After completing our water and stores, we sailed, and made the circuit of St. Domingo, and a month afterwards returned to Port Royal, where we found the dignity ladies looking as blooming as black roses, and as it was understood that we were to be paid prize money, a general invitation was given to all the wardroom officers to a grand ball two days after our arrival; for be it known to you, gentle reader, that humble4 mids are never invited to dignity balls of the first class, which are given by the mustees and quadroons. Some of these ladies are beautifully formed, with handsome features. The second class generally consist of mulattos and blacks; these last are the most numerous; the mids at their balls are quite at home, and call for sangaree and porter-cup in first style.
At this period I had served my six years within a few months, when the captain sent for me, and told me he intended sending me on board the flag-ship on promotion6. “I send you there,” added he, [pg 115]“beforehand, that you may have the opportunity of becoming known to the commander-in-chief, that at the expiration7 of your time you may be more immediately under his notice and be sure of your promotion.” I thanked him sincerely for his kind intention, and the following morning behold8 me, bed and traps, ensconced in the starboard midshipman’s berth9—one of the darkest holes of a cockpit I ever was yet in—on board the Queen, a ninety-eight gun ship. My messmates, ten in number, were the poorest of all poor mids. I was welcomed to the mess by the master’s mate, who held in his hand a dirty, empty bottle, with a farthing candle lighted in the neck of it. “Take care,” said he, “you don’t break your shins over the youngsters’ chests.” “Thank you,” said I; “but I always thought a flag-ship’s cockpit too well regulated to have chests athwartships.” “Why, to tell you the truth,” replied he, “those d——d youngsters are so often changing ships, being here to-day and promoted to-morrow, that it is impossible to keep either chests, mess or them in anything like order. I wish they were all at the devil.” “Amen,” responded a person in the berth, whose nose was looming3 out of a hazy10 darkness, “for, d——n them,” he continued, “they have eaten all the cheese and have had a good swig at my rum-bottle, but I’ll lay a point to windward of them yet.” These two hard officers were both old standards. The last who spoke11 was the mate of the hold, and the other of the lower deck. One [pg 116]had seen thirty-five and the other thirty-nine summers. The hope of a lieutenant’s commission they had given up in despair, and were now looking out for a master’s warrant. They were both brought up in the merchant service, and had entered the Navy at the beginning of the war as quarter-masters, and by their steady conduct were made master’s mates, a situation which requires some considerable tact12. The greater portion of my hopeful brother officers were from eighteen to twenty years of age. Their toast in a full bumper13 of grog of an evening was usually, “A bloody14 war and a sickly season.” Some few were gentlemanly, but the majority were every-day characters—when on deck doing little, and when below doing less. Books they had very few or none; as an instance of it, we had only one, except the Hamilton Moore’s and the Nautical15 Almanack, among ten of us, and that was “Extracts from the Poets.” One of the mates above mentioned, seeing me moping with the blue devils, brought it me. “Here,” said he, “is a book nobody reads. I have looked into it myself, but there is so much dry stuff in it, that it makes my grog go too fast; but,” added he, “‘Dry’ is put under that part, so you can skip over it.” Now, reader, the most beautiful passages of this neglected book were from Dryden. The mate, happy, ignorant man, imagined, in his wisdom, that where the abridgment17 of this poet’s name was placed, it was to indicate to the reader that the poetry was dry and not worth [pg 117]reading. Oh, Ignorance, thou art sometimes bliss18, but in the present instance it were not folly19 to be wise! I attempted to take the Irish half-crown out of his mind by comparing some of Dryden’s passages with the others, and he was as much convinced as a cable-tier coiling and stowing-hold officer is generally capable of being, that the “Dry” poetry was the best.
The captain of this ship was from the north, I believe, strictly20 moral and as strict in discipline, admirably economical, and as regular in his habits as any old-clothes man in Monmouth Street. He kept all the cockpitonians on the qui vive, and as every recommendation went through him to the admiral it was but good policy for the mids to be on the alert. As all the lieutenants21 were constantly changing, those promoted making room for others, I shall not describe their characters, except noticing that the generality of them were good officers and gentlemen. A month after I joined we were ordered to sail, and on going out of Port Royal Roads we struck with great force on a sand bank called the Turtle Head. The master, who was as ignorant as he was conceited23, had taken charge of the ship before she was out of pilot water, and in less than half an hour after the pilot left us she struck. As we were still in sight of the vessels24 at Port Royal, we made the signal for assistance, and soon afterwards saw a frigate26 and a store ship coming out towards us. The sea breeze began to set in, which drove us more on the shoal, notwithstanding [pg 118]that we had carried out two anchors ahead. At length she thumped28 so violently that we jumped at least a foot high from the deck. I could not refrain from smiling to see the captain and officers with serious, long, anxious faces, cutting capers29 against their will. The rudder and false keel soon parted company, and we all expected to see the masts jerked out of their steps. On sounding the well we found the ship making water rapidly. The pumps were set to work, but in vain. She soon sank in three fathoms30 and a half water, and we had eighteen feet of water in the hold. The frigate and store ship, with some smaller vessels, had anchored as near us as they could with safety. The small craft came alongside and took out our guns and stores, and one hundred additional men were sent on board us to work the pumps. Pumps were also sent from the dockyard, and were introduced into the hold through the decks, which had been scuttled31 for that purpose. On the morning of the third day we had got everything, except the lower masts and bowsprit, on board the lighters32, and by the exertions33 of the men at the pumps, which had been incessant34 for three days and nights, we had lightened her, and she floated off the shoal. The frigate took us in tow, and in three hours afterwards we were lashed35 alongside the dockyard. The fatigue36 and want of rest, for not a single hammock had been piped down during the time the ship was on shore, threw about fifty men into the sick list, and several of them died at the hospital afterwards. [pg 119]The seamen37 of the fleet in general had a great aversion to go to the hospital, and when ill used to entreat38 the doctor not to send them there. It was said of the matrons, which did not redound39 to their credit if true, that when a seaman40 died, and was reported to them, they exclaimed: “Poor fellow! bring me his bag, and mind everything belonging to him is put into it.” This they considered their perquisite41. Surely this is wrong and robbery! Ah, Mr. Hume! why were you a puling, helpless babe at that time? Had you been a man and known it, you would have called for reformation and been the seaman’s friend.
We had now a difficult and arduous42 duty to perform, which was to heave the ship down keel out. I was stationed on the lower deck with a party of thirty seamen to keep the chain pumps going as long as they would work—that is, until the ship was nearly on her side. In about twenty minutes she was nearly on her beam ends, when all the temporary stanchions which had been fixed43 to keep the deck from yielding gave way like a regiment44 of black militia45 in chase of Obie, or Three-fingered Jack46 in the Whee Mountains, when they are in full retreat. I was standing27 at this time in no enviable position, my feet rested on the combings of the main hatchway with my back against the deck. I expected every moment to have my brains knocked out, but this apprehension47 was soon superseded48 by a cry from the shore of, “Make for the stern ports and jump overboard; the hawsers49 are [pg 120]stranded; there will be a boat ready to pick you up.” “Sooner said than done,” thinks I to myself; “I wish with all my heart that the first lieutenant who ordered me here was in my place, and he would find the order practically impossible.” Another cry was then heard: “Hold all fast on board!” “You are a wise man,” thinks I again for that order; “it is the very thing we are determined50 to do.” “All’s safe,” was the next squall through the trumpet51, “the mastheads are secured to the beams.” “Thank you for nothing,” said I to myself, “it’s more good luck than good management.” When the ship was hove down, we got some of the pumps to work on the side next the water, as it had gone from the well, and in a few hours kept her clear. On the fourth day we righted her, as the dockyard maties had botched her up.
We had now to wait about six weeks for the rudder; in the meanwhile we got on board the water, provisions and stores, and fresh powder, the last having had a ducking. From the time the ship came to the yard we had slept and messed in the capstan house, consequently we had not an opportunity of holding a cockpit inquiry52 on the master’s conduct for running the vessel25 on shore. The second day after getting on board we put on our scrapers and toasting-forks, and assembled in the larboard berth, which was illuminated53 for the occasion by four farthing candles. The court consisted of fourteen members. I was chosen president; a black man who waited on our berth [pg 121]was to personate the master. After taking our seats according to seniority, we declared we would show neither favour nor partiality to the prisoner, but try him fairly by the rules of the cockpit. I began, as president, by asking him the reason he let the pilot quit the ship before she was clear of the shoals.
Prisoner: “’Cause, massa, I had berry good opinion of myself, and I tink I sabby de ground better den16 dat black scorpion54 who call himself pilot.”
President: “If you knew the channels better than the pilot, how came you to let the ship get on shore on the Turtle Head shoal?”
Prisoner: “Ah, Massa President, me no tink Turtle Head lib dere; me tink him lib tree legs more west. De chart say him moral impossible he lib so near Port Royal.”
Here the chart was examined, and the shoal was in reality laid down in a wrong place. This saved the master, or he must have been smashed. Here the court adjourned55 to consider the sentence. After laughing and joking some short time in the larboard wing, we again assembled looking as solemn as a Lord Chancellor56, when I, as the noble president, addressed the prisoner as follows:—
“Prisoner, this honourable57 Court having duly considered the unseamanlike and stupid blunder you have committed, do adjudge you to be suspended from your duty as master of this ship for six calendar months, in order to give you time to reflect on the mischief58 you have done and the [pg 122]great expense you have occasioned by running His Majesty’s ship on a shoal called the Turtle Head; and they advise you not to be so self-sufficient in future, and, if it be not morally impossible, to clothe yourself with the robe of humility59, and to put all your conceit22 into the N.W. corner of your chest, and never let it see daylight. And the Court further adjudges you, in consequence of your letting the pilot quit the ship before she was in sea-way, to be severely60 reprimanded and also admonished61 as to your future conduct, and you are hereby suspended, reprimanded, and admonished accordingly. I dissolve this Court. Master Blacky, get dinner ready as fast as you can, as we are very sharp set.”
“Yes, massa,” was the answer; “to-day you hab for dinner salt junk and bargeman biscuit, and to-morrow you hab change.” “What do you say, you black woolly-headed rascal63?” said one of the mids. “Why, I say, massa, you hab change to-morrow—you hab bargeman biscuit and salt junk.” “Why,” said another horrified64 mid5, “I heard the caterer65 order you to get some fish from the canoe alongside.” “Yes, massa, dat berry true, but de d——d black scorpion would not sell ’um to massa midshipman, cause he no hab pay for fish last time.” “If you mention that again,” said one of my messmates, “I’ll crack your black cocoa-nut, and if you do not get some to-morrow, I’ll take care your grog shall be stopped.” Here the caterer of the mess interfered66 by promising67 the mess should have some fish for their dinner next [pg 123]day, and the contest ended. Master Blacky started up the ladder to stand the wrangle68 in the galley69 for our dinner, and shortly after we attacked a tolerably good-looking piece of King’s own, with the addition of some roasted plantains, which our black factotum70 had forgotten to mention in his bill of fare.
Having procured71 our rudder we sailed to prove, the middies said, “Whether promotion should be stopped or not by the ship’s sinking or floating?” Fortunately for us, by the aid of the chain pumps twice a day, she did the latter. We continued on a man-of-war’s cruise there and back again for five weeks, and then returned to our former anchorage. During this short cruise I had prepared myself for passing, and soon after our arrival, my time being served, I requested the first lieutenant to speak to the captain that I might pass for a lieutenant. “Go yourself,” said he, “and tell him. He is in his room at the capstan house. I’ll give you the jolly boat.”
I was soon on shore and at the door of his room. I knocked. “Enter,” said a voice not at all encouraging. “What do you want, any orders?” “No, sir,” said I, with one of my best quarter-deck bows, which appeared to soften72 him. “I hope I am not intruding73; I have taken the liberty of waiting on you, sir, to acquaint you that I have served my time.” He was half-shaved, and my visit appeared unfortunately ill-timed, and I began to apprehend74 by the expression of his countenance75, and the flourishes he made with his razor, he [pg 124]intended making me a head shorter. “Who sent you to me at this inconvenient76 time?” asked he. “The first lieutenant, sir,” said I; “he thought it was better for me to inform you before you went to the Admiral’s pen.” “Oh, very well; you may go; shut the door, and let the barge62 come for me at seven o’clock.” On board I repaired, and delivered the message. I kept pondering whether my hardy77, half-shaven captain’s manner was favourable78 to the information I had given him or not. My messmates were anxious to know how I was received. “Not very graciously,” was my reply. Next morning, to my agreeable surprise, I was ordered to take the barge, and go on board the Alarm frigate, where I met my old captain, who shook hands with me, and two others. “Well,” said the former, “are you prepared to prove you are an able seaman and an officer?” “I hope so, sir,” said I. He introduced me to his two brother officers, and informed them I had sailed with him some time, and that I had frequently charge of a watch. We all descended79 to the cabin, where Hamilton Moore’s “Epitome,” a slate80 and pencil were placed before me. I was first asked several questions respecting coming to an anchor, mooring81, tacking82, veering83, and taking in sail. I was then desired to find the time of high water at different places, and the variation of the compass.
They appeared satisfied with my answers and solutions, and before I left the ship they presented me with my passing certificate. On the following [pg 125]day I took the oath of allegiance, abused the Pope—poor, innocent man—and all his doctrines84, and received my commission for a twenty-four gun ship which I joined the day after. I left some of my messmates with regret, as they were made of the very stuff our Navy required.
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1
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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4
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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14
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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abridgment
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| n.删节，节本 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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21
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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24
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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lighters
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| n.打火机，点火器( lighter的名词复数 ) | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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redound
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| v.有助于；提；报应 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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perquisite
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| n.固定津贴，福利 | |
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42
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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44
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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45
militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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46
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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47
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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48
superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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49
hawsers
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| n.（供系船或下锚用的）缆索，锚链( hawser的名词复数 ) | |
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50
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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51
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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52
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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53
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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54
scorpion
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| n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭 | |
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55
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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57
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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58
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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59
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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60
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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61
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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62
barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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63
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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64
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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caterer
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| n. 备办食物者，备办宴席者 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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67
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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68
wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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69
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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70
factotum
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| n.杂役；听差 | |
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71
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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72
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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73
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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74
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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76
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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77
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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80
slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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81
mooring
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| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
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82
tacking
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| （帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉 | |
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83
veering
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| n.改变的；犹豫的；顺时针方向转向；特指使船尾转向上风来改变航向v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的现在分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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84
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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