Would Lend Me A Hand To Get My
Chest Ashore; Bring A Bottle Of Grog On Board If We Did Not Haul
In Immediately, - And The Like.
In fact, we could hardly get clear
of them, to go aloft and furl the sails.
Sail after sail, for the
hundredth time, in fair weather and in foul, we furled now for
the last time together, and came down and took the warp ashore,
manned the capstan, and with a chorus which waked up half the
North End, and rang among the buildings in the dock, we hauled
her in to the wharf. Here, too, the landlords and runners were
active and ready, taking a bar to the capstan, lending a hand at
the ropes, laughing and talking and telling the news. The city
bells were just ringing one when the last turn was made fast,
and the crew dismissed; and in five minutes more, not a soul
was left on board the good ship Alert, but the old ship-keeper,
who had come down from the counting-house to take charge of her.
CONCLUDING CHAPTER
I trust that they who have followed me to the end of my narrative,
will not refuse to carry their attention a little farther, to the
concluding remarks which I here present to them.
This chapter is written after the lapse of a considerable time since
the end of my voyage, and after a return to my former pursuits;
and in it I design to offer those views of what may be done for
seamen, and of what is already doing, which I have deduced from
my experiences, and from the attention which I have since gladly
given to the subject.
The romantic interest which many take in the sea, and in those
who live upon it, may be of use in exciting their attention to
this subject, though I cannot but feel sure that all who have
followed me in my narrative must be convinced that the sailor has
no romance in his every-day life to sustain him, but that it is
very much the same plain, matter-of-fact drudgery and hardship,
which would be experienced on shore. If I have not produced
this conviction, I have failed in persuading others of what my
own experience has most fully impressed upon myself.
There is a witchery in the sea, its songs and stories, and in the
mere sight of a ship, and the sailor's dress, especially to a young
mind, which has done more to man navies, and fill merchantmen, than
all the press-gangs of Europe. I have known a young man with such
a passion for the sea, that the very creaking of a block stirred up
his imagination so that he could hardly keep his feet on dry ground;
and many are the boys, in every seaport, who are drawn away, as by an
almost irresistible attraction, from their work and schools, and hang
about the decks and yards of vessels, with a fondness which, it is
plain, will have its way. No sooner, however, has the young sailor
begun his new life in earnest, than all this fine drapery falls off,
and he learns that it is but work and hardship, after all. This is
the true light in which a sailor's life is to be viewed; and if
in our books, and anniversary speeches, we would leave out much
that is said about "blue water," "blue jackets," "open hearts,"
"seeing God's hand on the deep," and so forth, and take this up
like any other practical subject, I am quite sure we should do full
as much for those we wish to benefit. The question is, what can
be done for sailors, as they are, - men to be fed, and clothed,
and lodged, for whom laws must be made and executed, and who are
to be instructed in useful knowledge, and, above all, to be brought
under religious influence and restraint? It is upon these topics
that I wish to make a few observations.
In the first place, I have no fancies about equality on board ship,
It is a thing out of the question, and certainly, in the present
state of mankind, not to be desired. I never knew a sailor who
found fault with the orders and ranks of the service; and if I
expected to pass the rest of my life before the mast, I would not
wish to have the power of the captain diminished an iota. It is
absolutely necessary that there should be one head and one voice,
to control everything, and be responsible for everything. There are
emergencies which require the instant exercise of extreme power.
These emergencies do not allow of consultation; and they who would
be the captain's constituted advisers might be the very men over
whom he would be called upon to exert his authority. It has been
found necessary to vest in every government, even the most democratic,
some extraordinary, and, at first sight, alarming powers; trusting in
public opinion, and subsequent accountability to modify the exercise
of them. These are provided to meet exigencies, which all hope
may never occur, but which yet by possibility may occur, and if
they should, and there were no power to meet them instantly,
there would be an end put to the government at once. So it is with
the authority of the shipmaster. It will not answer to say that he
shall never do this and that thing, because it does not seem always
necessary and advisable that it should be done. He has great cares
and responsibilities; is answerable for everything; and is subject
to emergencies which perhaps no other man exercising authority
among civilized people is subject to. Let him, then, have powers
commensurate with his utmost possible need; only let him be held
strictly responsible for the exercise of them. Any other course
would be injustice, as well as bad policy.
In the treatment of those under his authority, the captain
is amenable to the common law, like any other person.
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