The Broad Pennant; Or, a Cruise in the United States Flag Ship of the Gulf Squadron, During the Mexican Difficulties Together with Sketches of the Mexican War, from the Commencement of Hostilities to the Capture of the City of Mexico (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848 Excerpt: ...constellation. And how full are the associations it justly may awake, to the Christian, to the voyager, to the denizen of a world which has so much in its history and its dearest hopes, connected with this emblem of the religion of Jesus Christ. This constellation is low, as contemplated in this latitude; our reckoning placing us to-day, between 25 and 26 degrees north latitude. I have seen it, high up in the sky, when I have coursed the southern seas, as the north star appears to a beholder in the high northern latitudes. But then, the north star was lost to me, and had gone far down below the high elevation of the intercepting equator. And how joyously does that same north star come again on the view as an olden friend, when it has for a while been lost, but of a sudden re-greets the voyager, as he returns from his far southern course. So, to-night, these southern stars recalled scenes that are dear to me in memory, and I was glad to be surprised by the recognition of an olden friend, that had so often greeted me in southern seas, and on southern lands. What intensity to emotion they add, whether the heart be joyous or sad. It is like the soft strains of plaintive music to the feelings, coming from some distant bower, and borne by the gentle gale of evening to the ear of the listener, while his own thoughts are on their own peculiar course of happy or sad association. Or it is like the gentle power that comes over one, as he stands amid the autumn wood, while the breathless air is hushed into one of nature's deep still-calms, when the rustling of the leaves among which footsteps are moving, is heard far off on the path of the wood. The soul is happy even in its grief at such an hour; and happier still, (Oh, how much more happy ) if joy is meting out to hi...