midnight
There was a delightful view as the boat passed the beautiful villages and elegant mansions of the wealthy citizens upon the surrounding shore , reflecting the mild radiance of the setting sun . When the shadows of twilight deepened , and the sable curtains of night hid more distant objects from view , we could see in the dim distance upon the waste of waters , the heated steam pipes of the swift Atlantic , shedding a lurid glare upon the surrounding darkness . By some failure in the fire works of the Oregon , one of the boilers refused to do its office , and it was a fearful sight to some on board to witness the high pressure principle that was applied to the other to raise the steam . The blue sky was above us and the blue waters beneath , and midnight shed her mysterious shapes and phantom shadows around us , and awoke memories of steamboat disasters and perishing crews sinking into a watery grave . The ill-fated Lexington that was burned upon this very track , came up , haunting the imagination with wild , fantastic dreams . But turning from a land of fancies and of shadows , we raised a trusting eye to the glittering host of silent stars that glistened in all their matchless beauty in heaven 's blue vault above , then listened to the dashing of the briny wave , and felt that God was there , that His eye slumbereth not , and His hand holds not only individual life , but the destinies of nations , and at this solemn midnight hour , when there was no object of His creative power in sight save the spangled arch above and the foaming waters beneath , it was sweet to look up to Him in confidence and trust , feeling that His Almighty arm is omnipotent to save . About midnight the ardor of the race abated .