I was struck too, with the vast disproportion which the extent of the several countries of the earth bore to the part they had acted in history, and the influence they had exerted on human affairs.  The British islands had diminished to a speck, and France was little larger; yet, a few years ago it seemed, at least to us in the United States, as if there were no other nations on the earth.  The Brahmin, who was well read in European history, on my making a remark on this subject, reminded me that Athens and Sparta had once obtained almost equal celebrity, although they were so small as not now to be visible.  As I slowly passed the telescope over the face of Europe, I pictured to myself the fat, plodding Hollander—­the patient, contemplative German—­the ingenious, sensual Italian—­the temperate Swiss—­the haughty, superstitious Spaniard—­the sprightly, self-complacent Frenchman—­the sullen and reflecting Englishman —­who monopolize nearly all the science and literature of the earth, to which they bear so small a proportion.  As the Atlantic fell under our view, two faint circles on each side of the equator, were to be perceived by the naked eye.  They were less bright than the rest of the ocean.  The Brahmin suggested that they might be currents; which brought to my memory Dr. Franklin’s conjecture on the subject, now completely verified by this circular line of vapour, as it had been previously rendered probable by the floating substances, which had been occasionally picked up, at great distances from the places where they had been thrown into the ocean.  The circle was whiter and more distinct, where the Gulf Stream runs parallel to the American coast, and gradually grew fainter as it passed along the Banks of Newfoundland, to the coast of Europe, where, taking a southerly direction, the line of the circle was barely discernible.  A similar circle of vapour, though less defined and complete, was perceived in the South Atlantic Ocean.

When the coast of my own beloved country first presented itself to my view, I experienced the liveliest emotions; and I felt so anxious to see my children and friends, that I would gladly have given up all the promised pleasures of our expedition.  I even ventured to hint my feelings to the Brahmin; but he, gently rebuking my impatience, said—­

“If to return home had been your only object, and not to see what not one of your nation or race has ever yet seen, you ought to have so informed me, that we might have arranged matters accordingly.  I do not wish you to return to your country, until you will be enabled to make yourself welcome and useful there, by what you may see in the lunar world.  Take courage, then, my friend; you have passed the worst; and, as the proverb says, do not, when you have swallowed the ox, now choke at the tail.  Besides, although we made all possible haste in descending, we should, ere we reached the surface, find ourselves to the west of your continent, and be compelled then to choose between some part of Asia or the Pacific Ocean.”