1839 March
the displacement finish of the beautiful craft to which I have the
honour to belong; - dined, - took my Bohea & played ecarti &
whist till bedtime.
Tuesday 26th Fine weather & foul at intervals employed myself
reading Marmion (first & part of the second canto) & turned in
at the usual time.
Wednesday 27th One of the most delightful days that I have had the good
fortune to witness and I decidedly think that not even the beautifully
calm scenes among the lakes & mountains of the Northern America nor
the distant views of her beauteous & terrific cataracts themselves
with all their appalling thunder commanding (as it were) your
admiration can equal the heavenly setting of this earthly paradise on a
day like this. From the poop of our good old ship, sitting on her
native element with that grace & majesty which justly might mistake
her for the considered "Queen of the Ocean's depths" this prospect is
everything that an Englishman can desire, for any side will see the
splendid domain of the Rt Hble The Earl of Mt. Edgecomb beyond it rise
the hills of Dartmoor beautifully fading into the distance until they
melt & are lost in the clouds themselves. We next perceive the
public