afternoon, and when we got to leeward of it, the wind died away, so that we lay to quite near it for a greater part of the night.

Unfortunately there was no moon; but it was a clear night, and we could plainly mark the long, regular heaving of the stupendous mass, as its edges moved slowly against the stars, now revealing them and now shutting them in. Several times in our watch loud cracks were heard, which sounded as though they must have run through the whole length of the iceberg, and several pieces fell down with a thundering crash, plunging heavily into the sea. Toward morning a strong breeze sprang up, and we filled away, and left it astern, and at daylight it was out of sight.

RICHARD H. DANA, JR.

Richard Henry Dana, Jr., who was regarded as among the first of American lawyers, especially on questions of international law, was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1815. Having been compelled by an affection of the eyes to withdraw from his profession for a time he shipped as a common sailor, and afterward published his experiences of a sailor's life in a delightful book entitled "Two Years before the Mast," from which this selection is abridged. He died January 7, 1882.

:

larboard left-hand side of a ship. - cavities: hollow places. leeward (lu'ard): that part toward which the wind blows. —lay to: to reduce sail to the lowest limit, so as to be nearly stationary. filled away: changed the position of the yards so that the wind should fill the sails.

The Address of the Roman Catholics to George Washington, Esq., President of the United States.

SIR, We have long been impatient to testify our joy and unbounded confidence on your being called, by an unanimous vote, to the first station of a country, in which that unanimity could not have been obtained without the previous merit of unexampled services, of eminent wisdom, and unblemished virtue.

Our congratulations have not reached you sooner, because our scattered situation prevented our communication and the collecting of those sentiments which warmed every breast. But the delay has furnished us with the opportunity, not merely of presaging the happiness to be expected under your administration, but of bearing testimony to that which we experience already.

It is your peculiar talent, in war and in peace, to afford security to those who commit their protection into your hands. In war, you shield them from the ravages of armed hostility; in peace, you establish public tranquillity, by the justice and moderation, no less than by the vigor, of your government. By example, as well as by vigilance, you extend the influence of laws on the manners of our fellow-citizens. You encourage respect for religion, and inculcate, by words and actions, that

principle on which the welfare of nations so much depends, that a superintending Providence governs the events of the world, and watches over the conduct of men. Your exalted maxims and unwearied attention to the moral and physical improvement of our country have produced already the happiest effects. Under your administration, America is animated with zeal for the attainment and encouragement of useful literature. She improves her agriculture, extends her commerce, and acquires with foreign nations a dignity unknown to her before.

From these happy events, in which none can feel a warmer interest than ourselves, we derive additional pleasure by recollecting that you, sir, have been the principal instrument to effect so rapid a change in our political situation.

This prospect of national prosperity is peculiarly pleasing to us on another account, because, whilst our country preserves her freedom and independence, we shall have a well-founded title to claim from her justice, the equal rights of citizenship, as the price of our blood spilt under your eyes, and of our common exertions for her defense, under your auspicious conduct rights rendered more dear to us by the remembrance of former hardships.

When we pray for the preservation of them, where

they have been granted, and expect the full extension of them from the justice of those States which still restrict them; when we solicit the protection of Heaven over our common country, we neither omit, nor can omit, recommending your preservation to the singular care of Divine Providence; because we conceive that no human means are so available to promote the welfare of the United States as the preservation of your health and life, in which are included the energy of your example, the wisdom of your counsels, and the persuasive eloquence of your virtues.

JOHN CARROLL, in behalf of the Roman Catholic Clergy.

CHARLES CARROLL of Carrollton,

DANIEL CARROLL,

DOMINICK LYNCH,

THOMAS FITZSIMMONS,

In behalf of the

Roman Catholic
Laity.

unanimity agreement in opinion. - unblemished: pure; spotless. -presaging: foretelling. -ravages: destruction wrought by violent action. tranquillity: freedom from disturbance; quietness.-incul'cate: enforce upon the mind. - attainment: the act of arriving at. auspicious favorable; kind. - restrict: hold back.

Washington's Answer.

GENTLEMEN,- While I now receive, with satisfaction, your congratulations on my being called, by an unanimous vote, to the first station in my country — I cannot

but duly notice your politeness in offering an apology for the unavoidable delay. As that delay has given you an opportunity of realizing, instead of anticipating, the benefits of the general government, you will do me the justice to believe that your testimony of the increase of the public prosperity enhances the pleasure which I should otherwise have experienced from your affectionate address.

I feel that my conduct, in war and in peace, has met with more general approbation than could reasonably have been expected; and I find myself disposed to consider that fortunate circumstance in a great degree resulting from the able support and extraordinary candor of my fellow-citizens of all denominations.

The prospect of national prosperity now before us is truly animating, and ought to excite the exertions of all good men to establish and secure the happiness of their country, in the permanent duration of its freedom and independence. America, under the smiles of Divine Providence the protection of a good government-and the cultivation of manners, morals, and piety- cannot fail of attaining an uncommon degree of eminence in literature, commerce, agriculture, improvements at home, and respectability abroad.

As mankind become more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves