had begun to _promulgate_, that the steamer on the Mediterranean afforded, _on the whole_, the most eligible mode of traversing space. We looked at each other piteously enough, on seeing that we were fast going to face a magnificent specimen of a wave, of which our piston was determined to try the valour, and if possible abate the confidence. When Greek meets Greek, said we, as we dashed through it, and gave a warning to old Neptune to take care of his interests below! Other huge parcels of water hit us obliquely, or come down upon us with a swoop like a falchion; steam hisses, and chimney gets red-hot; but though the vessel yields not, there be those on board who _do_: an Anglo-Sicilian pleasure party is quenched in twenty blanched faces at once; conversation is over, women retire, and the deck is deserted. Against such _ups and downs as these_, the very philosophy of the Stoics were powerless!--even thou, O moon! seemest a _little_ disconcerted, and hast withdrawn thy _pale_ face from thy whilom plate-glass, _the Mediterranean_, so often, for weeks together, like the inland lake of the north, "Thy _mirror_! to inform Thee, if the dark and arrowy storm The forest boughs that brake, Require thy slender silvery hand, to still Thy ruffled wreath of _lily_ and jonquil!" _Pindemonte._ Whew!--wind gets up, and takes part with wave, and all against us--never mind!-- "Hurrah! for the marvels of steam, As thus through the waters we roam; For pistons that smite, oh! for funnels that gleam, And to carry us safe through the _foam_." Whew, whew!--but greater divinities than Neptune are abroad to-night!--What! expect our _black_ chimney to show the _white_ feather! Pooh! pooh! old _Eunosigaeus_, what are thy _white horses_ to the invisible hoofs of two hundred and forty coal-black steeds stamping in the hold? We had, however, a sharp seven-hours' tussle for it; at the end of which, the buffeted Mongibello came bounding into the harbour, and swirled round in the face of Vesuvius, who was smoking his cigar as quietly as ever!