"Dear Independent: Thirty-two days ago we left the port of New York, and day before yesterday glided through the Straits of Gibraltar, casting anchor in this harbor. Our voyage was short and agreeable, all that could be desired, with the exception of the sea-sickness that prevailed among us for the first four or five days, and the alarm occasioned by the heavy gale of last week. For two days the storm raged so violently that our fears were much excited. On the evening of the 26th ult. the winds were lulled, the clouds broke away, and the rays of the setting sun hurried swiftly across the yet raging waves, to brighten their foaming crests with golden light, and bring hope to our hearts. Religious services were conducted each Sabbath by the chaplain, and our programme of study and reading was faithfully observed every day. All that we did, and all that we saw, cannot be reported in a single letter. Our young friends must themselves write about the wonders of the sea,—whales, dolphins, icebergs; sunset, sunrise, midnight; calms, storms, water-spouts; and all other sources of joy or terror in ocean life. Yesterday was spent in an excursion to the town of Gibraltar." * * * * *
After a description of Gibraltar, the writer says:
"The whole juvenile forces of our vessel have been invited to dine this afternoon with the officers of H. M. S. Manchester, in company with the British and American consuls of Gibraltar, and left an hour ago, under the charge of Captain Hardstudy, to comply with the gracious invitation, and I remain to prepare this letter for the morrow's steamer from Valetta to Liverpool. The sun is already sinking in the blue and gold waters of the Mediterranean. A fresh breeze has startled the sleeping waves into lively gambols, and our flag points eagerly westward and homeward. See our party of little travelers just off for the 'Manchester'! How their boats dance up and down over the water! 'Boom!' 'boom!' go the signal guns from the kind old ship! Now hear the thunderous volleys from the batteries on the huge mountain, proclaiming the hour of sunset!"
The letters which follow are from "Alexandria, Egypt, May 28"; from the "Steamer Rameses, River Nile, June 11"; from "Off Joppa, June 16"; from "Jerusalem, July 5"; from "Nablous, 'the City of Samaria,' July 12"; from "Beyrout, Syria, July 23"; and on Monday morning, July 25, our correspondent writes his farewell, as follows:
"Well, friend Independent, our travels are ended. We came on board the 'Star of Bethlehem' this morning. The steamer for Liverpool leaves this afternoon, and we shall send our letters ashore to be mailed. By the 30th of September we hope to be with you again. We have seen the earthly Canaan, with its degradation and defilement. Our minds turn toward the better Canaan. With Watts we sing:
"'Look up, our souls, pant toward the eternal hills;
Those heavens are fairer than they seem.
There pleasures all sincere glide on in crystal rills;
There not a dreg of guilt defiles,
No grief disturbs the stream
That Canaan knows,—no noxious thing,
No cursed soil, no tainted spring;
No roses grow on thorns, nor honey wears a sting.'"
Such devices as these help to inspire the young with an interest in sacred things. They may not yet be prepared to appreciate the night of prayer on the mountain, the agony of the Lord in Gethsemane, or the rapturous experiences of St. John on Patmos; but they may take delight in the land, its customs, its wonderful histories, read with gratification an account of journeys from Dan to Beersheba, with perils from robbers, and the pranks of native children, the lonely horseback ride from Jerusalem down to Jericho, the encampment by the "Fountain of robbers" north of Jerusalem, the loveliness of Nazareth, the beauty of the Sea of Galilee, and the glories of Lebanon and Hermon. Finding delight in these more human things, they may, incidentally, under the leadership of the divine Providence and Spirit, catch glimpses of his face who, by simile and word and spirit, sanctified the land from north to south and from Bashan to the sea.
J. H. VINCENT.