A Ramble of Six Thousand Miles through the United States of America | Page 3

length the mate cried,
"helm all right," and the crew pulled away as usual. At the close of the
fourth day the storm subsided, and we approached the banks of
Newfoundland.
It is generally supposed that the colour of the sea is a sure indication of
the presence or absence of soundings; that is, that there are soundings

where the water is green, and that there are none where the water is
blue. The former is, I believe, true in every instance; but the latter is
certainly not so, as the first soundings we got here, were in water as
blue as indigo, depth fifty odd fathoms.
We were thirty days crossing these tiresome banks; during which time
we were befogged, and becalmed, and annoyed with all sorts of
disagreeable weather. The fogs or mists were frequently so dense, that
it was impossible to see more than thirty yards from the vessel. This
course is not that usually taken by ships bound for the United States, as
they generally cross the Atlantic at much lower latitudes, but our
captain "calculated" on escaping calms, and avoiding the influence of
the Gulf stream, and thus making a quicker passage; he was, however,
mistaken, as a packet ship that left Liverpool four days after, arrived at
New York sixteen days before us.
We found the thermometer of incalculable service, both for
ascertaining when we got into the stream, and for disclosing our
dangerous proximity to icebergs. That we had approached near icebergs
we discovered one evening to be the case by the mercury falling,
suddenly, below 40°, in foggy weather. We notwithstanding held on
our course, and fortunately escaped accident. Many vessels which
depart from port with gallant crews, and are never heard of more, are
lost, I am convinced, by fatal collision with these floating islands. From
the beginning of spring to the latter end of summer, masses of brash ice
are occasionally encountered in these latitudes.
Towards the evening of the fiftieth day we entered the bay of New
York: the bay is really beautiful, and at this season (summer) perhaps
appeared to the greatest advantage. The numerous islands with which it
is interspersed, were covered to the water's edge with foliage and
verdure, and here and there studded with handsome villas. The city
appeared to be literally surrounded by a thick grove of masts, from
which floated the flags of many nations--the scene, thus gradually
unfolding itself to the eyes of one who had been for so long a time
immured within a vessel, was really fascinating.
While at New York, I staid at the "Pearl-street Boarding-house," and

experienced from Messrs. Haskell and Perry, the proprietors, the most
polite attention. Most Europeans are astonished at the rapidity with
which the Americans despatch their meals; but I, having admitted the
proposition, that there was "nothing new under the sun," had long
previously ceased to be astonished at any thing. On the first day of my
dining at the table d'hôte, one of those gentlemen told me, when we sat
down to dinner, that most of the persons at table were men of business,
who were in the habit of eating much quicker than he knew I was
accustomed to, and requested that that might not in the slightest
interfere with my habits, but that I should entirely suit my own comfort
and convenience. After that preface, I think I should have been most
unreasonable to fall into a passion with the New Yorkers, because they
bolted instead of masticating.
New York is altogether a trading place, and different from any thing of
the same magnitude in Europe: scarcely a single street is exclusively
filled with private residences;--in a mercantile point of view, it is the
Liverpool of the United States.
The negros and mulattos constitute a considerable portion of the
population. It is impossible to imagine the extreme ugliness of some of
the sooty gentry; a decent ourang-outang might, without presumption,
vie with many of these people, even of the fair sex, and an impartial
judge should certainly decide that the said ourang-outang was the
handsomer animal. Many of them are wealthy, and dress remarkably
well. The females, when their shins and misshapen feet are concealed
by long gowns, appear to have good figures. A few days after my
arrival, walking down "Broadway" (the principal street) I was struck
with the figure of a fashionably dressed woman, who was sauntering
before me. After passing, I turned round, when--O angels and ministers
of ugliness!--I beheld a face, as black as soot--a mouth that reached
from ear to ear--a nose, like nothing human--and lips a full inch in
diameter! On the following morning, whilst dressing at my bed-room
window, I heard a squeaking sort of voice warbling forth, "Love was
once a little Boy," and