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Show 30 PERSONAL ADVENTURES larger craft. lightful, and failed. However, the weather \vas detopics of conversation never On our way down, our worthy captain took an opportunity of addressing his crew; and, as his speech was both pithy and characteristic, I thought it not unworthy a place in my note-book. " Men," said he, " we are beginning a long voyage, and I wish to give you a few words of advice. Do your duty, and we shall remain good friends ; neglect it, and you \viii find out who is master. Don't interfere with the volunteers; your duties are distinct from theirs; and the less you have to do with them the better." (Complimentary! thought I.) "Lastly, avoid profane language and swearing, which are unbecoming to any man, even to a sailor; but if you must swear, I beg of you, as a favour, to let me have the benefit of the first oath. You may no'v go for'ard.'' * * * * Here we are, gliding over the vast Atlantic, and drawing near to Rio Janeiro, distant now IN CALIFORNIA. 31 only a few degrees. What thoughts are suggested by , this wide and dreary expanse of waters! I-Iow it makes us turn to horne and friends! As the frail but buoyant vessel plunges into the blue depths of the ocean, how strongly do \Ve feel that nature's ties are not loosely cast around our hearts ! I-Ion1e and friends !-words of which the deep significancy is unfelt, until solitude such as this clothes then1 with vitality, and brings thetn tangibly into our presence, only, as it seen1s, to remind us the more forcibly that it is but the starting of a plank, or the matter of a hole not larger than one's thutn b, and hotne, and friends, and past, and present, are no tnore ~ * * * * Our life on board was not of the plea-santest description, on account of the motley elements that entered into the con1position of our society. A hand of volunteers, bound for a distant region, upon a roaming expedition in search of better fortune, was not ' likely to prove other than a medley of cha-racters of various decrrees of respectability, ' 0 |