ompany with the squadron of
Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth. The wind, which during the day had
been boisterous, was partially lulled, and in the clear moonlight
every object was visible with a distinctness almost equal to that of
day.

The scene from the deck of the Ajax was one of surpassing beauty and
interest. The bright moonbeams rested on the waters, and left a
silvery track upon the waves. Ahead and astern, the lofty masts of the
squadron tapered darkly towards the sky, whilst the outline of every
rope and spar was sharply defined against the clear blue vault of
heaven. Every man in the ship, from the commander to the youngest boy,
could feel and understand this natural beauty; but there were many on
board the squadron who had still higher enjoyment, as they gazed on
those isles and shores which recalled the classic verse of Homer and
of Virgil. For them every island, cape, river, and mountain was
fraught with interest. There lay Tenedos, renowned of old; there the
mountain isle of Imbros stood out in bold relief from the snow-clad
summits of Samothracia. In the distance appeared Mount Ida, and at its
foot lay stretched the plains of Troy, o'er which the 'gulfy Simois'
wanders still as it did of old. There is Cape Sigaeum, and on it the
tomb of Patroclus, round which Achilles dragged the godlike Hector's
corpse; there, too, the ashes of Achilles repose near those of his
friend; and a little further north, on the Rhoetian promontory, is the
tomb of 'mighty Ajax.' Homer, Euripides, and Virgil have, it is true,
a very small share in the studies of a youthful sailor, as they do not
form an essential ingredient of a nautical education; but an English
gentleman, although his head be crammed with mathematics and
equations, always contrives to pick up enough of classic lore to
enable him thoroughly to enjoy such a scene as that we have attempted
to describe. He is much to be pitied who cannot appreciate such
enjoyment; but in these days, when the schoolmaster is aboard, and
when, by the wise liberality of the Government, our ships are
furnished with useful and interesting books, none need of necessity be
deprived of the exquisite pleasure which is to be derived from
visiting scenes which have been 'dignified either by wisdom, bravery,
or virtue.' We are constantly reminded that 'knowledge is power;' but
it might be well to impress upon youngsters, that '_knowledge_ is
enjoyment.' There is, indeed, no acquirement in lite