Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/303

 {|align="center"
 * width=400px |aged 22 years, or thereabouts, of the height of 5 feet 7 inches, Brown hair, Dark complexion, Born in Boston, State of Massachusetts,  has this day produced to me proof in the manner directed by the  Act entitled "An Act for the Relief and Protection of American Seamen"; and pursuant to the said Act, I do hereby certify that  the said  is a Citizen of the United States of America.

, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal of Office, this 29th day of January, 1845. , Collector.
 * }

Feb. 1, 1845. Found myself on board of the ship Rainbow, Captain John Land, bound to Canton. The ship’s decks and the wharf were crowded with spectators to witness the sailing of this new and beautiful craft. As we were being towed down the river, we were saluted with shouts and cheers from the shore. Large flags and banners hung from the spacious new warehouse of  Messrs. Howland & Aspinwall, and the windows were  filled with ladies. We had a very pleasant though cold sail down the Narrows to Sandy Hook. When we reached the light-house, the company on board, which  consisted of about fifty gentlemen, left us and went  aboard the steamer Samson which came after them. As they left, they gave us three times three cheers, which  we returned with interest. The Rainbow was one of the first vessels of her kind — 750 tons burden, very  long and narrow, very sharp, and an extraordinarily fast  sailer, passing every vessel we came across. Before the steamer left us, Rev. Mr. Barker offered an appropriate  prayer, and distributed several religious books among the crew.

Having made all sail, we bowled merrily along towards the open sea at the rate of nine knots an hour, the wind