LETTER XL.

DEPARTURE FROM

WASHINGTON

AUTHOR OF

HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS' INSTITUTION OF

THE BLIND AT BOSTON-AN ICEBERG-A WRECK

DISCOVERED

PLEASANT VOYAGE-ARRIVAL AT

LIVERPOOL.

'Hibernia' at Sea-April.

NCE more upon the salt waters!

ONCE

Once more

careering over the waters, and steering towards our homes! our good ship 'bounds beneath us'-with a thousand horse power, and almost every heart on board of her seems light with joyful expectation. Two thousand miles a-headand more—also are the green hills of Ireland, and the white cliffs of our own land, but every day diminishes the distance, and the strong westerly wind helps us hopefully on to the Old World once

more.

ay,

The day following that on which I despatched my last letter to you from Washington, we bade adieu to that city, and commenced our route towards the north. Our journey, which occupied three days, was an uneventful one, but I must not forget to tell you that we were not without com

242

BOSTON INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.

panions-agreeable ones, too—on the road, having had the good fortune to be joined by the author of 'Highways and Byways,' M. Calderon de la Barca, the Spanish minister, an English ex-attaché, and one or two other homeward-bound, and far from unintelligent Britishers.'

We had two days to spare at Boston, previous to the departure of the steamer for England, and one of these we devoted to the inspection' of the excellent institution for the blind. We spent a long day among them, admiring the wonderful patience and skill with which their burthen is rendered bearable to them, and the extraordinary intelligence which many of them display. The details respecting this institution have been so often and so ably given, that you must, I am sure, be familiar with them-therefore, I shall content myself with telling you, that we saw and conversed both with Laura Bridgman, and Oliver Caswell, the two cases which excite so much interest and curiosity.

They were both born deprived alike of hearing, sight, and speech, and yet now, they are not only rational and thinking creatures, but are well informed in a degree infinitely superior to that of most of their condition in life, and are capable of reading, and otherwise employing themselves in a manner both amusing and profitable. Verily, these good Samaritans are appointed to make the

EVENING AT BOSTON.

243

dumb to speak, the blind to see, and the benighted and ignorant to understand, and to lay up knowledge.'

Our last evening was passed in the most agreeable society of Boston, and yet there was a shade of melancholy on our spirits, for we felt we were leaving (perhaps for ever) many kind and hospitable friends. After all, though there is much to censure in the land we have left, a person must indeed be strongly prejudiced, who does not find infinitely more to admire than to condemn.

America is still a very young republic, for, great and unexampled as is the progress she has made during her seventy years of independent existence -what are seventy years in the long histories of nations? every day (as we have had ample opportunities of observing) she makes a stepI might well call it a stride in her advancementand though at present she is certainly not (except in the matter of size) the greatest country on airth,' I have no doubt that the time will come when she may in every respect, and without boasting, lay claim to that proud distinction. In commerce, she is already no despicable rival of the first nation in the world-civilization and refinement, with the arts and sciences in their train, are making sure, though perhaps not rapid, progress amongst her citizens, and every revolving year seems to add to her prosperity. Let Europe

and Europeans (who are jealous of America, as America of them) deny it as they may, there is among England's descendants in the west, l'étoffe des grands hommes, they are now toiling up the ascent which the Old World has trod before them -the latter is arrived at the apex; what next will follow, who can say ? If the race in this case be battle to the strong,' Ame

to the swift,' and the

rica will reach the summit sooner than those that have gone before her; and when there, let us pray that England be found there also.

There are more Americans than English on board, for it is the season when the former set off on the grand tour, to enjoy, as a stout gentleman here calls it, a run in Italy.' There is among the passengers a somewhat gloomy-looking individual in a gray paletot, who is said to have left his native land for a little change, having for the moment depressed his spirits by putting an end to the existence of his wife and friend, in a fit of

jealous rage. He eats well, however, and his friends may have the satisfaction of hoping to see him all right' again soon.

We had but two events, if such they might be called, to break the tedium of the voyage-one was the sight of a large iceberg, glittering like polished silver under the rays of the sun, and the other, was the falling in with a wreck. Every one rushed on deck when the latter was signalled, and

A WRECK DISCOVERED.

245

every eye was fixed on the vessel, which lay half hid, and washed over by the waves, waterlogged, and with a few tattered rags of sails, flapping from the small masts which still remained standing. There was rather a heavy sea on, so the captain gave orders, as it was blowing fresh at the time, to have all ready to lower the life-boat, in case there should be any survivors on the wreck to whom we might render assistance. We went quite close to the little vessel, near enough to convince ourselves whether or not there were any starving or drowning creatures on board; but we strained our eyes in vain, she was devoid of any human occupant, and after making out from the letters on her stern that she was from Savannah, a timber ship, (which prevented her sinking,) we went on our way. What had been the fate of the crew which had manned her, we had of course no means of ascertaining, whether the winds and waves had hurled them thence,' and 'without their will had carried them away,' or whether

'Famine, despair, and cold, and thirst had done

Their work on them by turns, and thinn'd them to
Such things, a mother had not known her son
Amidst the skeletons of that gaunt crew.'

But we left the wreck to float on in her desolation, we knew not whither; and, perhaps, (guided by unseen currents, and the capricious winds of Heaven,)