The Sight Of An Immense Number
Of Icy Masses, Amongst Which We Drifted At The Mercy Of The Current,
Every Moment In Danger Of Being Dashed In Pieces Against Them, Could
Not Deter The Sailors From Indulging In Their Favourite Amusement.
As
long as they had brandy left, they would persist to keep Christmas
"like Christians," though the elements had combined together for their
destruction.
Their long acquaintance with a sea-faring life had inured
them to all kinds of perils, and their heavy labour, with the
inclemencies of weather, and other hardships, making their muscles
rigid and their nerves obtuse, had communicated insensibility to the
mind. It will easily be conceived, that as they do not feel for
themselves sufficiently to provide for their own safety, they must be
incapable of feeling for others. Subjected to a very strict command,
they also exercise a tyrannical sway over those whom fortune places in
their power. Accustomed to face an enemy, they breathe nothing but
war. By force of habit, even killing is become so much their passion,
that we have seen many instances during our voyage, where they have
expressed a horrid eagerness to fire upon the natives on the slightest
pretences. Their way of life in general, prevents their enjoying
domestic comforts; and gross animal appetites fill the place of purer
affections.
At last, extinct each social feeling, fell
And joyless inhumanity pervades
And petrifies the heart. -
THOMSON.
Though they are members of a civilized society, they may, in some
measure, be looked on as a body of uncivilized men, rough, passionate,
revengeful, but likewise brave, sincere, and true to each other."
In place of inveighing against the illiberality of this statement, or
attempting to dispute its truth, as many persons, from an affectation
of enthusiastic regard for the honour of our tars, or positive
ignorance or contempt of the most incontrovertible obligations of
morality and religion, would incline, it will be vastly more
philosophical to investigate what are the principles of human nature
and the circumstances in their situation, which give rise to such a
character, that if possible some adequate remedy, or check at least,
may be discovered. This is certainly not the place for such a
discussion, as the importance of the subject demands; and the writer
can by no means imagine himself called on to enter upon it. But he
hazards a remark. He would consider British sailors as made up of
precisely the same elements as the rest of men, and that the obvious
peculiarities in which they differ from others, are the result of the
circumstances of their professional situation. It follows, that his
censure falls on the profession itself, rather than on those who are
members of it. But in fact, he conceives that there has been a
culpable neglect on the part of those who at different periods acquire
authority, to the moral condition of this class of men. It is obvious
indeed, that governments in general are little careful about the
characters of their subordinate agents, unless in so far as is
essential to the purposes for which they are employed; and
accordingly, where the base and savage principles of mankind can be
converted into so powerful an instrument, as we know they are in the
present case, we shall find, that scarcely any pains have been taken
to superinduce refinement, or even to favour the salutary operation of
those causes, by which, in the ordinary course of things, society is
gradually emancipated from barbarism. The rough virtues of the seaman
are in their estimation of sufficient excellence, without the
enhancement of moral attainments; and it is questionable, indeed, if a
sort of prejudice may not lurk in the minds of many, that the latter
would be the destruction of the former. Clearly, however, it seems to
be conceived, that there is no adequate inducement to run the risk of
the experiment; and, therefore, some gross immoralities are connived
at, under the plausible title of necessary evils, provided they do not
interfere with the technical duties of the profession. Though it be
admitted, that the reformation of men's manners forms no part of the
office of a politician, yet it may be fairly pleaded, on the other
hand, as vice is in its own nature a debilitating power, independent
altogether of reference to a Supreme Being, that to eradicate it, or
to apply a restraint to its influence, may be no injudicious labour of
his vocation. This, it is presumed, may be attempted in three ways,
(in addition to certain indulgences, which there appears to be an
imperious necessity to admit, with a view of preventing greater
evils,) viz. the improvement of discipline, the increase of knowledge,
and the application of a higher tone of public sentiment. There cannot
be room for a moment's controversy, that to the efficacy of these
three causes, is to be ascribed, the superiority in the appearance, at
least, of the morals and conduct of the present day, above that of
even the preceding half century. Who can deny, e.g, that the odious
vice of drunkenness is much more disreputable now than formerly,
throughout the whole of Europe? It may be said to be almost unknown in
genteel circles; and there seems not the least reason to doubt, that
as improvements in arts and sciences advance, and as education extends
to the lower classes, so as to supply sources of mental enjoyment and
exercise, it will be almost altogether extirpated from society. Let
this and other vices be held as positively dishonourable, because
unfitting for professional duty, and inconsistent with professional
dignity - let them be visited by certain punishment - give free scope to
the emulation of intellect and to the cultivation of proper self-
interest - and vindicate to popular opinion, the claims of this most
useful class, to the character of moral and rational beings, so that
no flattering but injurious unction may be applied to film over the
real turpitude of their offences - then, and then only, may it be
safely asserted, that such descriptions as we have been considering,
are the offspring of prudery or inflamed imagination, and have no
prototype in nature.
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