As the method by which I obtained the nine dollars, above mentioned, from the purser, will exhibit one of the modes in which seamen10 are sometimes cheated, I will relate it. While in the Siren I drew but half my allowance of grog. By the rules of the service, I could claim the balance in money. This I overlooked when we were paid off, but, when my funds got low, it came into my mind. I proposed to some of the boys, who had a similar claim, to visit the purser. They only laughed at me, and said it would be of no use, for he would not pay it now we were discharged. Finding they would not join me, I went alone to the City Hotel, where the purser boarded, and inquired for him of the bar-tender. He came down stairs, and I spread out my complaint before him. He blustered12 and said I had no such claim allowed; I insisted, and told him it was my right, and he must pay it. Hoping to get rid of me, he told me to call again the next day. This I did, when he paid me nine dollars. This will show the reader one of the ways in which poor Jack13 is plundered14, and that too by gentlemen!
The Boxer lay at the navy yard, whither we were conducted. The vacillation15 of a seaman16’s character was illustrated17 before we got on board, by one of our hands running away: another went a little beyond the first. He went on board, where he pretended to lose his hat overboard. Begging permission to recover it, he seized the rope which fastened the boat to the shore, dropped over the stern into the boat, and pushing up to the wharf18, leaped ashore19 and made off. Such fickle-mindedness is not uncommon20 among sailors.
We lost another of our crew in a more melancholy21 manner; he was in my mess, an Englishman by birth, who had just left a British vessel22 to enter the American service. He was at work on the main yard, and by some means or other, losing his foothold, he fell. Unfortunately, he struck a carronade screw in his descent, which inflicted23 a terrible wound. The poor man suffered excruciating agonies for a short time, and died. We buried him on shore, in a plain coffin24, without form or ceremony. Such are the contingencies25 which wait to hurry seamen to the grave!
We were kept busily at work upon the brig for some time; after which our commander, Captain Porter, came on board. We soon found him to belong rather to the race of Fitzroys and Cardens, than to that of Decaturs, Parkers or Nicholsons. He was inclined to tyranny and severe discipline.
He soon gave us a specimen26 of his character in a most illegal act of punishment. We lay alongside the Hornet or Peacock, I forget which. It happened that her captain and most of her officers were gone ashore one day. Our captain accidentally saw one of her men engaged in some act of misconduct: instead of entering a complaint against the man to his own officers, he ordered him to be seized up and severely27 flogged, notwithstanding the earnest entreaties28 of the offender29 for pardon. Why the captain of that vessel did not call Captain Porter to an account for this manifest invasion of his prerogatives30, I never knew, for we put to sea shortly afterwards. An officer who would thus gratuitously31 volunteer his services to punish a man, must be a tyrant32 at heart. So at least we thought; while many misgivings33, concerning the future, troubled our minds.
As I was now rated an ordinary seaman, and not a boy, as heretofore, I had a station assigned me in the fore-top, instead of being a servant to any of the officers. I was also appointed to be one of the crew of the captain’s gig. This made my lot one of more fatigue34 and exposure than in any former voyage; a proof of which, I very soon experienced. It being now late in the fall, the weather became very cold. One afternoon, the pennant35 having got foul36 of the royal mast, an officer ordered me to go up and clear it. I had no mittens37 on; it took me some time to perform my task, and before I came down one of my fingers was frozen. Thus it is, however, with the poor tar38; and he thinks himself happy to escape his dangers with injuries so slight as this.
The disposition39 of our commanding officer was still further revealed to my discomfort40 one day, while we were at work on the cables. Something I did, not happening to suit him, he gave me a severe blow on the head with his fist, not far from the place where I had been previously41 injured by the malice42 of the Malay boy. This unmanly blow occasioned me violent pains for several days.
Since that time, I have felt a peculiar43 hostility44 to a practice, which is lamentably45 common in some schools and families; I mean that of rapping children on the head with a thimble, or with the knuckles46, or anything else. The practice is the result of irrational47 passion, it is dangerous, and cannot therefore be too severely reprobated. If it is pleaded as necessary to enforce obedience48 and ensure respect, I know it will fail of such effects; it will only excite feelings of revenge, ill-will and malice.
We now received sailing orders, and were very soon under weigh, bound to the Balize at the mouth of the Mississippi. On this passage we had further opportunities of learning the character of our officers. Although Captain Porter was stern and severe, yet he never used bad language. He always spoke49 with the utmost deliberation, but with such obvious indications of feeling, that we often trembled to hear his voice. Most of the other officers were by no means novitiates in the art of swearing; but our sailing-master exceeded all the rest in this diabolical50 habit. Whenever it was his watch on deck, he exercised his voice, and practised the use of his choice and varied51 vocabulary of oaths, by hallooing and threatening the men continually. Whenever we had to set on sail, or to reef, he was especially diligent52 in these matters; mingling53 with his curses, threats of the lash54 to those who were tardy55, or whose movements did not exactly suit his taste. If such officers could only apprehend56 the profound contempt and bitter hatred57 with which they are regarded by their maddened crew, they would both tremble for safety, and despise their own littleness of soul. No really great man would enact58 the childish vagaries59 of a petty tyrant.
There was one respect in which we were more annoyed in the Boxer than I had been in the Macedonian. In this latter ship, none but the captain could order a man to be flogged; in the Boxer, the lieutenant60 or the officer of the watch could send a man to the gangway, and order the boatswain to lay on with a rope’s-end. This is a liberty which the laws of the navy should prohibit. A man should be secured the rights of a citizen, as well on the planks61 as on the soil of his country. True, it may be said, severity of discipline is necessary to good order in a ship. Not severity, but strictness, is what is wanted. Let a strict discipline be enforced, with pleasant looks, and a “Hurrah my lads, bear a hand!” and obedience will be more prompt and more perfect than when every order is accompanied with a “Damn you,” and with an exhibition of the rope’s-end or cat-o’-nine-tails. Common sense, as well as experience, will sustain this opinion.
While these matters were passing on board, our little brig was dashing through the waves in fine style. We arrived at the Balize, from whence we dropped down to Ship Island, where we took in water. A share of this severe task fell to my lot, for I was here taken out of the gig, and placed in the jolly-boat, to make way for a smaller and lighter62 lad in the former. We obtained our water by digging large holes in the sand, into which we placed our casks; the salt water, by passing through so much sand, would be so thoroughly63 filtrated, that by the time it reached our casks it was fit for use. We then emptied it into ten-gallon kegs, called breakers, which we carried on our shoulders to the boat. This of itself was hard work, but we had certain tormentors on this island, which made it a task of much suffering. These were hosts of hungry, gigantic moschetos, which assailed64 our persons, and especially our naked feet, in flying squadrons, with a ferocity that indicated an uncontrollable thirst for blood. But even these were not our worst persecutors. They were attended by armies of large, yellow horseflies, which our men called gallinippers. These merciless insect savages65 were always sure to attack the very spot we had rubbed sore, after the bite of a moscheto. Their bite felt like the thrust of a small sword; I still retain scars on my feet occasioned by these fierce gallinippers.
This island bore marks of the battle of New Orleans; for we found various articles bearing the broad arrow and stamped G. R. We also remarked several mounds66, which had the appearance of being large graves. We afterwards learned that this was the place where the British brought their dead, after their unsuccessful attack on the city of New Orleans.
From Ship Island, we proceeded to New Orleans. This was a laborious67 passage; the current ran down the river with amazing force, bearing huge logs on its bosom68, which, if suffered to strike either our bows or cables, were capable of doing much damage: to avoid them required no trifling69 exertions70. Sometimes we endeavored to track her, or draw her along with ropes, as canal-boats are drawn72 by horses. But, as this brought us into shallow water, it was abandoned.
The banks of the river displayed large numbers of alligators73, luxuriating on the numerous logs that were fast in the mud. We made many attempts to get near enough to these scaly74 monsters to pierce them with a boat-hook; but they kept too sharp a look-out for us; invariably diving into the stream before our boat got near enough for us to strike them. But, if we failed in capturing alligators, we obtained an abundance of palm-leaf, from the shore, with which we furnished ourselves with hats.
An instance of our commander’s tyranny occurred while we were ascending75 the river. He had requested a seaman, named Daily, who was somewhat acquainted with the river, to act as pilot. By accident or negligence76, he suffered the brig to strike the bottom, though without the least injury. The captain flew into a passion, ordered him to the gangway, and commanded the boatswain’s mate to lay on with his rope’s-end. I did not witness this flogging, for the hands were not called up to witness punishment, unless administered by the cat-o’-nine-tails, but one of my messmates said that he received at least one hundred lashes77. I saw him several days afterwards, with his back looking as if it had been roasted, and he unable to stand upright. He wore the same shirt in which he was flogged for some time afterwards. It was torn to rags, and showed the state of his back beneath. His object in wearing it was to mortify78 and shame the captain for his brutality80.
The severity of flogging with the rope’s end is justly described in Mr. Dana’s excellent book, called “Two Years before the Mast.” Though not so cruel as the cat, it is nevertheless a harsh, degrading punishment. Our men used to say that “they would as lief be cut up on the bare back with the cat, as have back and shirt cut up together,” as was poor Daily’s. In truth, that flogging was both unjust and illegal. The articles of war provide, that not more than twelve lashes shall be given for a crime; but here one hundred were inflicted for no crime—for an accident, which might have happened to the best pilot who ever ascended81 the Mississippi. But though the captain was thus rendered amenable82 to the law, who would believe a poor sailor? Had he complained, it would doubtless have been to his own injury; for law, and especially naval83 law, is always on the side of the strong. This was not the only case of illegal flogging; but the justification84 of these excessive whippings, was found in the pretended existence of several crimes in the helpless offenders85.
On one occasion we were at our quarters, exercising in the various evolutions of war; now at our guns, and then going through the forms of boarding an enemy; now running aloft, as if in the act of cutting down our enemy’s rigging, and then rushing below, as if to board her, firing our pistols, stabbing with our boarding-pikes, and cutting on all sides with our cutlasses. In the midst of this excitement, the movements of one of the men not happening to please the captain, he seized a cutlass and struck him a tremendous blow with its flat side; heated with passion, he let it glance as he struck, and the edge, entering the man’s back, made a deep flesh wound, which was very sore a long time. Some of our men swore that if they had been the sufferer, they would have shot the captain dead on the spot! Are men of such brutal79 tempers fit to command a man of war? Is it not wonderful that mutiny is so rare under such a discipline? Such an officer might do to command a crew of pirates, but not of freemen, such as Americans feel proud to entrust86 with the keeping of their national honor on the deep.
On reaching New Orleans, our ship was overhauled87 and repaired. We were sent on board the Louisiana, an old guard-ship, but had to cross the river every morning to assist in working on the brig. Several of our men, and myself among them, were quite sick here, owing to the free use of river water. The Louisiana had a number of men confined on board, for some crime; they wore chains round their legs, which were fastened to a large ball: the nature of their offence I did not ascertain88.
The effects of Captain Porter’s severity were seen here in the loss of two of the crew. They belonged to the gig, and ran away while he was on shore. He made a strict, but unsuccessful, search after them. To deter89 others from a like attempt, or because he wanted an object on which to wreak90 his vengeance91, he gave one poor fellow a cruel flogging for what, in sober fact, was no offence at all. The man was on shore, with some others, fixing the rigging, and, for some purpose or other, had walked a short distance from the rest, without the slightest intention to run away. But the captain wanted a victim, and this served for an excuse.
Our brig being finished, we returned on board, and were soon back at our old station off Ship Island, where we found several other small naval craft. While here I saw a man flogged through the fleet, or, as this might more properly be called, the squadron. His was the only instance of the kind I saw while in the American navy, and, although his back was most brutally92 mangled93, yet I do not think he suffered equal to those who are flogged through an English fleet. Still, the indignity94 and brutality are the same in kind, though differing in degree: a man should never be made to endure it.
Not far from our station, at a place called St. Lewis’ Bay, our captain purchased some land, and actually sent some of our men to make a clearing upon it, and to erect95 a log house. Whether this was a legal employment of the strength and skill of his men or not, I cannot decide; but it struck me as being a perversion96 of the national resources to his own private benefit. Why should a captain of a ship of war be permitted to employ the time and energies of his men for private uses, while an officer of the government, who should employ its funds for his own advantage, would be charged with embezzlement97 and fraud? The cases are precisely98 alike, except that one uses the public money, the other what costs that money. It is a fraud on the country, and an imposition on the men.
A tragic99 event occurred at Lewis’ Bay on the 4th of July, which occasioned a fearful sensation throughout the ship. I was sent thither100 that day in the launch. Feeling fatigued101, I remained with another in the boat, which was anchored near the shore. After some time one of the crew, named Thomas Hill, came back for a pistol, for there were several in the boat, and deliberately102 charged it. My companion, an old Macedonian, named Cox, asked him what he wanted with a pistol. Hill, who was a very desperate fellow, told him to mind his own business, or he would shoot him. Cox, knowing his character, thought it best to let this insult pass, supposing he was only going off to shoot a dog or snake, as the latter creature abounded103 there. Having loaded his pistol, Hill went off, and we thought no more of the matter. Presently a man came running down to the boat to inform us that two of our men were quarrelling. Just at that moment, we heard the report of a pistol: hurrying to the spot, described by our informant, we found a shipmate, by the name of Smith, bleeding on the ground, with a pistol-shot lodged104 in his breast by Hill. We gathered round him; in his agony he begged us to shoot him dead, for his suffering was not to be endured. Supposing he was dying, our testimony105 to his statement that Hill was his murderer, was taken on the spot. The victim was then removed to a suitable place to be taken care of; the next day he was carried on board the brig, and from thence to a sort of hospital on shore, where, after lingering a few days, he died. The murderer was seized and placed in irons on board the brig. He was afterwards removed to another ship, but what was done with him I never heard with certainty; it was reported that he was pardoned.
The cause of this fatal affray was that great instigator106 of crimes, Rum. The men were both under its influence; fired with its fumes107, they lost all discretion108, and commenced a quarrel: from words they proceeded to blows. In this struggle Smith had the advantage. Finding himself worsted, the other ran down to the boat for a pistol. With this, he returned and threatened to shoot his adversary109. Smith demanded a pistol for himself, that, as he said, he might have fair play. At that instant his cowardly opponent shot him! Had they both been sober, this tragedy would never have been enacted110. Who can reveal the effects of alcohol?
From this station we sailed to Tampico, where we lay but a short time, meeting with nothing worthy111 of remark, except that we found abundance of turtle in the river; during the day we could see their heads peeping up from the river in all directions. At night we used to send our men ashore to take them. This was done by tracking them on the sand, whither they went to deposit their eggs. We used to turn them over on to their backs, and drag them down to the boat. When alongside they were hoisted113 on board with a tackle; some of them weighing four or five hundred weight. They were then killed, and converted into a soup for the whole ship’s company.
The day after we left Tampico on our passage to Vera Cruz, I was looking out on the cat-head or starboard bow; seeing a sail, I shouted, “Sail ho!” when three other vessels114 hove in sight. These were all patriot115 privateers, so we were ordered to our quarters; but the vessels, discovering our character, kept clear of our guns, and we pursued our own course.
About ten o’clock, A. M., we saw two more of these privateers, crowded with men, but mounting only one long gun. Mistaking us for a Spanish brig, with money on board, they fired most lustily for us to heave to. We mounted short carronades, excepting two long nines at the bows, so we bore down, all hands being at their quarters, to bring our short guns to bear upon them. Meanwhile we kept one of the long nines in full blast. I was stationed at this gun; and it being my duty to sponge and load, I had to exert every muscle and strain every nerve, as, firing only one gun, it was necessary to discharge it as often as possible. Before, however, we came near enough to injure them, they discovered what we were, fired a leeward116 gun in token of friendship, and hauled off. If they had not, our men very elegantly observed, they would have found they had taken the wrong pig by the ear.
We soon came in sight of the beautiful revolving117 light, which throws its friendly beams on the port of Vera Cruz, where, as in the former places, we lay a short time, and then, after visiting some other ports, we returned to our former station at Ship Island. Here, however, we remained for only a brief period, before we were under weigh for New Orleans, from which place we sailed to Havana. Such is the constant change kept up by men of war on a cruise.
On this passage, I was placed in a position which exposed me to the punishment of the lash, though by a mere118 accident I escaped. There was a habit indulged in among us, which is common among all sailors at sea; I mean that of stealing a nap during our watch at night. Seated on the carriage of a gun, or on a shot-locker, with folded arms, we indulged in many a minute of sweet sleep, notwithstanding it was contrary to the rules of the ship. To prevent this as much as possible, the officer of the watch used to give the first man he caught napping, a handspike, with which he was compelled to walk the deck until he found another sleeper119, to whom he was allowed to transfer his burden. One night I was caught dozing120, and had to perform the consequent march with the handspike. After walking about, without success, in search of a sleeper, for some time, I thought it might be well to try my fortune in the tops. Scarcely had I set foot on the top, before the officer below cried, “Fore-top, there!”
“Sir?”
“Aloft, and take in the fore-top-gallant sail!”
This order caused every man to spring to his station. Supposing no one would pass before the mast, I stood my handspike upright against it. But there happened to be a man, by the name of Knight121, dozing there; and when he was aroused by the command of the officer, he passed before the mast to get on to the starboard side. As sailors usually grasp something when aloft, he missed his hold of what he intended to catch, and seized my handspike, which of course fell. To my consternation122, he fell with it. Tumbling out of the fore-top, he fortunately struck the foot-rope of the fore-yard, which broke the force of his fall. When he reached the deck, he came bouncing on a tall, stout123 Irishman, named Tom Smith, who, not imagining the cause of so rough and sudden an assault, roared out, as they both fell together on the deck, “Och! indeed you have killed me!” Here, however, he was mistaken; he was more frightened than hurt; and the innocent cause of his fright was able to resume his duties, after two or three days’ respite124. Very fortunately for my back, the unlucky handspike was not suspected; and my share in this serio-comic accident remained a secret within my own breast.
It has often been a subject of surprise to my mind, that men so seldom fall from the tops, in the long night-watches they keep there. Often have I stood two hours, and, sometimes, when my shipmates have forgotten to relieve me, four long, tedious hours, on the royal yard, or the top-gallant yard, without a man to converse125 with. Here, overcome with fatigue and want of sleep, I have fallen into a dreamy, dozy126 state, from which I was roused by a lee lurch127 of the ship. Starting up, my hair has stood on end with amazement128 at the danger I had so narrowly escaped. But, notwithstanding this sudden fright, a few minutes had scarcely elapsed before I would be nodding again. How wonderful that more are not swallowed in the hungry deep!
When the weather was rough, we were indulged with permission to stand on the fore-top-sail yard, or on the top-gallant cross-trees; and, if the ship rolled heavily, we lashed129 ourselves to the mast, for greater safety. I can assure my readers, there is nothing desirable in this part of a sailor’s duty. In whatever the pleasure of a life at sea consists, it is not in keeping a look-out from the mast-head at night.
But the most disagreeable of all is, to be compelled to stand on these crazy elevations130, when half dead with sea-sickness. Some suppose that sailors are never sea-sick after the first time they go to sea. This is a mistake; it is very much with them as it is with landsmen, in respect to being sick in a coach. Those who are of bilious131 temperaments132, are always affected133, more or less, when they ride in a stage or sleigh; while others are never sick on these occasions. So with seamen; some are never sea-sick, others are sick only when going out of port, while some are so in every gale134 of wind. Mr. Dana mentions some of the crew in his ship, who were sick, after being at sea two years, as they came to Boston. I was usually sick after laying some time in port, and have often stood at the mast-head when so sick that any landsman on shore, in a similar state, would think it hard if he could not lie abed. For a sailor, there is no allowance made for sea-sickness; he must remain at his post until it is time to be relieved.
When we entered Havana, we came to anchor near the Spanish fort, and fired a salute135, which was courteously136 returned by the Spaniards. We had been here but a short time, before an Irishman, named Dougherty, who had formerly137 deserted138 from the Spanish garrison139, took it into his head to run away from our brig. This he accomplished140 by the assistance of some Spaniards, to whom he made himself known. Several others also left us, in this port, among whom was our swearing sailing-master; and a great deal was said about running away throughout the ship. The man who was flogged on suspicion at New Orleans, now endeavored to get off in reality. He strayed from the boat, but the officer, meeting him, endeavored to force him back. He resisted; a struggle ensued; the officer fell to the ground, and the man called to the Spaniards to assist him. They left him, however, to fight his own battles; and the officer, having succeeded in getting the advantage, presented a pistol to his breast, and he surrendered. For this offence, he was flogged most fearfully. In the British service, he would have been hung! It is certain death with them, to strike an officer.
Hearing so much said about running away, and feeling almost as unhappy as when in the Macedonian, I began to think of it myself. Sometimes I thought of trying to get into the Spanish garrison as a soldier; at others, of joining some of the numerous slavers that lay there, and in which our men said a good chance could be had. Sad chances, as they now appear, especially the latter; but I was young and ignorant. My feelings and the advice and opinion of my shipmates influenced me more than the dictates141 of an enlightened understanding. Resolving to make a trial, if opportunity offered, I one day put on an extra shirt and drew on a second pair of pantaloons. When thus prepared, the officer of the deck happened to discover the two waistbands of my trousers; he questioned me with a suspicious curiosity. I told him as specious142 a tale as I could invent on the spot; which was, that I had been mending my trousers, and, before they were finished, was called to go ashore in the boat, and not having time to put them away, had slipped them on. Fortunately, a needle and some thread which I had about me, confirmed my story and saved me from difficulty. It was pretty obvious, however, that the officer, though silenced, was not satisfied; for I was so closely watched, after that day, I gave up the idea of escape as utterly143 futile144 and hopeless.
From Havana we returned to the mouth of the Mississippi, where we captured the Comet, a patriot schooner145, on suspicion that the patriotism146 of her crew had degenerated147 into something less respectable. Harsh as it must have sounded in the ears of her officers, we charged them with piracy148; took possession of the vessel, and brought her hands, as prisoners, on board our brig. Her master’s name was Mitchell; his crew were all stout, fierce-looking blacks, having all sorts of odd names, such as Monday, Friday, &c. She had a rich cargo149, and contained large sums of money. It was reported that they had attacked an island somewhere in the Gulf150 of Mexico, and murdered its governor. We put them in irons, with sentries151 over them, who were charged to cut off their heads if they dared to lift them above the hatchway. I performed this duty a part of the time, parading round the hatch with a drawn cutlass; but they showed no symptoms of resistance, and were sent in their vessel to New Orleans. Their fate I never ascertained152.
This adventure cost one of our own crew, an Irishman, by the name of Tom Smith, a severe flogging. Smith was quite a moral philosopher in his way; though it is to be regretted that his philosophy was a little infected with lunacy. Its premises153 were certainly sound, but, unfortunately, its conclusions bore but little relation to the parent of whom they boasted. He taught that man was born to do good; that his chief good was the promotion154 of his own interests; and that, per consequence, he should help himself to whatever he could lay his hands on, without regard to the rights of others. With these views, Tom earnestly defended the rightfulness of piracy, and could he have managed to get on board a pirate vessel, or even have contrived to wrest155 our own ship from the hands of her officers, and hoist112 the black flag, he would have cheerfully done so. But somehow, although he had made a number of disciples156 among his shipmates, our captain paid no manner of respect to his theories; for, when Tom, in consistency157 with his often declared principles, deliberately carried off a large sum of money from our capture, to his own quarters, the captain, who perceived the theft himself, ordered him to the gangway, and administered as many hard lashes, as if Tom had had no philosophy at all.
But, although Tom Smith’s philosophy did not save its unlucky advocate from the unphilosophic punishment of the whip, it nevertheless exerted a baneful158 influence on the morals of our crew. Many of them were doubtless bad enough when they came on board; but a more complete school for the practise of iniquity159 never existed, than that on board our brig. Profanity, blasphemy160, lying, licentious161 conversation, and even a system of petty stealing, were practised on a large scale. Many of the men were ripe for any crime within the power of depraved humanity to commit, and I have often thought that even the decks of a privateer or a pirate, could not lead one faster and deeper into the extremes of wickedness, than did the influence of our main deck.
With what a voice do such pictures of sailor immorality162, call for exertion71 on the part of an enlightened Christian163 community, in behalf of seamen? Where is the presence of the meek164 spirit of Christianity more needed, than on the decks of our merchant and naval vessels? Where would missionaries165 and Bibles accomplish more than here? There is no sphere of Christian usefulness so important, so promising166 as this. Every vessel in the navy should have its chaplain. Not one of your proud, fun-loving, graceless wine-bibbers, but a humble167, devoted168 man, who would not think it beneath his dignity to mingle169 with the common sailors, as a pastor170 among the flock of his affections, moulding their rough, but susceptible171 natures into the image of virtue172, by the force of his pious173 example, and the influence of his effectual prayers. Then, in the merchant service, a species of itinerant174 missionary175 might be indefinitely useful. He might be sent out by a society, pledged for his support; and, by permission of the owners, sail in a ship on her outward passage. Arrived at her port, he might sail to another place, in a different ship, and then return home in a third. In this way, a score of devoted men of the right stamp, could exert an unparalleled influence on the character of sailors. Vice11, irreligion, profanity, and insubordination, would presently flee away before the beautiful purity of religion, and our ships, instead of being designated as floating hells, would become houses of God, arks of holiness, consecrated176 Bethels! Pray, Christian, that this desirable consummation may be speedily attained177; and be not satisfied with merely praying; add action to your prayers. Stir up your church to the claims of seamen! Give your money to assist in supporting sailors’ missionaries, Bethels, and the like. Make it the settled purpose of your heart, not to rest until you behold178 the sailor elevated to his proper position, which is that of a Christian man!
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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rapacious
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| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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filch
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wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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13
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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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
vacillation
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| n.动摇；忧柔寡断 | |
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16
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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17
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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19
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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20
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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21
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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22
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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23
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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25
contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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26
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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27
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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28
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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29
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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30
prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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31
gratuitously
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| 平白 | |
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32
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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33
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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34
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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35
pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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36
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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37
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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38
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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39
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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40
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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41
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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42
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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43
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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44
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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45
lamentably
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| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
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46
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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47
irrational
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| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
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48
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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49
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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50
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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51
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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52
diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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53
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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54
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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55
tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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56
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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57
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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58
enact
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| vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演 | |
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59
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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60
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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61
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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62
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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63
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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64
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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65
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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66
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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67
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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68
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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69
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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70
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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71
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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72
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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73
alligators
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| n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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74
scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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75
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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76
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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77
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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78
mortify
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| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
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79
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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80
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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81
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
amenable
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| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
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83
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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84
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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85
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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86
entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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87
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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88
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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89
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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90
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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91
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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92
brutally
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| adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地 | |
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93
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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94
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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95
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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96
perversion
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| n.曲解；堕落；反常 | |
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97
embezzlement
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| n.盗用，贪污 | |
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98
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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99
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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100
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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101
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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102
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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103
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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105
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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106
instigator
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| n.煽动者 | |
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107
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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108
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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109
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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110
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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111
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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112
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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113
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
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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115
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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116
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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117
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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118
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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119
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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120
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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121
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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122
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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124
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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125
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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126
dozy
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| adj.困倦的；愚笨的 | |
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127
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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128
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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129
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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130
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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131
bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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132
temperaments
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| 性格( temperament的名词复数 )； （人或动物的）气质； 易冲动； （性情）暴躁 | |
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133
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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134
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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135
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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136
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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137
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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138
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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139
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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140
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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141
dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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142
specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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143
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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144
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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145
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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146
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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147
degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
piracy
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| n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害 | |
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149
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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150
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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151
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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152
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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154
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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156
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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157
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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158
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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159
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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160
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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161
licentious
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| adj.放纵的，淫乱的 | |
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162
immorality
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| n. 不道德, 无道义 | |
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163
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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164
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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165
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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166
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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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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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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170
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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171
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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172
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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173
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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174
itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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175
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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176
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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177
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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178
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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