218 
deceived in our expectations, for very early on the 12th of July, 
we experienced an uncommonly heavy motion, and the waves 
ran as high as in a storm, although the wind was not strong., 
This served as an assurance, that we had attained the Nymph 
bank. The motion of the sea here is caused by the pressure of 
great masses of water upon the bank, whereby the under water 
is cast up, and driven with great force towards the surface. The 
lead was hove for soundings several times since midnight, as 
we lay still too far to the south, to be governed by landmarks; 
had the weather not been so hazy, we could easily have dis¬ 
tinguished Cape Clear, the south-westernmost point of Ireland, 
consisting of a single high rock, jutting out into the sea, and pro¬ 
vided with a light-house. While we were seated at dinner, land 
was discovered. We mounted on deck, and beheld the high 
coast of the county of Cork in Ireland; the weather continued so 
hazy and rainy, that we could not have a clear and fine view of 
the land. I was surprised at the indifference with which I 
contemplated the first European land that now met my view, 
and particularly when I compared this indifference with the joy¬ 
ful enthusiasm, with which, one year past, on the 24th of July. 
I put my foot for the first time on the soil of America! But at 
that time every thing was new to me, and my expectations were 
wrought up to the highest pitch ; now on the contrary, I could 
only expect to see what was generally familiar. After din¬ 
ner we perceived off the coast of Ireland, two islands with high 
hills, called the Saltees, and near them a three-masted ship, as a 
floating light at anchor. We met likewise a steam-boat, bound 
from Milford in Wales, to Waterford in Ireland. It lay rather 
low in the water, and as the wind blew strong from the west, 
the sea ran so high, that I did not at all envy the condition of 
the passengers in the steam-boat, over whose deck the waves 
were constantly beating. The sight of land made our passen¬ 
gers more cheerful, and towards evening we became more happy 
than usual. 
On the morning of the 13th of July, the wind was uncom¬ 
monly mild, the weather, however, cleared up, so that we gra¬ 
dually discovered the lofty and mountainous coast of Wales. 
Among these high mountains, we particularly distinguished that 
of Snowdon, which towered above the others, until its pinnacle 
became lost in the clouds; it is about four thousand feet high. 
We descried the Isle of Anglesea next, and came so near it, that 
we could perceive distinctly its rough, high and precipitous rocks, 
arising from the ocean. On the highest of these rocks, stands a 
watch-house with a signal pole; we showed our number; every 
vessel that trades with Liverpool, is there furnished with a num¬ 
ber, under which it is inscribed in the book of the exchange, and 
