I found gendarmes on board, in search of some suspected individuals. It was said that these agents had received strict orders to examine all the passports carefully. My traveling companions were all provided, except one, who had joined me in Paris, with the consent of his parents. I was not without anxiety in his regard; but our young deserter, M. M****, disguised as a cabin-boy, played his part perfectly; he held the lantern to aid the police officers in a manner to do Honor to the most skillful cabin-boy, during their whole visit to the saloons and cabins. All the passengers passed in review, all the passports were minutely criticized; but the agents paid no attention to the handsome lantern-bearer, who always remained close by them, and thus quietly escaped their scrutiny. My anxiety, however, did not subside until I saw the gentlemen leave our decks. Without a moment's delay, two discharges of cannon announce the departure of the Humboldt. Every officer,
pilot and sailor is at his post. The whistling of the steamengine is heard for the last time, so shrill that it penetrates the very heart of the town: it is the signal of the engineer. The captain with his speaking-trumpet orders the departure, and the steamer steers her course in the direction of Southampton and Cowes - places between the Isle of Wight and the coasts of England, where English passengers and the
English mails are received. It was only in the evening of the 23d that she took the direction of New York.
For fourteen days the Humboldt combated against a stormy sea and violent west wind; Neptune received this time a double tribute from those who were so bold as to hazard crossing his domain in this season of the year. The greatest sufferer was Bishop Miege, who kept his bed constantly. The next was young Fortune Hege1,2 of Brussels, who has too weak a stomach ever to make a good sailor; he supported this misery with great fortitude, never
z Son of a glove manufacturer coming to America to finish his commercial education.