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。