More than usual activity was observable in the tiers of shipping of
various nations that crowded the port of Columbus. The sun shone with
extraordinary splendour, throwing a golden light over the broad waters
of the river that spread out as far as the eye could reach, bearing on
their bosom vessels of every description used in commerce or warfare
(some coming into port, others leaving it for a distant destination),
that were diminishing in size as they receded from the view, till
they assumed the appearance of a mere speck between the horizon and
the wave; and the spreading sails of those in the distance, and the
many-coloured flags streaming from the masts of those closer to the
shore, with their various builds, sizes, costume and characteristics of
their crews, and the variety of employments in which the latter were
engaged,--infused such a spirit of animation into the scene, that the
stranger would have found it impossible to have looked on without an
earnest and delighted attention. Nearer the shore boats were passing to
and fro--from the graceful Swan (1.) and rapid Fish, full of gay parties
of pleasure, to the gigantic Hippopotamus and slow Tortoise, bearing
burthens of various kinds of produce towards the wharfs that lined each
side of that noble river; and many other boats of different dimensions,
some impelled by oars, others by sails, and others by machinery, were
passing from ship to ship, from the ship to the shore, or from the
metropolis to the neighbouring villages.
If the appearances on the water were gratifying to the eye, those on the
land assumed a character equally cheerful, various, and magnificent.
Well might Columbus be styled THE CITY OF THE WORLD. In its dimensions,
in its splendour, in its riches, in the myriads of its inhabitants, and
in the multitudes of strangers who flocked from all parts of the globe
to witness its greatness or share in its traffic, it was worthy of being
considered an empire rather than a metropolis. Beyond those unrivalled
quays that stretched along each side of the river, connected by colossal
bridges, whose arches spanned from shore to shore with such an altitude
that under them the largest vessels might pass with ease, were seen the
proud palaces of the merchants--the lofty domes for the administration
of justice--the stupendous edifices for the conveniences of
commerce--the vast temples for the worship of the Deity--the imposing
halls for the diffusion of science--every description of dwelling
suitable to the wants of a free, industrious, enlightened, and
multitudinous population of various ranks, interspersed with noble
monuments in commemoration of admirable actions--exalted statues
personifying the highest degree of excellence--parks, fountains,
gardens, and public walks between rows of lofty trees; rising above
these, on the elevated land on which the city was erected, might be
observed, placed at considerable distances from each other, and adorned
with all the graces of architecture, the villas of the wealthy; and at
the very crown of the hill the obelisks, urns, and other monuments that
peered above its summit pointed out the cemetery of the city, and the
mausolea of its dead.
Through the numerous streets the tide of population seemed hurrying with
an anxious eagerness; and the vehicles of luxury and of industry were
passing each other in the broad thoroughfares, in a similar crowd and
with a similar haste. Here came the votary of pleasure, seeking only
the enjoyment of the present--there went the accumulator of wealth,
enjoying no delight save in the prospect of the future; and they were
passed by the plodding antiquary, living only in his associations
with the past. The toil-worn mechanic--the enthusiastic student--the
venerable sage--the solemn priest--the proud soldier--and the bustling
citizen, took their separate ways through the crowd, with an apparent
thoughtlessness of all things except their own immediate objects; and
thus had they gone on for ages, each pursuing his own course, and every
one heedless of the rest; and thus will they go on till the day of the
world is over, and the night cometh when no man shall see because of the
darkness.
At the foot of a flight of broad stone steps leading to the water from
a wharf on the quay near one of the bridges, a superior sort of ship's
boat was moored, where her crew, some resting on the benches, some
lounging on the steps, were grouped in conversation, evidently directing
their attention to a beautiful ship of small tonnage but perfect
symmetry that lay at anchor at a short distance, easily distinguished
from the numerous vessels in her neighbourhood by the smartness of her
rigging and the elegance of her build.
"Ay, ay, Boggle!" exclaimed a stout weatherbeaten-looking mariner,
to whom all his associates appeared to listen with great deference,
arising either from his superior age or station,--"she _is_ a smart
boat; as neat a one as ever floated. She'll swim better than a shark,
and faster than a dolphin; and I'll wager a month's pay to a mouldy
biscuit, that between this and the tother side o' the world we shan't
meet with her match."
"True enough, Hearty," said the person spoken to, a lumbering, stout,
short, and awkwardly-made man of about thirty, with a large head, and a
stupid yet good-natured countenance, which expressed an inclination to
act in the right way that was always marred by an extraordinary aptitude
to do wrong. "True enough. May I walk the deck till I split into
shivers, if I'm not convinced of every word you say! But every man as is
a man and thinks like a man should have a notion of his own on things in
general; therefore, Hearty, I don't believe it."
"Pooh!" exclaimed a younger sailor, addressing himself to the last
speaker, "what's the value o' your judgment against the notions of such
an old hand as Hearty? Why he must ha' sailed in a power o' different
crafts afore you were launched!"
"Exactly, Climberkin, exactly," replied Boggle eagerly--"that's my
opinion; it's true, there's not a doubt of it: but every man as is a
man----"
"Well, may I be scrunched into everlasting smash if I know where we're
bound--that's all," emphatically remarked another speaker in the group,
thrusting forward a thick head of sandy hair, with a countenance sharp
and meagre.
"Nor I," said another.
"Nor I," echoed several around him.
"Why you see how it is," answered Boggle, mysteriously; "there's a sort
o' a secret in it. It arn't for a fellow afore the mast to be 'quisitive
o' what's going on on the quarter-deck; but I likes to have right
notions o' things in general, as every man as is a man and thinks like
a man should. So having a pretty shrewd guess as how Scrumpydike, who's
al'ays alongside the captain, knowed more o' the matter than he'd a
mind to 'municate, I follows in his wake not a hundred years longer than
this very mornin'; and, quite palavering like, I hails him wi' 'I say,
Scrumpydike, my bo!' 'What cheer?' says he. 'P'raps you don't know
nothin' o' our sailing orders?' says I, quite social. 'P'raps I do,'
says he, in a manner as showed he did. I says nothin' more on _that_
subject then, cause I had a notion 'twould be no good; so I speaks him
civil, and axed him to liquidate wi' me upon summat comfortable, and we
went together into a snuggish sort o' a spiritual close by, and when I
got him pretty 'municative I thought he'd a told the most secret thing
as he knowed, cause he was letting down the cable in reg'lar style.
Now's the time, thought I; so I says to him, quite familiar, as I felt
sartain sure o' his telling, 'Scrumpydike, my bo!' says I, 'where be we
bound?'--And what d'ye think he said?" inquired the speaker, suddenly
addressing himself to his associates.
"What _did_ he say, Boggle?" anxiously inquired a young sailor, pressing
forward to hear the interesting communication.
"Tell us, Boggle, tell us!" cried the others eagerly.
"Why he turns round upon me his great yellow eyes, looking as if
he could ha' no secrets from a fellow who shared his earnings so
handsome--'cause I stood treat all the time, and he says to me, in a
slow whisper, just as a secret should be told----"
"Well, what did he say?" said Climberkin impatiently.
"'What's the odds?', says he."--The younger sailors laughed.
"And what _is_ the odds?" asked old Hearty earnestly. "Arn't we well
paid, well fed, well clothed? and haven't we plenty o' every thing we
want? So what's the odds where we sail? I don't care the twist o' a
rope's end whether we go to India, or China, or Algiers, to any of the
ports in Australia, or even to the most uncivilized settlements in
Europe; and no true sailor cares on what water he floats, as long as
he's aboard a good ship, meets wi' sociable mates, and is commanded by
good officers."
"I'll be spiflicated if every word Hearty says isn't true," remarked
Climberkin.
"And now I'll just tell you what I knows o' the matter," continued
Hearty, "which amounts to something more than Boggle could tell."
"Well, what is it?" inquired Boggle, as eager as the others to hear some
intelligence on the subject,--"you're smartish, clever, or I'm 'staken;
but though I must say my notion o' you is tip top, we're most on us
liable to a false reck'ning."
"You all know master Porphyry," said the old man, without attending to
the dubious compliment of the last speaker.
"Know him! to be sure we do," replied Climberkin hastily. "Haven't we
all sailed in his ships,--all but Scrumpydike there, who's asleep in the
boat? and don't we know as he's the richest merchant in Columbia, and
got ships laden with every sort o' precious merchandise, more than one
man ever had afore--sailing from port to port all over every sea that
runs. Know him! Why, who do we know, if we don't know a man as all the
world knows?"
"Ay, ay," remarked the other quietly, "that's him; they do say he's as
rich as the emperor. But all I know is, that while he's greatest among
the rich he's kindest among the poor. He seems never happy but when he's
founding some hospital,--setting afoot some charity, or doing some good,
some how or other: his name is honoured in all parts o' the world.
There's no merchant all over this here globe that hasn't heard of the
fame of master Porphyry: and in his own country he's like a prince,
scattering his bounties wherever he thinks they are likely to confer
a benefit; and every one respects him, every one wishes to think as
he does; and all are anxious to show their opinion of his integrity,
cleverness, and all that sort o' thing. Well, what's uncommon strange,
although he squanders his money about as if there was no end to it,
it seems only to 'cumulate the faster; and although the emperor has
signified his wish to honour him wi' lots o' distinctions many's the
great man would be proud enough to gain, he refuses them all, and says
he won't be nothing more nor plain master Porphyry. So master Porphyry
he remains; but for all that he's a greater man than all the princes,
dukes, and nobles we're likely to see in our time. Well, master
Porphyry's got a son, as smart a figure of a youth as ever you see'd
aboard ship; and after 'ducating him in all sorts o' learnin', till he's
fit to be launched in the great ocean o' life, he wishes him, nat'rul
enough, to go and see foreign parts, that he may get plenty o' notions
o' different kinds o' people, and countries, and governments, that when
he comes back he may be able to do credit to his father. So master
Porphyry gets a ship built o' purpose, and a lovelier vessel than the
Albatross it arn't possible to look on; and has her stored wi' every
kind o' valuable merchandise likely to sell to a profit at the ports
she may visit, and wi' all sorts o' necessaries and comforts for the
crew; has her manned wi' a prime set o' picked hands from his other
vessels,--engages a 'sperienced captain, and accompanied by the
most celebrated teacher o' learnin' he could meet with, to show all
the 'markable things as might be overhauled, and give the proper
'splanations about their breed, seed, and generation, I expects him
here every minute to go aboard; and 'mediately arter that, up wi' her
cleaver, out wi' her wings, and good bye to old Columbia." (2.)
"Now let me twist the rope a little," (3.) said Climberkin, while his
messmates continued to listen with the same interest they had shown all
the time Hearty had been speaking. "You see, mates," continued the young
sailor, apparently attempting to make the sleeves of his check shirt
roll above his elbows with more convenience, but more probably trying to
attract attention from the heightening colour of his cheek,--"you see,
mates, I've been sailing in convoy with a mighty smartish craft, who's a
sort o' cook's mate,--(now what are you jiggering at?" cried the speaker
sharply to a young fellow who had indulged himself with a grin,)--"who's
a sort of cook's mate in the noble family of Philadelphia; and she being
always among her messmates, hears a smartish lot o' notions 'cerning
her officers, which, when we've been yard-arm and yard-arm sailing in
company through the parks, or at anchor in the jollity houses, she
'municates to me by way o' divarsion: and she tells me as how master
Porphyry has a snuggery up the country, 'bout a cable's length from one
belonging to the noble Philadelphia, and that the two families were as
sociable as a shoal o' herrins. Philadelphia has a daughter, by all
accounts a reg'lar-built angelic; and master Porphyry having a son, an
equally smartish sort o' young chap, it was as sartain as a ship would
sail afore the wind, that they two while consortin' would pick up some
notions about gettin' afloat together; and as no signals o' a diff'rent
natur' were hung out by their commodores, they linked their hearts
pretty close, and never could see which way the wind blowed 'cept
when they were alongside o' each other. Well, somehow or other, there
came on a squall,--the powerful noble Philadelphia and the rich
merchant Porphyry parted company about politics: one took one side and
t'other took t'other, and they went on different tacks in no time.
Philadelphia, who's as proud as a port admiral, when he found as master
Porphyry wouldn't follow in his wake, blowed great guns, cut his cable;
and without letting his daughter the Lady Eureka have any 'munication
with her consort, he makes her set sail along wi' him, and the young
ones arn't been allowed to come in sight o' each other ever since. Well,
arter that, master Porphyry, who's as proud as an honest man should be,
wern't a going to strike his flag to nothin' o' the sort; so seeing as
his young'un looked cloudy weather, to 'leviate his disappointment he
thinks o' trying to make him forget the whole circumbendibus. So he
plans this here voyage."
The loud huzzas of an approaching multitude put an end to the
conversation; and Scrumpydike, who appeared to have been asleep, but
had listened attentively to every word that had been uttered, suddenly
started from his recumbent position in the boat, presenting a muscular
form, with a yellow, rough, and scowling face, sufficiently forbidding
in its appearance, yet possessing an odd sort of twist about the
corners of the mouth that much disguised its natural ferocity.
"Thunder and lightning!" (4.) shouted Scrumpydike, hastily regaining his
legs, "here they come!"
Some of the sailors ran up the stone steps leading to the foot of the
bridge, and there a noble and gratifying sight presented itself. The
whole length of the magnificent street of stately mansions approaching
the water seemed filled with a countless multitude of citizens, each
huzzaing with extraordinary zeal some persons in a procession that was
proceeding along the centre of the thoroughfare. Windows, housetops,
bridges, and boats were thronged with spectators; and all the vessels
in the river were dressed with flags, which, streaming from the masts
in a variety of pleasing colours and devices, gave an animated and
picturesque character to the scene.
"_There's_ master Porphyry!" exclaimed Hearty.
"Where?" inquired half a dozen voices at once.
"That stately-looking man on the tall grey horse who is bowing to
his fellow-citizens. Every body seems to have got a notion that the
merchant's son was going on his first voyage; so, you see, they're
resolved to show how much they respect the father, and all the city
turns out to a man (aye and to a woman too, as you may see at the
windows), and here they are throwing up their caps, waving their
handkerchiefs, and shouting like mad; the ladies scattering flowers upon
his head, and bands o' music playing all the way. And there's young
master Porphyry riding by his side, a fine handsome sort o' chap, and as
like his father as one whale's like another. And in the open carriage
behind them is the learned Professor Fortyfolios, who's written more
big books than any on us could carry; and opposite him's our Captain
Compass, and next him's little Log, the captain's clerk; and opposite
him's Doctor Tourniquet, our surgeon; and there's a lot more on 'em
followin' in different carriages, who ha' been promoted to a birth
aboard the Albatross. These dignified bodies in long robes, and some
on 'em wi' gold chains round their necks, are great magistrates and
merchants belonging to the city, and they look up to master Porphyry as
head on 'em all. But we must get to our oars, my mates, or else we shall
nap it pretty considerably." So saying he returned to the boat, quickly
followed by his companions, and they all began to be very busy preparing
for the comers.
The appearance of the procession as it neared the bridge was very
imposing; for, as far as the eye could see, were carriages and horsemen
bearing streaming banners, and decorated with ribbons and flowers; and
every spot that could command a view of the scene from the land or from
the water was crowded with animated spectators, shouting their good
wishes for the son and praises of the father. The chief attraction in
this grand spectacle, master Porphyry, was a man apparently between
forty and fifty years of age, of a commanding figure and noble
countenance. When he took off a sort of coronetted velvet cap that
shielded his head from the sun's rays, as he bowed his grateful
acknowledgments for the plaudits of his fellow-citizens, his high
forehead, eloquent eyes, and benevolent smile made his features assume
an expression more nearly approaching the highest degree of beauty,
intelligence, and philanthropy in a man advanced in life, than anything
it is possible to conceive; and the robe of honour which encompassed his
powerful limbs, denoting his office as the chief civic magistrate, gave
a majesty to his deportment that increased the effect of his personal
appearance.
The youth who rode by his side could not have numbered much more than
twenty years, and bore a great resemblance both in the form of his
limbs and in the expression of his countenance to master Porphyry; yet
while from a feeling of enthusiastic reverence for his parent he rode
bare-headed by his side, as he noticed the admiration his father excited
among the countless myriads who thronged their way, the fire that was
glowing in his eyes and the pride that was swelling at his heart gave
evidence of feelings to which the elder Porphyry was a stranger. The
youth sat on his steed, that pranced and curvetted with the same
high spirit in his blood as was possessed by his rider, showing that
elasticity of limb that marks the young and vigorous; and as the breeze
swept from his forehead the luxuriant curls of rich shining hair that
clustered upon his brows, while it fluttered in the folds of his
handsome tunic, the young men whose dreams had been of glory fancied
that they saw in his noble bearing the hero of their visions, and the
young women who had begun feeding their youthful minds with loving
idealities gazed in ecstasy upon his graceful figure, and recognised
in him the god of their idolatry. The impression created was evidently
gratifying to him; but it did not satisfy his desires. Oriel Porphyry
was ambitious--he aspired to be something greater than he was: he panted
for power as well as popularity. The shouts of the multitude seemed
music to his ears, but it was of too calm a character--it was not that
in which he could have taken most delight. He desired to act a more
imposing part than that of a merchant's son. It was a military age in
which he lived, when men had been raised to empire by a daring valour
and a dazzling splendour in their actions that made every heart drunk
with enthusiasm. Conquest had been the key to greatness, and a victory
had led to a throne. But the general peace which had lately commenced
seemed to shut out from him all hopes of the distinction he coveted; the
peaceful ways of traffic, in which his father had achieved an universal
renown, presented to him no attraction: and as he rode along he lamented
the apparent ingloriousness of his destiny.
The feelings of the merchant were of a far higher, better, kinder
character; for his was a mind not to be led away by the false glitter
of pride and ambition, and he entertained no sentiment that was not in
harmony with the philanthropy of his actions. His heart was full of
generous sympathy for his fellow-men; and till he alighted at the foot
of the bridge he thought only of how he could best advance the interests
of his country.
The father and son descended the stone stairs, at the bottom of which
the boatmen were waiting; and after all who were going to the ship had
entered the boat except the merchant's son, master Porphyry took him
affectionately by the hand, and thus addressed him:--
"Oriel Porphyry! I have desired that you should visit the most
remarkable nations of the world, that you might gain from close
observation of their people and government knowledge such as may the
better fit you for your duties as a citizen and as a man; that when I
have passed away from the fading splendours that surround me, I shall
know that I leave one worthy to fill the high place I have held in the
affections of my fellow-citizens. Take these papers," continued the
merchant, in a voice that appeared to tremble with emotion, as he
produced a sealed packet--"they contain the directions I desire you
to pursue, and some intelligence with which I wish you to become
acquainted: consult them when you have been out at sea about a week. I
shall find means of communicating with you as often as may be desirable;
and if there is any thing you require that yonder vessel does not
possess to render your voyage more comfortable, you have only to send
word by the first of my ships you may meet, and you will have it
supplied at the next port. All noble sentiments and benevolent wishes
attend you!"
"Father!" exclaimed the youth, falling on the neck and kissing the hand
of his parent, "I trust I shall never discredit the education I have
received, nor the parent from whom I sprung."
In a few minutes master Porphyry was standing on the brink of the water,
surrounded by the wealthiest merchants of Columbus, following with his
eyes the rapid course of the receding boat; while his son, throwing
himself back in his seat, indulged in the enjoyment of a thousand
conflicting emotions, from which he was not roused till he gained the
side of the Albatross.
While the machinery was set in motion to draw up the anchor, a small
boat was seen to dart from the numerous vessels of a similar class that
were floating on the river, and rapidly come alongside the ship. A young
handsome creole immediately leapt on board; and after giving orders
about some packages contained in the boat, advanced to that part of the
deck where Oriel Porphyry stood. The age of the new-comer did not seem
more than fifteen or sixteen. He was delicately formed, with features
whose expression lost something in its character among critics of manly
beauty by its feminine softness. On his head he wore a rich netted silk
cap, the gold tassel of which hung down towards his left shoulder; his
robe was a short tunic of embroidered cloth, bound by a broad silk sash.
An inner vest of rose-coloured silk, open at the breast, disclosed a
camese of the purest white; the lower part of his body was wrapt in a
sort of petticoat of thick linen made very full, below which appeared
leggings of rich silk, and small shoes trimmed with rosettes,--the usual
costume of the pages of Columbian ladies of rank. The merchant's son was
leaning against a mast, seemingly pondering over the fond remembrances
of a happier time; for his features had lost that glow of excitement
which a few minutes since his ambitious desires had created, and a
shadow of deep yet tranquil melancholy had passed over them,--when he
was roused from his reverie by the approach of the stranger.
"Master Oriel Porphyry!" said the page, taking off his cap and allowing
a profusion of dark ringlets to fall upon his shoulders, and then taking
from his vest a small sealed packet,--"Master Oriel Porphyry! The Lady
Eureka sends you this."
"Ha!" exclaimed the young merchant, gazing earnestly upon the features
before him as if they were immediately recognised; then finding the
recognition not reciprocal, he turned away with a deep expression of
disappointment: yet, while breaking the seal of the envelope, and before
he read the letter, he renewed his gaze two or three times, as if there
was an attraction in the page's handsome countenance he could not
withstand; but the large dark eyes that met his own were bent steadily
upon him with respectful attention; and, bewildered by the strange
disturbance of his thoughts, he at last attempted to read the letter.
It ran thus:--
"DEAREST,
"Accidentally I have become acquainted with your intended departure
from Columbia, to dare the dangers of the waters, to risk a
thousand perils, and, more than all, to be separated by a long
and dreary boundary from a heart you have made so devotedly your
own. Every attempt I have made to communicate with you, has been
rendered of no avail. I believe you all I would have you be; but
I am fearful your impetuous nature will hurry you into continual
dangers, and, as I cannot myself watch over your safety, I would
have near you some one on whose zeal, fidelity, and care I can
place the utmost confidence. Zabra, whom you will readily recognise
as a child of my father, has been brought up as my page; his
Indian mother died in his infancy, but his education has not been
neglected. You will find him both useful and entertaining, and may
rely on his perfect devotion. Let him remain about you--let him be
my representative--and let him serve to keep in your remembrance
one whose soul clings to your footsteps,--who has no ambition but
in possessing your exclusive affections, and knows no pride but
that which is created by thinking herself, _your_