I am not sure whether, upon the whole, this is not more striking than its gradually becoming more and more erect as it rises from the east.

In every position, however, it is beautiful to look at, and well calculated, with a little prompting from the fancy, to stir up our thoughts to solemn purpose.

I know not how others are affected by such things; but, for myself, I can say with truth, that, during the many nights I have watched the Southern Cross, I remember no two occasions when the spectacle interested me exactly in the same way, nor any one upon which I did not discover the result to be somewhat different, and always more impressive, than what I had looked for.
This constellation being about thirty degrees from the south pole, is seen in its whole revolution, and, accordingly, when off the Cape, I have observed it in every stage, from its triumphant erect position, between sixty and seventy degrees above the horizon, to that of complete inversion, with the top beneath, and almost touching the water.

This position, by the way, always reminded me of the death of St.Peter, who is said to have deemed it too great an honour to be crucified with his head upwards.

In short, I defy the stupidest mortal that ever lived to watch these changes in the aspect of this splendid constellation, and not to be in some degree struck by them.
These airy visions are sometimes curiously broken in upon by the most common-place incidents, which force us back upon ordinary life.