Before leaving on so interesting an enterprise, with which the most pleasing recollections of our lives will ever be associated, we had the gratification of being honoured by a visit on board from the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian. The commander of the Expedition introduced the officers and scientific gentlemen to his Imperial Highness, who addressed them in affecting terms, and concluded his remarks by expressing a hope that the frigate _Novara_ would, with God's help, return happily from her mission to her own honour and that of the country. The narrative of the voyage is now presented, and, probably, the results of the various scientific investigations will very shortly be offered to a discerning public, leaving it to them to judge how far we have succeeded in realizing the hopes of the illustrious Prince. But if we have not satisfied all the expectations entertained, it certainly was not from insufficiency of means; for everything was complete in that respect, and we owe it chiefly to the circumspection and kind care of the Commander-in-chief of our navy, that this enterprise had been so wisely planned, and its details brought in so short a time to such a degree of perfection that, during the whole voyage, it was not found necessary to make the slightest alteration in the original arrangements and regulations. [Illustration: GEODETICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS.] [Illustration: LOOK-OUT MAN.] II. From Trieste to Gibraltar. Departure.--Fair Voyage down the Adriatic.--A Man lost and found again.--Passage through the Straits of Messina.--The Steamer _Sta. Lucia_ returns to Trieste.--Regulations and Instructions for further Proceedings.--A Day on Board the _Novara_.-- Sunrise.--Cleaning the Ship.--Mental and physical occupation.-- Moonlight at sea. The departure of the frigate was fixed for the 30th April, 1857, and H.I.M.'s corvette _Caroline_, Captain Kohen, was ordered to accompany her as far as the coast of South America. H.I.M's steamer, _Sta. Lucia_, Captain von Littrow, received orders to tow both ships as far as the extremity of the Straits of Messina to avoid loss of time, such as frequently arises in the Adriatic during the spring, from calms and unfavourable winds. With the dawn of the day fixed for the departure of the ships, all was bustle on board; craft of all kinds hovered around, and relatives and friends had assembled in great numbers to take leave. The verdant and thickly-wooded slopes of the promenade to St. Andrea, near the shore, were thronged with spectators, and the fair and lovely picture of our native coast developed itself once more before our eyes, clad in all its charms of spring, as if to wish us a hearty farewell, an auspicious voyage, and a happy return!