a tender golden mist filling all
the western heavens, and tinting air and water between. So Nature
renewed her charm. And with that sun setting on Henley Harbor, we leave
for the present the miserable, magnificent place.

_June 30._--Iceberg! An iceberg! The real thing at last! We left Henley
at ten A. M., and were soon coming up with a noble berg. Its aspect, on
our near approach, was that of a vast roof rising at one end, beside
which, and about half its height, was the upper third of an enormous
cylinder. Passing to the west, along one side of this roof, we beheld a
vast cavernous depression, making a concave line in its ridge, and then
dipping deep, beyond view, into the berg. The sharp upper rim of this
depression came between us and the sky, with the bright shine of the
forenoon sun beyond, and showed a skirt or fringe of infinitely delicate
luminous green, whose contrast with the rich marble-white of the general
structure was beautiful exceedingly. With the exception of this, and of
a narrow blue seam, looking like lapis-lazuli, which ran diagonally from
summit to base, the broad surface of this side had the look of
snow-white marble lace or fretwork. Passing thence to the north face, we
came apparently upon the part at which the berg separated from its
parent glacier. Here was a new effect, and one of great beauty. In
material it resembled the finest statuary marble,--but rather the
crystalline marbles of Vermont, with their brilliant half-sparkle, than
the dead polish of the Parian; while the form and character of this
facade suggested some fascinating, supernatural consent of chance and
art, of fracture with sculpturesque and architectural design.

"He works in rings, in magic rings, of chance,"--

the subtlest thing ever said of Turner,--might have been spoken even
more truly of the workman who wrought this. The apparent fineness of
material cannot be overstated, so soft and powerful. "A porcelain
fracture," said Ph----,--well. Yet such porcelain! It were the despair
of China. On the eastern, or cylinder side, there was next the water a
strip of intensely polished surface, surmounted by an elaborate level
cornice, and above this the marble lace again.

The schooner soon tacked, and returned. As again we pass the cathedral
cliff on the north, and join the western side with this in one view, we
are somewhat prepared by familiarity to mingle its majesty and beauty,
and take from them a single impression.