage of life, and the ad- 
mission of our disembodied spirits into that haven above, 
where no tempest blows, and " no wave of trouble ever rolls." 
