, proposed to the latter to put
on the gloves. "Jersey" hardly seemed to know what gloves were, but with
much trouble he was got into form and set to milling. But though he was
as awkward as a blind cow, the swell pugilist could not for a very long
time get in a blow. Jersey dodged every hit "somehow" in a manner which
seemed to be miraculous. At last one told on his chest, and it appeared
to be a stunner, for it knocked him into the air, where he turned a
double somersault, and then fell on his feet. And it seemed as if,
during this flight, he had been suddenly inspired with a knowledge of the
manly art, for on descending, he went at the swell and knocked him from
time. It was Gabriel Ravel.

We saw an iceberg far away, and lay off on the Grand Banks (where our
steerage passengers caught cod-fish), and beheld a water-spout--I once
saw two at a time in the Mediterranean--and whales, which were far
commoner then than now, it being rumoured that the one, and no more,
which is regularly seen by passengers now is a tame one belonging to the
White Star or some other line, which keeps him moored in a certain place
on exhibition; also that what Gulf-weed there is left is grown near New
York and scattered by night from certain boats. It may be so--this is an
artificial age. All that remains is to learn that the flying-fish are
No. 3 salt mackerel set with springs, and I am not sure that I should
doubt even _that_.

IV. THE RETURN TO AMERICA. 1848-1862.

Home--Studying law with John Cadwallader--Philadelphia as I found
it--Richard B. Kimball--"Fusang"--Literal reporting in German--First
experiences in magazines and newspapers--Father Matthew--Dr. Rufus
Griswold--Engaged to be married--A journey North--Colonel Cotl and
pistol-practice with him--Alfred Jaell--Editor of Barnum's
_Illustrated News_--Dr. Griswold and his MS.--Bixby's--Mr. Barnum--My
first books--New York society in the early Fifties--Alice and Phoebe
Carey--Washington Irving--Bayard Taylor--N. P. Willis--J. G. Saxe--H.
C. Carey--Emily Schaumberg--I become assistant-editor of the
_Bulletin_--George H. Boker--Cremation--Editorial life--Paternal
enterprise--My father renews his fortune--I am married--The Republican
Convention--First great dissension with the South--Translating
Heine--The lady in the burning hotel--The writing of "Hans Breitmann's
Barty"--Change to New York--Appletons' _Cyclopaedia_--G. W. Rip