This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ... CONCLUSION. The weather is fine and the sea calm, and no event worth noticing breaks the even monotony of the voyage, which is similar in most respects to that described in the opening chapters of this narrative. In due course we pass beneath the lofty peak of Teneriffe; Madeira, with its noisy crowd of peddling natives, is left behind, and ploughing through the now calm waters of the dreaded Bay we drop anchor in Plymouth Sound. But how different is the scene to when we last were here. Then, the fierce sou'westerly gale tearing through the leafless trees and lashing up the chill, leaden waters. Now, the golden glory of a summer evening falls upon green pasture land and luxuriant woods fringing down to the water's edge; the sinking sun sparkles upon the dancing waves and darts his last beams afar upon the snowy wings of some stately ship standing up Channel. Very pleasant to look upon is that fair Devonshire coast, as having landed the mails we weigh anchor again for Southampton. Very pleasant, with its green meadows and golden cornlands, and its villages nestling in the bays; while each bold headland stretches out towards you as though in welcome. The night falls and the red eye of a lighthouse gleams out upon the darkening sea, rivalling the starry lamps which appear one by one in the dim vault overhead. A few more hours of quiet, and then--presto--I am transported, as by the wave of a magic wand, from the lone, silent heart of a savage country into the din and turmoil of the metropolis of the world. Eeader, the best of friends must part, nor are you and I exceptions to the inexorable rule. We have been together in many wanderings, and if the perusal of these pages has enabled you to pass an agreeable hour or awakened your interest in...