E'en the chimney-smoke ascending VI There are longings at deep midnight, Frequent drops the scalding tear; When the quivering, half-checked sigh Tells its tale to silent halls, And the rent heart mournfully VIL. There are longings when the clank O'er the couch where dwells no sleep: HEAVEN hears that prisoner's groan, And the all-avenging EYE Looks upon the oppressor's throne VIIT. There are longings in the city; TX, There are longings when the Christian Suffers 'neath the tempter's rodPantings for the living waters In the city of his God; All his fond desires are bounded Man is striving, longing ever, Closely guard those tender yearnings Ever cherish higher longings For the beautiful and good. THE above engraving is a faithful representation of the Steam-Yacht 'North Star,' which recently left this port for a cruise of pleasure in European waters. The magnitude of the enterprise, the liberality of all its accessories, and the interest felt in it by the public, have induced us to collate from the daily journals an account of the vessel, and to add to that a sketch, known to be authentic, of the career of the owner of the 'North Star,' CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, Esq. We begin with a description of the Yacht, communicated to The Tribune' daily journal: "THE NORTH STAR' was built expressly for this pleasure-excursion by Mr. SIMONSON, under the immediate supervision of Mr. VANDERBILT. She is two hundred and sixty feet on the keel; two hundred and seventy feet on the spar-deck; thirty-eight breadth of beam; thirteen feet from floor-timber to lower-deck beams; seven feet eight inches between decks; seven feet six inches between main and spar-decks; making her whole depth twenty-eight feet six inches. Her keel, of white oak, is fifteen inches sided by fourteen inches wide, stem and stern-posts of the same material, with double aprons, and inner posts of live oak, bolted through with one and three-eighth copper bolts; deadwoods of white oak, and thirteen inches through, fastened with one and a half inch copper bolts, in the most substantial manner. The floor-timbers are sided twelve inches and moulded thirteen inches, being placed close together, and bolted through sideways with one and a half inch bolts. The main kelsons, of which there are five rows extending the entire length of the ship, are of white oak, sided fifteen inches by thirty-two inches deep, the first tier being fastened with two copper bolts, one and a half inches in diameter, through every floor-timber, the upper tiers secured to the lower one with large iron bolts. The bed upon which the engine rests is composed of four rows of kelsons, two feet two inches by five feet deep, secured by iron screw-bolts driven from the bottom before the vessel was planked. The outside planking of white oak, three and a half inches thick, increasing to five inches, is secured with copper bolts and locust treenails, there being thirty-two thousand of the latter driven through and wedged upon both sides. There are six bilge-streaks on the inside of the ship, covering the floor-heads and futtocks 12 x 14 inches, fastened to the timbers with iron bolts, and bolted edgelays between every frame. The ceiling is of six-inch yellow pine, and bolted in the same manner as the bilge-streak, forming one substantial mass of timber fourteen feet in depth. The lower deck-clamps, on which the beams rest, are seven inches thick, thoroughly fastened with iron bolts driven from the outside, and riveted on the inside. There are forty-five deck-beams in the lower deck, with carlines between, sided fifteen inches and moulded fourteen inches, with lodging and bosom-knees of white oak, and a large hanging-knee on each end. The water-ways on the top of the lower deck are composed of three pieces extending the whole length of the ship, thoroughly bolted, making this deck sufficiently strong to stand any reasonable strain. The clamps to support the main deck are of yellow pine, six inches thick and fourteen inches wide, of two widths. This deck is securely kneed in the same manner as the lower one. The stanchions, which extend from the floor-timbers to the lower deck-beams, have a large bolt passing through them, and are continued on to the upper decks, thus connecting the deck with the bottom of the ship. The lower and main deck-plank are of white pine, three by five inches, the upper or spar-deck extending the entire length of the ship. Her machinery is from the Allaire Works. She is propelled by two lever-beam engines: cylinders, sixty inches; length of stroke, ten feet; diameter of wheels, thirtyfour feet. Her boilers, of which she has four, are twenty-four feet long, ten feet diameter, eleven and a half feet front, eleven feet high, with single return flues. "The main saloon is splendidly fitted up with all that can tend to gratify the eye and minister to luxurious ease. The state-rooms which lead from it, on either side, are fitted up in the first style of the upholsterer's art. The furniture throughout blends in one harmonious whole; there are none of those glaring contrasts which are too often met with, and offend the eye and taste by their incongruities. This saloon is of beautiful satin-wood, with just sufficient rose-wood to relieve it, the work of which was executed by Mr. CHARLES SIMONSON. The cabinet-furniture and upholstery were furnished from the extensive establishment of Messrs. J. and J. W. MEEKS. The furniture of the main saloon is of rose-wood, carved in the rich and splendid style of Louis XV., covered with a new and elegant material of figured velvet plush, with a green ground, filled with bouquets of flowers. It consists of two sofas, cost three hundred and fifty dollars each; four couches, three hundred dollars each; six arm-chairs, fifty dollars each. Connected with this saloon are ten state-rooms, superbly fitted up, each with a French armour le gles, beautifully enamelled in white, with a large glass-door, size of plate 40 × 64, cost one hundred dollars each. The berths are furnished with elegant silk lambricans and lace curtains. Each room is fitted up with a different color, viz.: green and gold, crimson and gold, orange, etc. The toilet-furniture matches with the hangings and fittings up by being of the same color, and presents a picture of completeness not often met with, reflecting credit on the parties to whom the arrangements were intrusted. "The saloon and state-rooms are kept at a pleasant temperature by one of VAN HORN'S steam-heaters, which occupies the centre of the cabin. It is a beautiful specimen of trelliswork, and the effect is heightened by its rich burnished gilding. The portable chairs are Tewksberry's Marine Life Seat; in shape not unlike an hour-glass, the top, bottom, and braces of wood, and an air-tight tin chamber. It is capable of supporting two persons on the water with ease. Forward of the grand saloon is a magnificent dining-saloon. This jasper diningsaloon is fitted up in a style entirely new to sea-going vessels. The walls are covered with a preparation of ligneous marble, which is spread on to the depth of one fourth of an inch, and when dry, polished to a degree of mirror-like brightness that marble is incapable of receiving. The panels are of Naples granite, the style of Breschia jasper, and the surbase of yellow Pyrenees marble. The ceiling of the room is painted white, with scroll-work of purple, light-green and gold, surrounding medallion paintings of WEBSTER, CLAY, WASHINGTON, FRANKLIN, and others, together with various emblematic conceptions. 'All the table-furniture is of the most gorgeous description. The china is of ruby and gold finish; and the silver-ware is of the finest kind. "The entire interior-furnishing has been done with the single idea of producing the very best effect possible, and every article shows elaborate design and workmanship, which reflects much credit upon American taste and skill.' The construction, equipment, and sailing of this fine craft, and the energy and spirit which so eminently distinguish its owner, have suggested to our minds some thoughts in relation to the American character as exemplified in his own personal history from his youth up to the present time. And what a lesson it is to the young! proving, so incontestably as it does, that industry, perseverance, energy, and an indomitable will, in connection with stern integrity, will be rewarded in this happy country by triumphant success. Our readers will be as surprised as we ourselves were, at the vast 3 VOL. XLII. extent of Mr. VANDERBILT's wealth, not less than at the 'day of small things' in which he began his career. Until the age of sixteen, Mr. VANDERBILT was brought up on a small farm on Staten-Island, owned and cultivated by his father. Arrived at this age, however, he found himself with a growing desire to make his livelihood by following the sea. He therefore left the farm, and commenced running a small sail-boat between Staten-Island and NewYork, which was owned by his father. After the age of nineteen he commenced life on his own account,' following the same business for the space of two years. This brought him to the beginning of 1817, when his business life began with an activity and increased with an energy seldom equalled and more rarely surpassed. He now took charge of a small steamer running between New-York and Elizabethtown, New-Jersey, belonging to THOMAS GIBBONS. In 1818, he attended to the building of the steamer 'Bellona,' and was her captain for five years. In 1820, he built the steamer 'Caroline, which, it will be remembered, in the troubles on the Canadian borders, in the commencement of the 'Patriot' movement, was cut out' at night at Schlosser, on the Niagara river, and sent, wrapt in flames, over the Great Cataract. This was the first steamer which Captain Vanderbilt built on his own account. In 1821, he built the 'Fanny;' in 1822, the 'Thistle' and the 'Emerald;' in 1824, the 'Swan;' in 1826, the 'Citizen;' in 1827-8, the 'Cinderella,' the 'Clifton,' the 'Union,' the 'Champion,' the 'Nimrod, the 'Livingston,' the 'Cleopatra,' the 'Sound Champion,' the NorthCarolina, the Governor Dudley,' the 'Vanderbilt, the 'Gladiator. These last four steamers he built for a company, for the purpose of running between Washington and Charleston, forming the regular mail-line. Then Captain Vanderbilt built the 'Sylph,' the 'Augusta,' the 'Emerald,' the 'Red-Jacket,' the 'Huguenot,' the 'Hannah Burt,' and 'Eastern' all fine boats- the 'C. Vanderbilt' and 'Commodore,' which formed the great Boston line by the way of Stonington and the RailRoad. Captain Vanderbilt next built and placed on the route across the Isthmus, eight steamers for the Transportation Company, and the fine steamers that run between Havana and Matanzas. He also purchased, refitted, and ran the Witch,' and the 'Worcester.' New-Haven,' the 'Huntress,' the 'WaterHis next 'American Productions' in this kind were the steam-ships, the 'Prometheus,' the 'Daniel Webster,' the 'Star of the West,' the Northern Light,' and the 'North Star. Nor are the vessels here enumerated all that have been built by Captain VANDERBILT: there are several others whose names we cannot now recal. Now we should be glad to have this hasty sketch a poor American farmer's boy's early career and after advancement-this potent lesson of what industry, energy, enterprise, and integrity, can accomplish in a country of free institutions and free American republicans—we should be glad to have it seen and felt in the various quarters of Europe where the steamer 'North Star' shall unfurl the flag of our country. 'Mr. VANDERBILT has been, as we have seen, entirely the architect of his own fortunes. Amassing immense wealth, he has, at the same time, made the fortunes of thousands of others. He is now a large proprietor of manufacturing and engine-building estab |