第1章

ITisnearlyeightyearssincethisbookwasfirstpublished。Ipresentit，unaltered，intheCheapEdition；andsuchofmyopinionsasitexpresses，arequiteunalteredtoo。 MyreadershaveopportunitiesofjudgingforthemselveswhethertheinfluencesandtendencieswhichIdistrustinAmerica，haveanyexistencenotinmyimagination。Theycanexamineforthemselveswhethertherehasbeenanythinginthepubliccareerofthatcountryduringthesepasteightyears，orwhetherthereisanythinginitspresentposition，athomeorabroad，whichsuggeststhatthoseinfluencesandtendenciesreallydoexist。Astheyfindthefact，theywilljudgeme。Iftheydiscernanyevidencesofwrong- goinginanydirectionthatIhaveindicated，theywillacknowledgethatIhadreasoninwhatIwrote。Iftheydiscernnosuchthing，theywillconsidermealtogethermistaken。 Prejudiced，IneverhavebeenotherwisethaninfavouroftheUnitedStates。Novisitorcaneverhavesetfootonthoseshores，withastrongerfaithintheRepublicthanIhad，whenIlandedinAmerica。 Ipurposelyabstainfromextendingtheseobservationstoanylength。Ihavenothingtodefend，ortoexplainaway。Thetruthisthetruth；andneitherchildishabsurdities，norunscrupulouscontradictions，canmakeitotherwise。Theearthwouldstillmoveroundthesun，thoughthewholeCatholicChurchsaidNo。 IhavemanyfriendsinAmerica，andfeelagratefulinterestinthecountry。Torepresentmeasviewingitwithill-nature，animosity，orpartisanship，ismerelytodoaveryfoolishthing，whichisalwaysaveryeasyone；andwhichIhavedisregardedforeightyears，andcoulddisregardforeightymore。 MYreadershaveopportunitiesofjudgingforthemselveswhethertheinfluencesandtendencieswhichIdistrustedinAmerica，had，atthattime，anyexistencebutinmyimagination。Theycanexamineforthemselveswhethertherehasbeenanythinginthepubliccareerofthatcountrysince，athomeorabroad，whichsuggeststhatthoseinfluencesandtendenciesreallydidexist。Astheyfindthefact，theywilljudgeme。Iftheydiscernanyevidencesofwrong-going，inanydirectionthatIhaveindicated，theywillacknowledgethatIhadreasoninwhatIwrote。Iftheydiscernnosuchindications，theywillconsidermealtogethermistaken-butnotwilfully。 Prejudiced，Iamnot，andneverhavebeen，otherwisethaninfavouroftheUnitedStates。IhavemanyfriendsinAmerica，Ifeelagratefulinterestinthecountry，Ihopeandbelieveitwillsuccessfullyworkoutaproblemofthehighestimportancetothewholehumanrace。TorepresentmeasviewingAMERICAwithill- nature，coldness，oranimosity，ismerelytodoaveryfoolishthing:whichisalwaysaveryeasyone。 CHAPTERI-GOINGAWAY ISHALLneverforgettheone-fourthseriousandthree-fourthscomicalastonishment，withwhich，onthemorningofthethirdofJanuaryeighteen-hundred-and-forty-two，Iopenedthedoorof，andputmyheadinto，a\'state-room\'onboardtheBritanniasteam- packet，twelvehundredtonsburthenperregister，boundforHalifaxandBoston，andcarryingHerMajesty\'smails。 Thatthisstate-roomhadbeenspeciallyengagedfor\'CharlesDickens，Esquire，andLady，\'wasrenderedsufficientlycleareventomyscaredintellectbyaverysmallmanuscript，announcingthefact，whichwaspinnedonaveryflatquilt，coveringaverythinmattress，spreadlikeasurgicalplasteronamostinaccessibleshelf。Butthatthiswasthestate-roomconcerningwhichCharlesDickens，Esquire，andLady，hadhelddailyandnightlyconferencesforatleastfourmonthspreceding:thatthiscouldbyanypossibilitybethatsmallsnugchamberoftheimagination，whichCharlesDickens，Esquire，withthespiritofprophecystronguponhim，hadalwaysforetoldwouldcontainatleastonelittlesofa，andwhichhislady，withamodestyetmostmagnificentsenseofitslimiteddimensions，hadfromthefirstopinedwouldnotholdmorethantwoenormousportmanteausinsomeoddcorneroutofsight(portmanteauswhichcouldnownomorebegotinatthedoor，nottosaystowedaway，thanagiraffecouldbepersuadedorforcedintoaflower-pot):thatthisutterlyimpracticable，thoroughlyhopeless，andprofoundlypreposterousbox，hadtheremotestreferenceto，orconnectionwith，thosechasteandpretty，nottosaygorgeouslittlebowers，sketchedbyamasterlyhand，inthehighlyvarnishedlithographicplanhangingupintheagent\'scounting-houseinthecityofLondon:thatthisroomofstate，inshort，couldbeanythingbutapleasantfictionandcheerfuljestofthecaptain\'s，inventedandputinpracticeforthebetterrelishandenjoymentoftherealstate-roompresentlytobedisclosed:-theseweretruthswhichIreallycouldnot，forthemoment，bringmymindatalltobearuponorcomprehend。AndIsatdownuponakindofhorsehairslab，orperch，ofwhichthereweretwowithin；andlooked，withoutanyexpressionofcountenancewhatever，atsomefriendswhohadcomeonboardwithus，andwhowerecrushingtheirfacesintoallmannerofshapesbyendeavouringtosqueezethemthroughthesmalldoorway。 Wehadexperiencedaprettysmartshockbeforecomingbelow，which，butthatwewerethemostsanguinepeopleliving，mighthavepreparedusfortheworst。TheimaginativeartisttowhomIhavealreadymadeallusion，hasdepictedinthesamegreatwork，achamberofalmostinterminableperspective，furnished，asMr。 Robinswouldsay，inastyleofmorethanEasternsplendour，andfilled(butnotinconvenientlyso)withgroupsofladiesandgentlemen，intheveryhigheststateofenjoymentandvivacity。 Beforedescendingintothebowelsoftheship，wehadpassedfromthedeckintoalongnarrowapartment，notunlikeagigantichearsewithwindowsinthesides；havingattheupperendamelancholystove，atwhichthreeorfourchillystewardswerewarmingtheirhands；whileoneitherside，extendingdownitswholedrearylength，wasalong，longtable，overeachofwhicharack，fixedtothelowroof，andstuckfullofdrinking-glassesandcruet-stands，hinteddismallyatrollingseasandheavyweather。Ihadnotatthattimeseentheidealpresentmentofthischamberwhichhassincegratifiedmesomuch，butIobservedthatoneofourfriendswhohadmadethearrangementsforourvoyage，turnedpaleonentering，retreatedonthefriendbehindhim。，smotehisforeheadinvoluntarily，andsaidbelowhisbreath，\'Impossible!itcannotbe!\'orwordstothateffect。Herecoveredhimselfhoweverbyagreateffort，andafterapreparatorycoughortwo，cried，withaghastlysmilewhichisstillbeforeme，lookingatthesametimeroundthewalls，\'Ha!thebreakfast-room，steward-eh？\'Weallforesawwhattheanswermustbe:weknewtheagonyhesuffered。 HehadoftenspokenofTHESALOON；hadtakeninandliveduponthepictorialidea；hadusuallygivenustounderstand，athome，thattoformajustconceptionofit，itwouldbenecessarytomultiplythesizeandfurnitureofanordinarydrawing-roombyseven，andthenfallshortofthereality。Whenthemaninreplyavowedthetruth；theblunt，remorseless，nakedtruth；\'Thisisthesaloon，sir\'-heactuallyreeledbeneaththeblow。 Inpersonswhoweresosoontopart，andinterposebetweentheirelsedailycommunicationtheformidablebarrierofmanythousandmilesofstormyspace，andwhowereforthatreasonanxioustocastnoothercloud，noteventhepassingshadowofamoment\'sdisappointmentordiscomfiture，upontheshortintervalofhappycompanionshipthatyetremainedtothem-inpersonssosituated，thenaturaltransitionfromthesefirstsurpriseswasobviouslyintopealsofheartylaughter，andIcanreportthatI，forone，beingstillseatedupontheslaborperchbeforementioned，roaredoutrightuntilthevesselrangagain。Thus，inlessthantwominutesaftercominguponitforthefirsttime，weallbycommonconsentagreedthatthisstate-roomwasthepleasantestandmostfacetiousandcapitalcontrivancepossible；andthattohavehaditoneinchlarger，wouldhavebeenquiteadisagreeableanddeplorablestateofthings。Andwiththis；andwithshowinghow，- byverynearlyclosingthedoor，andtwininginandoutlikeserpents，andbycountingthelittlewashingslabasstanding-room，-wecouldmanagetoinsinuatefourpeopleintoit，allatonetime；andentreatingeachothertoobservehowveryairyitwas(indock)，andhowtherewasabeautifulport-holewhichcouldbekeptopenallday(weatherpermitting)，andhowtherewasquitealargebull\'s-eyejustoverthelooking-glasswhichwouldrendershavingaperfectlyeasyanddelightfulprocess(whentheshipdidn\'trolltoomuch)；wearrived，atlast，attheunanimousconclusionthatitwasratherspaciousthanotherwise:thoughIdoverilybelievethat，deductingthetwoberths，oneabovetheother，thanwhichnothingsmallerforsleepinginwasevermadeexceptcoffins，itwasnobiggerthanoneofthosehackneycabrioletswhichhavethedoorbehind，andshoottheirfaresout，likesacksofcoals，uponthepavement。 Havingsettledthispointtotheperfectsatisfactionofallparties，concernedandunconcerned，wesatdownroundthefireintheladies\'cabin-justtotrytheeffect。Itwasratherdark，certainly；butsomebodysaid，\'ofcourseitwouldbelight，atsea，\'apropositiontowhichweallassented；echoing\'ofcourse，ofcourse；\'thoughitwouldbeexceedinglydifficulttosaywhywethoughtso。Iremember，too，whenwehaddiscoveredandexhaustedanothertopicofconsolationinthecircumstanceofthisladies\' cabinadjoiningourstate-room，andtheconsequentlyimmensefeasibilityofsittingthereatalltimesandseasons，andhadfallenintoamomentarysilence，leaningourfacesonourhandsandlookingatthefire，oneofourpartysaid，withthesolemnairofamanwhohadmadeadiscovery，\'Whatarelishmulledclaretwillhavedownhere!\'whichappearedtostrikeusallmostforcibly；asthoughthereweresomethingspicyandhigh-flavouredincabins，whichessentiallyimprovedthatcomposition，andrendereditquiteincapableofperfectionanywhereelse。 Therewasastewardess，too，activelyengagedinproducingcleansheetsandtable-clothsfromtheveryentrailsofthesofas，andfromunexpectedlockers，ofsuchartfulmechanism，thatitmadeone\'sheadachetoseethemopenedoneafteranother，andrendereditquiteadistractingcircumstancetofollowherproceedings，andtofindthateverynookandcornerandindividualpieceoffurniturewassomethingelsebesideswhatitpretendedtobe，andwasameretrapanddeceptionandplaceofsecretstowage，whoseostensiblepurposewasitsleastusefulone。 GodblessthatstewardessforherpiouslyfraudulentaccountofJanuaryvoyages!Godblessherforherclearrecollectionofthecompanionpassageoflastyear，whennobodywasill，andeverybodydancingfrommorningtonight，anditwas\'arun\'oftwelvedays，andapieceofthepurestfrolic，anddelight，andjollity!AllhappinessbewithherforherbrightfaceandherpleasantScotchtongue，whichhadsoundsofoldHomeinitformyfellow-traveller； andforherpredictionsoffairwindsandfineweather(allwrong，orIshouldn\'tbehalfsofondofher)；andforthetenthousandsmallfragmentsofgenuinewomanlytact，bywhich，withoutpiecingthemelaboratelytogether，andpatchingthemupintoshapeandformandcaseandpointedapplication，sheneverthelessdidplainlyshowthatallyoungmothersononesideoftheAtlanticwerenearandcloseathandtotheirlittlechildrenleftupontheother；andthatwhatseemedtotheuninitiatedaseriousjourney，was，tothosewhowereinthesecret，amerefrolic，tobesungaboutandwhistledat!Lightbeherheart，andgayhermerryeyes，foryears! Thestate-roomhadgrownprettyfast；butbythistimeithadexpandedintosomethingquitebulky，andalmostboastedabay- windowtoviewtheseafrom。Sowewentupondeckagaininhighspirits；andthere，everythingwasinsuchastateofbustleandactivepreparation，thatthebloodquickeneditspace，andwhirledthroughone\'sveinsonthatclearfrostymorningwithinvoluntarymirthfulness。Foreverygallantshipwasridingslowlyupanddown，andeverylittleboatwassplashingnoisilyinthewater；andknotsofpeoplestooduponthewharf，gazingwithakindof\'dreaddelight\'onthefar-famedfastAmericansteamer；andonepartyofmenwere\'takinginthemilk，\'or，inotherwords，gettingthecowonboard；andanotherwerefillingtheicehousestotheverythroatwithfreshprovisions；withbutchers\'-meatandgarden-stuff，palesucking-pigs，calves\'headsinscores，beef，veal，andpork，andpoultryoutofallproportion；andotherswerecoilingropesandbusywithoakumyarns；andotherswereloweringheavypackagesintothehold；andthepurser\'sheadwasbarelyvisibleasitloomedinastate，ofexquisiteperplexityfromthemidstofavastpileofpassengers\'luggage；andthereseemedtobenothinggoingonanywhere，oruppermostinthemindofanybody，butpreparationsforthismightyvoyage。This，withthebrightcoldsun，thebracingair，thecrisply-curlingwater，thethinwhitecrustofmorningiceuponthedeckswhichcrackledwithasharpandcheerfulsoundbeneaththelightesttread，wasirresistible。Andwhen，againupontheshore，weturnedandsawfromthevessel\'smasthernamesignalledinflagsofjoyouscolours，andflutteringbytheirsidethebeautifulAmericanbannerwithitsstarsandstripes，-thelongthreethousandmilesandmore，and，longerstill，thesixwholemonthsofabsence，sodwindledandfaded，thattheshiphadgoneoutandcomehomeagain，anditwasbroadspringalreadyintheCoburgDockatLiverpool。 Ihavenotinquiredamongmymedicalacquaintance，whetherTurtle，andcoldPunch，withHock，Champagne，andClaret，andalltheslightetceterausuallyincludedinanunlimitedorderforagooddinner-especiallywhenitislefttotheliberalconstructionofmyfaultlessfriend，Mr。Radley，oftheAdelphiHotel-arepeculiarlycalculatedtosufferasea-change；orwhetheraplainmutton-chop，andaglassortwoofsherry，wouldbelesslikelyofconversionintoforeignanddisconcertingmaterial。Myownopinionis，thatwhetheroneisdiscreetorindiscreetintheseparticulars，ontheeveofasea-voyage，isamatteroflittleconsequence；andthat，touseacommonphrase，\'itcomestoverymuchthesamethingintheend。\'Bethisasitmay，Iknowthatthedinnerofthatdaywasundeniablyperfect；thatitcomprehendedalltheseitems，andagreatmanymore；andthatwealldidamplejusticetoit。AndIknowtoo，that，batingacertaintacitavoidanceofanyallusiontoto-morrow；suchasmaybesupposedtoprevailbetweendelicate-mindedturnkeys，andasensitiveprisonerwhoistobehangednextmorning；wegotonverywell，and，allthingsconsidered，weremerryenough。 Whenthemorning-THEmorning-came，andwemetatbreakfast，itwascurioustoseehoweagerweallweretopreventamoment\'spauseintheconversation，andhowastoundinglygayeverybodywas: theforcedspiritsofeachmemberofthelittlepartyhavingasmuchlikenesstohisnaturalmirth，ashot-housepeasatfiveguineasthequart，resembleinflavourthegrowthofthedews，andair，andrainofHeaven。Butasoneo\'clock，thehourforgoingaboard，drewnear，thisvolubilitydwindledawaybylittleandlittle，despitethemostperseveringeffortstothecontrary，untilatlast，thematterbeingnowquitedesperate，wethrewoffalldisguise；openlyspeculateduponwhereweshouldbethistimeto- morrow，thistimenextday，andsoforth；andentrustedavastnumberofmessagestothosewhointendedreturningtotownthatnight，whichweretobedeliveredathomeandelsewherewithoutfail，withintheveryshortestpossiblespaceoftimeafterthearrivaloftherailwaytrainatEustonSquare。Andcommissionsandremembrancesdosocrowdupononeatsuchatime，thatwewerestillbusiedwiththisemploymentwhenwefoundourselvesfused，asitwere，intoadenseconglomerationofpassengersandpassengers\' friendsandpassengers\'luggage，alljumbledtogetheronthedeckofasmallsteamboat，andpantingandsnortingofftothepacket，whichhadworkedoutofdockyesterdayafternoonandwasnowlyingathermooringsintheriver。 Andtheresheis!alleyesareturnedtowhereshelies，dimlydiscerniblethroughthegatheringfogoftheearlywinterafternoon；everyfingerispointedinthesamedirection；andmurmursofinterestandadmiration-as\'Howbeautifulshelooks!\' \'Howtrimsheis!\'-areheardoneveryside。Eventhelazygentlemanwithhishatononesideandhishandsinhispockets，whohasdispensedsomuchconsolationbyinquiringwithayawnofanothergentlemanwhetherheis\'goingacross\'-asifitwereaferry-evenhecondescendstolookthatway，andnodhishead，aswhoshouldsay，\'NomistakeaboutTHAT:\'andnoteventhesageLordBurleighinhisnod，includedhalfsomuchasthislazygentlemanofmightwhohasmadethepassage(aseverybodyonboardhasfoundoutalready；it\'simpossibletosayhow)thirteentimeswithoutasingleaccident!Thereisanotherpassengerverymuchwrapped-up，whohasbeenfrowneddownbytherest，andmorallytrampleduponandcrushed，forpresumingtoinquirewithatimidinteresthowlongitissincethepoorPresidentwentdown。Heisstandingclosetothelazygentleman，andsayswithafaintsmilethathebelievesSheisaverystrongShip；towhichthelazygentleman，lookingfirstinhisquestioner\'seyeandthenveryhardinthewind\'s，answersunexpectedlyandominously，thatSheneedbe。Uponthisthelazygentlemaninstantlyfallsverylowinthepopularestimation，andthepassengers，withlooksofdefiance，whispertoeachotherthatheisanass，andanimpostor，andclearlydon\'tknowanythingatallaboutit。 Butwearemadefastalongsidethepacket，whosehugeredfunnelissmokingbravely，givingrichpromiseofseriousintentions。 Packing-cases，portmanteaus，carpet-bags，andboxes，arealreadypassedfromhandtohand，andhauledonboardwithbreathlessrapidity。Theofficers，smartlydressed，areatthegangwayhandingthepassengersuptheside，andhurryingthemen。Infiveminutes\'time，thelittlesteamerisutterlydeserted，andthepacketisbesetandover-runbyitslatefreight，whoinstantlypervadethewholeship，andaretobemetwithbythedozenineverynookandcorner:swarmingdownbelowwiththeirownbaggage，andstumblingoverotherpeople\'s；disposingthemselvescomfortablyinwrongcabins，andcreatingamosthorribleconfusionbyhavingtoturnoutagain；madlybentuponopeninglockeddoors，andonforcingapassageintoallkindsofout-of-the-wayplaceswherethereisnothoroughfare；sendingwildstewards，withelfinhair，toandfrouponthebreezydecksonunintelligibleerrands，impossibleofexecution:andinshort，creatingthemostextraordinaryandbewilderingtumult。Inthemidstofallthis，thelazygentleman，whoseemstohavenoluggageofanykind-notsomuchasafriend，even-loungesupanddownthehurricanedeck，coollypuffingacigar；and，asthisunconcerneddemeanouragainexaltshimintheopinionofthosewhohaveleisuretoobservehisproceedings，everytimehelooksupatthemasts，ordownatthedecks，orovertheside，theylooktheretoo，aswonderingwhetherheseesanythingwronganywhere，andhopingthat，incaseheshould，hewillhavethegoodnesstomentionit。 Whathavewehere？Thecaptain\'sboat!andyonderthecaptainhimself。Now，byallourhopesandwishes，theverymanheoughttobe!Awell-made，tight-built，dapperlittlefellow；witharuddyface，whichisaletterofinvitationtoshakehimbybothhandsatonce；andwithaclear，bluehonesteye，thatitdoesonegoodtoseeone\'ssparklingimagein。\'Ringthebell!\'\'Ding，ding，ding!\'theverybellisinahurry。\'Nowfortheshore- who\'sfortheshore？\'-\'Thesegentlemen，Iamsorrytosay。\'Theyareaway，andneversaid，Goodb\'ye。Ahnowtheywaveitfromthelittleboat。\'Goodb\'ye!Goodb\'ye!\'Threecheersfromthem； threemorefromus；threemorefromthem:andtheyaregone。 Toandfro，toandfro，toandfroagainahundredtimes!Thiswaitingforthelatestmail-bagsisworsethanall。Ifwecouldhavegoneoffinthemidstofthatlastburst，weshouldhavestartedtriumphantly:buttoliehere，twohoursandmoreinthedampfog，neitherstayingathomenorgoingabroad，islettingonegraduallydownintotheverydepthsofdulnessandlowspirits。A speckinthemist，atlast!That\'ssomething。Itistheboatwewaitfor!That\'smoretothepurpose。Thecaptainappearsonthepaddle-boxwithhisspeakingtrumpet；theofficerstaketheirstations；allhandsareonthealert；theflagginghopesofthepassengersrevive；thecookspauseintheirsavourywork，andlookoutwithfacesfullofinterest。Theboatcomesalongside；thebagsaredraggedinanyhow，andflungdownforthemomentanywhere。 Threecheersmore:andasthefirstoneringsuponourears，thevesselthrobslikeastronggiantthathasjustreceivedthebreathoflife；thetwogreatwheelsturnfiercelyroundforthefirsttime；andthenobleship，withwindandtideastern，breaksproudlythroughthelashedandroamingwater。 CHAPTERII-THEPASSAGEOUT WEalldinedtogetherthatday；andaratherformidablepartywewere:nofewerthaneighty-sixstrong。Thevesselbeingprettydeepinthewater，withallhercoalsonboardandsomanypassengers，andtheweatherbeingcalmandquiet，therewasbutlittlemotion；sothatbeforethedinnerwashalfover，eventhosepassengerswhoweremostdistrustfulofthemselvespluckedupamazingly；andthosewhointhemorninghadreturnedtotheuniversalquestion，\'Areyouagoodsailor？\'averydecidednegative，noweitherparriedtheinquirywiththeevasivereply，\'Oh!IsupposeI\'mnoworsethananybodyelse；\'or，recklessofallmoralobligations，answeredboldly\'Yes:\'andwithsomeirritationtoo，asthoughtheywouldadd，\'IshouldliketoknowwhatyouseeinME，sir，particularly，tojustifysuspicion!\' Notwithstandingthishightoneofcourageandconfidence，Icouldnotbutobservethatveryfewremainedlongovertheirwine；andthateverybodyhadanunusualloveoftheopenair；andthatthefavouriteandmostcovetedseatswereinvariablythosenearesttothedoor。Thetea-table，too，wasbynomeansaswellattendedasthedinner-table；andtherewaslesswhist-playingthanmighthavebeenexpected。Still，withtheexceptionofonelady，whohadretiredwithsomeprecipitationatdinner-time，immediatelyafterbeingassistedtothefinestcutofaveryyellowboiledlegofmuttonwithverygreencapers，therewerenoinvalidsasyet；andwalking，andsmoking，anddrinkingofbrandy-and-water(butalwaysintheopenair)，wentonwithunabatedspirit，untileleveno\'clockorthereabouts，when\'turningin\'-nosailorofsevenhours\'experiencetalksofgoingtobed-becametheorderofthenight。Theperpetualtrampofboot-heelsonthedecksgaveplacetoaheavysilence，andthewholehumanfreightwasstowedawaybelow，exceptingaveryfewstragglers，likemyself，whowereprobably，likeme，afraidtogothere。 Tooneunaccustomedtosuchscenes，thisisaverystrikingtimeonshipboard。Afterwards，andwhenitsnoveltyhadlongwornoff，itneverceasedtohaveapeculiarinterestandcharmforme。Thegloomthroughwhichthegreatblackmassholdsitsdirectandcertaincourse；therushingwater，plainlyheard，butdimlyseen； thebroad，white，glisteningtrack，thatfollowsinthevessel\'swake；themenonthelook-outforward，whowouldbescarcelyvisibleagainstthedarksky，butfortheirblottingoutsomescoreofglisteningstars；thehelmsmanatthewheel，withtheilluminatedcardbeforehim，shining，aspeckoflightamidstthedarkness，likesomethingsentientandofDivineintelligence；themelancholysighingofthewindthroughblock，andrope，andchain； thegleamingforthoflightfromeverycrevice，nook，andtinypieceofglassaboutthedecks，asthoughtheshipwerefilledwithfireinhiding，readytoburstthroughanyoutlet，wildwithitsresistlesspowerofdeathandruin。Atfirst，too，andevenwhenthehour，andalltheobjectsitexalts，havecometobefamiliar，itisdifficult，aloneandthoughtful，toholdthemtotheirpropershapesandforms。Theychangewiththewanderingfancy；assumethesemblanceofthingsleftfaraway；putonthewell-rememberedaspectoffavouriteplacesdearlyloved；andevenpeoplethemwithshadows。Streets，houses，rooms；figuressoliketheirusualoccupants，thattheyhavestartledmebytheirreality，whichfarexceeded，asitseemedtome，allpowerofminetoconjureuptheabsent；have，manyandmanyatime，atsuchanhour，grownsuddenlyoutofobjectswithwhosereallook，anduse，andpurpose，Iwasaswellacquaintedaswithmyowntwohands。 Myowntwohands，andfeetlikewise，beingverycold，however，onthisparticularoccasion，Icreptbelowatmidnight。Itwasnotexactlycomfortablebelow。Itwasdecidedlyclose；anditwasimpossibletobeunconsciousofthepresenceofthatextraordinarycompoundofstrangesmells，whichistobefoundnowherebutonboardship，andwhichissuchasubtleperfumethatitseemstoenterateveryporeoftheskin，andwhisperofthehold。Twopassengers\'wives(oneofthemmyown)layalreadyinsilentagoniesonthesofa；andonelady\'smaid(MYlady\'s)wasamerebundleonthefloor，execratingherdestiny，andpoundinghercurl- papersamongthestrayboxes。Everythingslopedthewrongway: whichinitselfwasanaggravationscarcelytobeborne。Ihadleftthedooropen，amomentbefore，inthebosomofagentledeclivity，and，whenIturnedtoshutit，itwasonthesummitofaloftyeminence。Noweveryplankandtimbercreaked，asiftheshipweremadeofwicker-work；andnowcrackled，likeanenormousfireofthedriestpossibletwigs。Therewasnothingforitbutbed；soIwenttobed。 Itwasprettymuchthesameforthenexttwodays，withatolerablyfairwindanddryweather。Ireadinbed(buttothishourIdon\'tknowwhat)agooddeal；andreeledondeckalittle；drankcoldbrandy-and-waterwithanunspeakabledisgust，andatehardbiscuitperseveringly:notill，butgoingtobe。 Itisthethirdmorning。Iamawakenedoutofmysleepbyadismalshriekfrommywife，whodemandstoknowwhetherthere\'sanydanger。Irousemyself，andlookoutofbed。Thewater-jugisplungingandleapinglikealivelydolphin；allthesmallerarticlesareafloat，exceptmyshoes，whicharestrandedonacarpet-bag，highanddry，likeacoupleofcoal-barges。SuddenlyI seethemspringintotheair，andbeholdthelooking-glass，whichisnailedtothewall，stickingfastupontheceiling。Atthesametimethedoorentirelydisappears，andanewoneisopenedinthefloor。ThenIbegintocomprehendthatthestate-roomisstandingonitshead。 Beforeitispossibletomakeanyarrangementatallcompatiblewiththisnovelstateofthings，theshiprights。Beforeonecansay\'ThankHeaven!\'shewrongsagain。BeforeonecancrysheIS wrong，sheseemstohavestartedforward，andtobeacreatureactuallyrunningofitsownaccord，withbrokenkneesandfailinglegs，througheveryvarietyofholeandpitfall，andstumblingconstantly。Beforeonecansomuchaswonder，shetakesahighleapintotheair。Beforeshehaswelldonethat，shetakesadeepdiveintothewater。Beforeshehasgainedthesurface，shethrowsasummerset。Theinstantsheisonherlegs，sherushesbackward。 Andsoshegoesonstaggering，heaving，wrestling，leaping，diving，jumping，pitching，throbbing，rolling，androcking:andgoingthroughallthesemovements，sometimesbyturns，andsometimesaltogether:untilonefeelsdisposedtoroarformercy。 Astewardpasses。\'Steward!\'\'Sir？\'\'WhatISthematter？whatDO youcallthis？\'\'Ratheraheavyseaon，sir，andahead-wind。\' Ahead-wind!Imagineahumanfaceuponthevessel\'sprow，withfifteenthousandSamsonsinonebentupondrivingherback，andhittingherexactlybetweentheeyeswheneversheattemptstoadvanceaninch。Imaginetheshipherself，witheverypulseandarteryofherhugebodyswollenandburstingunderthismaltreatment，sworntogoonordie。Imaginethewindhowling，thesearoaring，therainbeating:allinfuriousarrayagainsther。 Picturetheskybothdarkandwild，andtheclouds，infearfulsympathywiththewaves，makinganotheroceanintheair。Addtoallthis，theclatteringondeckanddownbelow；thetreadofhurriedfeet；theloudhoarseshoutsofseamen；thegurglinginandoutofwaterthroughthescuppers；with，everynowandthen，thestrikingofaheavyseaupontheplanksabove，withthedeep，dead，heavysoundofthunderheardwithinavault；-andthereisthehead-windofthatJanuarymorning。 Isaynothingofwhatmaybecalledthedomesticnoisesoftheship:suchasthebreakingofglassandcrockery，thetumblingdownofstewards，thegambols，overhead，ofloosecasksandtruantdozensofbottledporter，andtheveryremarkableandfarfromexhilaratingsoundsraisedintheirvariousstate-roomsbytheseventypassengerswhoweretooilltogetuptobreakfast。Isaynothingofthem:foralthoughIlaylisteningtothisconcertforthreeorfourdays，Idon\'tthinkIhearditformorethanaquarterofaminute，attheexpirationofwhichterm，Ilaydownagain，excessivelysea-sick。 Notsea-sick，beitunderstood，intheordinaryacceptationoftheterm:IwishIhadbeen:butinaformwhichIhaveneverseenorhearddescribed，thoughIhavenodoubtitisverycommon。Ilaythere，allthedaylong，quitecoollyandcontentedly；withnosenseofweariness，withnodesiretogetup，orgetbetter，ortaketheair；withnocuriosity，orcare，orregret，ofanysortordegree，savingthatIthinkIcanremember，inthisuniversalindifference，havingakindoflazyjoy-offiendishdelight，ifanythingsolethargiccanbedignifiedwiththetitle-inthefactofmywifebeingtooilltotalktome。IfImaybeallowedtoillustratemystateofmindbysuchanexample，IshouldsaythatI wasexactlyintheconditionoftheelderMr。Willet，aftertheincursionoftheriotersintohisbaratChigwell。Nothingwouldhavesurprisedme。If，inthemomentaryilluminationofanyrayofintelligencethatmayhavecomeuponmeinthewayofthoughtsofHome，agoblinpostman，withascarletcoatandbell，hadcomeintothatlittlekennelbeforeme，broadawakeinbroadday，and，apologisingforbeingdampthroughwalkinginthesea，hadhandedmealetterdirectedtomyself，infamiliarcharacters，IamcertainIshouldnothavefeltoneatomofastonishment:Ishouldhavebeenperfectlysatisfied。IfNeptunehimselfhadwalkedin，withatoastedsharkonhistrident，Ishouldhavelookedupontheeventasoneoftheverycommonesteverydayoccurrences。 Once-once-Ifoundmyselfondeck。Idon\'tknowhowIgotthere，orwhatpossessedmetogothere，butthereIwas；andcompletelydressedtoo，withahugepea-coaton，andapairofbootssuchasnoweakmaninhissensescouldeverhavegotinto。