This goodly promontory, the earth-particularlythat portion of it known as Quicksand-wasto him no more than a pestilent congregation of vapours.

Like Hamlet I had lost all my mirth-whateverI ever had-andthe clouds seemed but a " pestilent congregation of vapors."

If the sky was not "a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours," it was nothing better than a canopy of gray and blue.