8 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
Although we had embarked in the forenoon^ the bustle 
and activity of every one on boards the adjusting and 
securing different articles in the cabin^ brought on the 
close of the day, before we felt in any degree settled. 
Towards evening, however, I left the cabin for the deck, 
and enjoyed an hour of solemn, and, I trust, profitable 
meditation. Our ship was now under way, and pro¬ 
ceeding steadily, though not rapidly, through the 
water. Every headland we passed on the Isle of Wight, 
and every point of land on the Hampshire coast, as it 
receded from my view, awakened the impression that 
I should never behold it again. I lingered with intensity 
of feeling on each passing scene, until the shadows of 
night gathered thickly around, and the only objects 
visible from the ship were a few distant lights, glim¬ 
mering amidst the darkness in which every thing besides 
was concealed. After gazing on these lights until a late 
hour, I directed, as I supposed, a last glance towards 
them, and the coasts they illuminated, and retired to rest. 
The next morning I hastened on deck, and looking 
abroad upon the expanse of waters, distinguished with 
delight a point of land. It was England; my eye 
rested on it with strong and painful interest; the mighty 
waters, like those of the deluge, appeared to rise higher 
and higher; until, at last, the waves of the distant and 
naked horizon appeared to have rolled over it; and 
our vessel, like the ark, seemed all that remained to us 
of the terrestrial world. In every direction there was 
nothing now to be seen, but one wide waste of water 
below, and the outstretched heavens above. England, 
with all its associations and its enjoyments, its tenderest 
earthly ties, and its distinguished religious privileges, 
had vanished. 
