LETTER I. IT DEPARTURE FOR COVE-FEELINGS ON CONTEMPLATING THE COUNTRY THROUGH WHICH WE PASSED THE REGRETS WHICH OCCASIONED-ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP. FOR OUR CONVEYANCEA DESCRIPTION OF HER-THE ACCOMMODATIONS EMBARKATION, &C. 66 CORK HARBOUR, June 13th, 1818. THE celebrated Lady Morgan has justly observed, "that there are certain emotions which no eloquence can paint, which good sense shrinks from attempting, and which, however strongly con"ceived by the mind, pourtrayed by the fancy, or "felt by the heart, become feeble and languid through the coldness of detail." Never did I feel so forcibly the truth of this sentiment, as I do at this instant; and never until now, were the feelings of my soul of that acute nature which language would in vain attempt to delineate in all their force and poignancy. The thought of separating myself for ever from a beloved country, from the companions of my youth and the friends of my bosom, produces such an assemblage of conflicting sensations in my mind, that, were it not for the solacing hope of independence beyond the Western Main, and the exhilarating idea of a constant interchange of sentiment with those who may deem me worthy of their correspondence, this feeble spirit, devoid of every other support, would, I fear, soon sink beneath the burden of its sad reflections. You had frequently endeavoured to persuade me, that, in the first moments of keen affliction, it is useless to contend with the overwhelming sorrows of the heart; but the justness of this remark, I was, as you may recollect, always unwilling to admit. Now, however, I am satisfied, from painful experience, that, in such cases, we vainly look around us for sensible objects, which, though not sufficiently potent to eradicate our sorrows, may serve at least to divert them ;-that man, of himself, is more eminently "a creature of circumstances," than the wisest or the humblest of us is willing to allow ;-that human nature is rightly said, on the highest possible authority, to inherit the property of looking too much at "the things which are seen," at those objects which urgently force themselves on the immediate attention of our spirits;—and that consequently, the more elevating and important considerations, of whose benign and salutary impressions we are at other times susceptible, are frequently, on these more trying occasions, either totally forgotten, or allowed to exert their influence without effect. While enveloped in this mental gloom, we lose our relish for the captivating scenery of nature, which, in its almost infinite variety of forms, is calculated to inspire delight: But her charms in vain present themselves to one, whose heart is ill at ease, and who is either lingering with mixed sensations of complacency and regret on the past, or is yielding the reins to his imagination in excursive anticipations respecting the future. These keen emotions have taught me, that if the first ebullitions of sorrow receive no sudden check, but are permitted to expend their rage, they will, like the troubled waves of the ocean after a violent storm, gradually subside, and imperceptibly qualify us for resuming our former placidity, without losing the more soothing portion of our regrets. 66 Sensible, however, that "while the mind con'templates its own distress, it is acted upon and "never acts, and that, by indulging in this contemplation, it only becomes more unfit for action," -I shake off the lethargy that already begins to steal upon my faculties. Lamenting no longer what is remediless, I will not seem desirous of exciting your sympathy by further sorrowful allusions to events now beyond human control; but will proceed to the fulfilment of my parting promise, and have only to request that you will kindly Accept whate'er Æneas can afford. After bidding you perhaps an eternal adieu, on the morning of the 4th instant, I passed through the most romantic country imaginable; but, not withstanding the beauty and magnificence of the diversified landscapes, studded with beautiful seats and elegant villas, which continually came within my view, I sauntered along without deriving even a momentary gratification from the scene. I beheld all, perhaps too much in the spirit of a convict, (though devoid of the guilty portion of his corroding feelings,) who is doomed to perpetual exile, and who, while sailing to a foreign land, looks with a stupid indifference upon the shores of his native country, as they recede from his sight in majestic pride, and with unpitying rapidity. I reflected that, in all human probability, I had beheld for the last time the "scenes of my childhood;" and the very thought of quitting my native land for a foreign soil, sickened pleasure in a manner which baffles expression. I said within myself, and my looks must have conveyed my sentiments to all around: "Sublime "and picturesque assemblages, adieu! The contem"plation of the enchanting scenery and superb "erections which you present, would formerly have "afforded me unmixed satisfaction; but your proud"est displays now serve only to add poignancy to 66 grief, and to aggravate those wounds which are "still rankling under recent inflictions. Never more " will you produce a pleasing sensation in my mind, "which will not be embittered with sleepless regret, "-which will not be mingled with the gloom of retrospection, and the sigh of patriotism." 66 Perhaps you will call me an enthusiast; but you know, That when, by adversity frequent and deep, The bosom is sentenc'd to bleed; We feel a sad pleasure, all lonely to weep, When we came to Cove, we found, that the vessel which was appointed to convey us to America, had not arrived. We were therefore compelled to take lodgings, which, fortunately, we procured at a moderate price, and in an agreeable part of the town, from which we had an extensive view of the harbour and its various fortifications. In this place we remained upwards of a month, before we heard of the arrival of the BRUNSWICK. She is a very fine ship, and elegantly fitted up for our accommodation. Her cabin-apartments consist of a large dining-room; two state-rooms, in each of which are births for four persons; and two ample bed-chambers, with births for nearly twenty persons. The steerage contains about forty births, each of which is capable of accommodating six men, or a proportionate number of women and children. The BRUNSWICK is of 541 tons burden, and commanded by Captain Blake, an Englishman and an officer of great experience. She has on board 150 tons of ballast, 150 tons of ordnancestores for the garrison of Quebec, and three months' provisions for my father's settlers. These provi |