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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:03:12 -0700 |
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diff --git a/35183-h/35183-h.htm b/35183-h/35183-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..388780a --- /dev/null +++ b/35183-h/35183-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8660 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Memorials of the Sea: My Father, + by the Rev. William Scoresby, D.D. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; +} /* page numbers */ + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} +.bb2 {border-bottom: double 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.blackletter {font-family: blackletter, serif;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.gap2 {margin-top:2em;} +.gap4 {margin-top:4em;} + +.small {font-size:small;} +.large {font-size:large;} +.pseudoh1 {font-size:xx-large; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} +.pseudoh2 {font-size:x-large; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} +.pseudoh3 {font-size:large; font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} +.pseudoh4 {font-weight:bold; text-align:center;} +.smaller {font-size:smaller} +.ralign {text-align:right;} +.simpletable {border-collapse:collapse; border:0px; padding:0em;} +.width1 {width:1%;} +.width35 {width:35%;} +.width75 {width:75%;} +.pad1 {padding:1em;} +.pad1t {padding-top:1em;} +.pad2r {padding-right:2em;} +.pad3r {padding-right:3em;} +.pad5l {padding-left:0.5em;} +.pad5lr {padding-left:0.5em;padding-right:0.5em;} +.hangindent {margin-left:2em; padding-left:2em; text-indent:-2em;} +.hangindent2 {margin-left:2em; padding-left:3em; text-indent:-2em;} +.vtop {vertical-align:top;} +.vbot {vertical-align:bottom;} +.mb0 {margin-bottom:0em;} +.mt0 {margin-top:0em;} + + </style> + +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> + + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memorials of the Sea, by William Scoresby + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Memorials of the Sea + My Father: Being Records of the Adventurous Life of the + Late William Scoresby, Esq. of Whitby + +Author: William Scoresby + +Release Date: February 6, 2011 [EBook #35183] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMORIALS OF THE SEA *** + + + + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p class="pseudoh1 blackletter">My Father.</p> + +<div class="figcenter gap4"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.png" +alt="A middle-aged gentleman with short, grey hair, in Regency dress and carrying +a telescope. Underneath, there is a signature: Wm. Scoresby" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1 class="gap4">MEMORIALS OF THE SEA.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="blackletter">My Father:</span></h1> + +<p class="pseudoh4 gap2">BEING RECORDS OF THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE +OF THE LATE</p> + +<p class="pseudoh3 gap2">WILLIAM SCORESBY, ESQ.</p> +<p class="pseudoh4">OF WHITBY.</p> + +<p class="pseudoh4 gap4">BY HIS SON</p> +<p class="pseudoh3">THE REV. WILLIAM SCORESBY, D.D.</p> + +<p class="center">FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH;</p> +<p class="center">MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; OF THE</p> +<p class="center">AMERICAN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA,</p> +<p class="center">ETC. ETC.</p> + +<p class="center gap4">LONDON:</p> +<p class="center">LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.</p> +<p class="center">1851.</p> + + + +<p class="center small gap4">LONDON:</p> +<p class="center small">PRINTED BY M. MASON, IVY LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW.</p> + + + +<p class="center large gap4">TO THE LADY MATILDA MAXWELL,</p> + +<p class="center gap2">WHOSE DISCERNMENT OF AN UNUSUAL AND SUPERIOR</p> +<p class="center">CHARACTER IN A MERCHANT SEAMAN,</p> +<p class="center">WHEN KNOWN ONLY BY REPORT,</p> +<p class="center">FIRST LED TO THE GATHERING OF RECORDS</p> +<p class="center">CONCERNING HIM;</p> +<p class="center">AND TO WHOSE EXPRESSIONS</p> +<p class="center">OF DEEP AND ADMIRING INTEREST IN THE RELATION,</p> +<p class="center">REPEATEDLY SOLICITED,</p> +<p class="center">OF MANY CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENTS,</p> +<p class="center">THEIR PUBLICATION IS STRICTLY DUE,—</p> + +<p class="center blackletter gap2 large">This Volume,</p> + +<p class="center">COMPRISING THE OFT-TOLD STORIES, WITH</p> +<p class="center">ADDITIONAL RECORDS,</p> +<p class="center">OF THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF</p> + +<p class="center blackletter large">His Father,</p> + +<p class="center">IS, WITH GREAT RESPECT AND SINCERE REGARD,</p> +<p class="center">NOW ADDRESSED,</p> +<p class="center">BY HER LADYSHIP’S</p> +<p class="center">FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED FRIEND,</p> + +<p class="ralign">THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<p><i>Torquay, Feb. 3, 1851.</i></p> + + + +<p class="pseudoh1 blackletter gap4">My Father.</p> + + + +<hr class="width35" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table class="simpletable width75" summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"> </td> +<td class="small ralign">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="smcap hangindent">Chapter I.—Early Life +and Progress as a Seaman</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap width1 pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. My Father’s early Life</td> +<td class="ralign width1 vbot"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. His First Year’s Apprenticeship</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. His Progress as a Seaman, with Incidents of Sea-life</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. Capture by the Enemy, and Escape from a Spanish Prison</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">5. Rewards of Masterly Seamanship</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">6. Entrance on, and Progress in Training in, the Greenland Whale-fishery</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="pad1t smcap hangindent">Chapter II.—Commencement and Progress in Whale-fishing +Enterprise as Commander</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. Disappointment in his First Command</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. His Second Adventure and commencing Prosperity</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. Further Successes, with their comparative Relations, +in the Ship Henrietta</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. Episodical Incident—the Rescue of endangered Pleasurers</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">5. The Greenland Doctor</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">6. Taming of a Bear—interesting Recognition</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="pad1t smcap hangindent">Chapter III.—The Ship Dundee, of London</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. Entrance on, and general Results of, this new Command</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. Dangerous Accident—admirable Tact</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. The Dandy Sailor, or “Fine Tommy”</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. Unfortunate Voyage, and Adventure in the Greenland Ices</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">5. Successful Stratagem in War</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">6. Extraordinary Exploit in “cutting in,” single-handed, +a moderately-grown young Whale</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="pad1t smcap hangindent">Chapter IV.—The Ship Resolution, of Whitby</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. Continued Prosperity; the Results, comparatively +and generally, of this fresh Enterprise</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. Treatment and Recovery of a half-frozen Seaman</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. Judicious Treatment of Men having suffered +from severe Exposure</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. The Crow’s Nest</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">5. Extraordinary Celerity in preparing an empty +Boat for the Fishery</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">6. Tact and Bravery in attacking and killing a +dangerously-resisting Whale</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">7. Remarkable Enterprise: the nearest Approach +to the North Pole</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">8. Devotional Habits, at Sea and on Shore</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="pad1t smcap hangindent">Chapter V.—Further Enterprises: General Results</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. The Greenock Whale-fishing Company</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. “Cum au greim a gheibhthu”</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. Subsequent and concluding Enterprises</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. General Results of his entire Whale-fishing Adventures</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">5. Unusual Capture of Walruses</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="pad1t smcap hangindent">Chapter VI.—General +Characteristics, and Miscellaneous Notices</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="smcap pad5l vtop">Sect.</td> +<td class="hangindent">1. Superiority as an Arctic Navigator</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">2. Natural Science</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">3. Improvements and Inventions</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="hangindent">4. Miscellaneous and concluding Notices</td> +<td class="ralign vbot"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></p> + + + +<p class="pseudoh2 gap4">MEMORIALS OF THE SEA.</p> + +<p class="pseudoh3 blackletter">My Father.</p> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter I.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">EARLY LIFE AND PROGRESS AS A SEAMAN.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>My Father’s early Life.</i></h3> + +<p>The name of <span class="smcap">Scoresby</span>, it is believed, is entirely +unknown, in this country, except in the case of the +family, and one or two relations, of the subject of +the present records.</p> + +<p>My Father’s “more immediate ancestors,” as a +short biographical account of him by a friend, states,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> +“occupied respectable stations in the middle walks +of life, supporting, in each case, unblemished character, +and possessing, at times, considerable property;” +and, in periods rather remote, holding conspicuous +stations.</p> + +<p>In Drake’s History of York, the family name, +varying in the spelling in a progress through several +centuries, repeatedly occurs. But the single line +traceable through my Father’s ancestors, now alone +appears to exist in Britain. Walter de Scourby was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>“bayliffe of York,” in the year 1312; and in the +seventh and ninth years of Edward III., Nicholas +de Scorēby, it appears, was Member for York. Subsequently, +we find, under the date of 1463, Thomas +Scawsby, holding the office of Lord Mayor of that +city. Some member of the family, after the name +assumed its present form, must have given the designation +of “Scoresby Manor” and “Scoresby Lodge,” +to places still known in the neighbourhood of York.</p> + +<p>At the period, however, of this memoir, the family +occupied more humble stations in life, chiefly in the +class of yeomen,—a class once of much importance +in this country, but now, unhappily, so diminished in +numbers, under the absorbing influence of extensive +properties, as to be scarcely recognised as a designation.</p> + +<p>William Scoresby, my Father, ‘was born on the 3d +of May 1760, on a small estate farmed by his parent, +called Nutholm, in the township of Cropton, about +twenty miles south-west of Whitby, in the county of +York. In this place the periods of his childhood +and boyhood were spent.’</p> + +<p>The memoir, here again quoted, refers to some incidents +among his earliest recollections, by which his +life was greatly imperilled, marking ‘the superintending +providence of God, which, on all occasions, he +gratefully acknowledged.’</p> + +<p>At an endowed school, in the nearest adjoining village, +Cropton, his early, and indeed chief, education +was received. But the distance being considerable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +and the roads indifferent, his attendance was much +interrupted, and, in winter, totally suspended. His +progress, therefore, was far from being satisfactory. +Nor was this disadvantage compensated by any long +continuance of opportunities for obtaining scholastic +instruction; for, at the age of nine, he was removed, +and from that time forward employed, as his strength +and years might qualify him, in occupations among +the cattle, and about the farm.</p> + +<p>Occasionally, during his advance towards manhood, +he was engaged with the neighbouring farmers, when, +during such occupation, an incident, of <i>apparently</i> +no material importance, occurred, which constituted, +under the ordering of an allwise and gracious Providence, +the grand turning-point in his destiny, from +a probable ordinary and unobserved occupation, to +a stirring, adventurous and conspicuous life. The +change was induced by some unpleasant treatment he +received from the family with whom he was residing. +He became disgusted with a position which, without +satisfying the natural capabilities and enterprise of +his mind, exposed him to such indignities. The idea +had, probably, been often in his mind before; but he +now first resolved on leaving the occupation for +which his father had destined him, and on trying at +the nearest sea-port, Whitby, the adventure of a seafaring +life.</p> + +<p>It is somewhat curious that the course of life, in +respect to the adoption of a seafaring profession, of +two individuals,—Captain Cook and my Father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>—whose +names are associated with much of interest in +the history of Whitby, and who became, in their relative +degrees, conspicuous as adventurous seamen,—turned +upon apparently trifling incidents; and, as to +the exciting of feelings of disgust with their previous +occupations, of a similar character.</p> + +<p>James Cook, like my Father, was, in early youth, +employed along with his father, in agricultural +labours.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> His turn of mind, however, being suited to +something requiring more tact than the ordinary toils +in which farmers’ boys were wont to be engaged, +he was removed from the work of the field to that of +the counter, with the view of learning the business of +a country shopkeeper. It was at the fishing town of +Staiths, about ten miles north-west of Whitby, and +at the shop of a Mr. W. Sanderson, haberdasher, +where Cook, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, +entered on his new employment; and it was whilst +there that the incident, which led to his abandonment +of domestic trade for sea-life, occurred.</p> + +<p>It happened, as the early record goes, that, at a +period when the coinage generally in circulation was +much defaced and worn, a new and fresh looking +shilling was paid in by a customer. Cook, attracted +by the comparative beauty of the coin, and thinking +with regret of its going forth again in the ordinary +progress of business, substituted the sterling value, +and appropriated the new coin, as “a pocket-piece,” +to himself. It was ill-advised that he did so without +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>previously asking permission or intimating his purpose; +for the shilling had been observed by his +master, its abstraction was detected, and Cook was +suspected and charged with dishonesty,—a charge +which the production of the shilling from his pocket +<i>seemed</i> to confirm. His keen sense of right feeling, +and of what was due to himself, rendered this incident +so painful, that he determined, if he could get +permission to do so, to leave his employment, as a +shopkeeper, and, indulging a strongly imbibed prepossession, +turn to the sea. The unmerited suffering +was abundantly compensated by that good and +gracious Providence, whose dispensations reach to +the humblest, and specially regards the oppressed. +The young shopkeeper—turned apparently by this +fretful incident from his monotonous pursuits, and +stimulated to seek an adventurous profession, and not +opposed, but kindly aided, by his master, who had +become perfectly satisfied of his integrity—was led +into those paths of distinction whereby he became so +highly conspicuous, if not chief among the circumnavigators +of the globe!</p> + +<p>“It is worthy of remark,” says Dr. Young, in his +life of Cook, “that the coin which so forcibly attracted +his notice was what is called a <i>South-sea</i> shilling, of +the coinage of George I., marked on the reverse +<span class="smcap">S.S.C.</span>, for <i>South-sea Company</i>; as if the name of the +piece had been intended to indicate the principal +fields of his future discoveries.”</p> + +<p>If the result of disgust at his experienced indignity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +turned not to account, with my Father, in so eminent +a degree,—it yet was so over-ruled for good as to +place him at the head of the adventurers engaged in +the whale-fishery of the Greenland seas, and to render +his example, perseverance, and talent, highly beneficial +to his country in the furtherance of that, then, +extremely important branch of national enterprise.</p> + +<p>It was in the winter of 1779-80, that my Father +proceeded to carry his resolve into effect, by leaving +his place and travelling to Whitby. Guided by +the suggestions of a relative, to whom he had communicated +his intentions, he was recommended to +Mr. Chapman,—an opulent and respectable ship-owner, +and a member of the Society of Friends,—with +whom he engaged himself to serve as an apprentice, +for three years, in a ship called the Jane, commanded +by a son of the owner.</p> + +<p>As his services, however, were not required till the +ensuing spring,—because of the practice, as to ships +trading to the Baltic and Archangel, “of laying them +up” for the winter,—he returned immediately home, +informed his father of what he had done, and then, +at his suggestion, went back to the farm he had somewhat +abruptly left, and there remained until his place +could be satisfactorily supplied. This being speedily +accomplished, he set himself arduously to work to the +studying, by the help of whatever suitable books he +could get hold of, of the subjects connected with his +new profession.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of February 1780, according to previous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +arrangement, he repaired to Whitby for the ratification +of his agreement, and for receiving directions as +to when and how his services would be required. His +anxiety on this occasion, to proceed with his studies +in the manner in which he found himself making +gradual and encouraging progress, led him at once +into an adventure of much peril, and into circumstances +in which his acquirements in the <i>principles</i> +of navigation had their first, yet most successful and +important, application.</p> + +<p>Finding that his services would not be required +until the month of April, he determined, being full of +ardour for self-improvement, not to lose a single day; +so that, although the afternoon had arrived before +he finished his arrangements with Mr. Chapman, he +set out on his pedestrian course towards the Moors, +intending to sleep at the village of Sleights. Urged, +however, by his feelings, and tempted by the fineness +of the evening, and the brilliant sunset, by which the +distant hills (then covered with snow) were illumined +and gilded, he resolved on proceeding to Salter Gate, +a position, in the midst of the Moors, eight miles +further in advance, and attainable only by a not very +well-defined line of road across a heath-clad and +totally uninhabited country. It was a region, therefore, +of complete desolateness, through which he +prepared to pass, and, on occasions of snow-storms, +one of great danger to any travellers who might be +unfortunately overtaken by them whilst in the midst of +the Moors;—for, at the period of which we now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +write, there were neither fences to confine, nor poles +(as in subsequent years were erected) to mark, the +line of road, so that an hour’s continuance of thick +drifting snow might totally obliterate, in many places, +the distinctions betwixt the highway and the general +trackless heath. Hence it happened, that scarcely a +winter passed over without yielding the records of +perilous or fatal adventures; and, whenever snow-storms +abounded, of travellers, more or less in +number, perishing by being overwhelmed in the +snow-drifts.</p> + +<p>It was not long before our traveller, advancing +rapidly with vigorous and elastic step within the +region of lonesome moorland, became aware that he +had entered upon a critical adventure; for having +arrived near the sixth milestone on the high-moors +over Whitby, he became unexpectedly encircled by +a dense and gloomy cloud, attended with a sudden +and furious storm of wind and fleecy snow, the snow +descending so thick as to envelope him in such dark +obscurity, that, for some little time, he could neither +see his way to advance nor to return.</p> + +<p>Recovering somewhat from his first embarrassment, +and considering what might be well to be done, he +determined, adventurous as the attempt might be, to +go forward toward Salter Gate, yet six miles distant, +and not a house on the road. He had made but little +progress, however, in advance, before he found he +had gone off the turnpike-road; nor did his first +attempt, as by a nautical traverse, seem to improve his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +situation. When brought to a stand in this perplexing +condition, it was, that his naturally reflective mind suggested +an use of his humble geometrical acquirements, +which afforded him essential service. He had observed +how the wind first assailed him, with reference +to the direction of the line of road, which, fortunately +for him, like the roads of ancient construction, generally, +followed a steeple-chase directness, regardless of +hill or dale, for the point aimed at; and by adjusting +his progress on the same angle, in respect to the course +of the wind, he hoped to be guided in his now perilous +undertaking. “Taking his departure” from this incidental +starting-point, he set forward with as much +speed as the nature of the ground and the resistance +of the storm could well admit, and, proceeding in a +straight direction, over hill and dale, through moor +and bog, he accomplished another mile, and that so +successfully as to reach its termination, to his great +satisfaction, scarcely twenty yards from the seventh +milestone. Encouraged by this success, he now advanced, +in spite of storm and blinding snow-drift, and +under painfully reduced strength, approaching at the +last very near to exhaustion, until his enterprise and +tact were happily rewarded by arriving at Salter Gate, +where, in the house for which he originally aimed, he +was enabled to obtain both shelter and refreshment. +The rest of the enterprise, after encountering various +difficulties, from the continuance of the snow on the +ground, was in like manner accomplished, so that with +no great loss of time he was welcomed in safety at his +father’s house.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>During this arduous and hazardous journey, as his +biographer remarks, “he proved the value and accuracy +of his geometry whilst traversing the high-moors, the +importance of perseverance, and the gracious care of +Divine Providence.”</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>His first year’s Apprenticeship.</i></h3> + +<p>In the quiet of a country home, my Father now +resumed those studies which bore more immediately +upon the profession he had chosen, and perseveringly +continued them till the time appointed, the middle of +March, for his joining his ship. His preparations towards +the supplying of his maritime costume and +equipment being already made, he repaired to Whitby, +and was duly set to work, with others of the destined +crew, to rig and fit out the ship. Towards the end of +the month the arrangements were so far advanced, that +she was hauled down the harbour into a berth convenient +for putting to sea. But whilst here a hard gale +set in from the north, which brought so heavy a sea +into the harbour that the Jane was in danger of breaking +adrift. This circumstance called for the prompt +and active exertions of the crew to get out cables and +hawsers for additional security, an occasion on which +my Father received his first lesson on mooring a ship,—a +lesson which could not be lost upon one who +associated with great physical strength and energy so +observant and reflective a mind.</p> + +<p>Early in the month of April, the weather proving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +favourable whilst the spring-tides prevailed, the Jane +put to sea, and for a time made pleasant progress. +Nearing the Naze of Norway, however, they were +overtaken at night, and that suddenly, by a heavy gale +of wind, which in its effect was in no small degree +alarming, and from the quality of the crew, indeed, +twelve out of about twenty hands being apprentices, +some mere lads, and several quite inexperienced, eminently +perilous,—for the ship being lightly ballasted, +was quickly thrown upon her “beam-ends,” the water +rising over the lee gunwale till it reached the “combings +of the hatches,” whilst the requisite measures, +demanding instantaneous promptness, were seriously +delayed by the general inaptitude of the crew. They +were enabled, however, in time to save them from the +threatened foundering, to get the sails clewed up, +whereon the ship righted, though the sails were left +fluttering, the sport and prey of the storm, until the +morning. The gale then happily abating, and veering +to a favourable quarter, the canvas, as far as preserved +to them, which so recently had threatened their destruction, +became available for the furtherance of their +voyage, and enabled them without further adventure +to reach Memel, the port of their destination.</p> + +<p>But when outward danger had been safely passed, +and nothing but a feeling of perfect security could +naturally be realized, the object of this memorial became +sensibly alive to the impressiveness of the solemn +sentiment of our Church’s funeral service—“In the +midst of life we are in death!” The ballast had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +taken out, and the hold and ’tween-decks cleared to +make way for the cargo, when my Father, being +below, near a “raft-port,”—an opening at the bow or +stern by which a timber cargo is received into the +hold,—heard the voice of the Captain calling for a boat’s +crew to put him on shore. There being no <i>deck</i> now +laid upon the hold-beams, but only a series of “carlings” +from beam to beam, the summons was attempted +to be answered by running along these very narrow +supports. Ill directed, however, by the very deceptive +light admitted by the raft-port, my Father’s head +came in contact with an unobserved break in the upper +deck, by which he was precipitated into the hold, a +depth of about twelve feet, and was taken up by his +comrades in a state of insensibility. In this alarming +condition he remained for several hours, being meanwhile +carried for surgical assistance on shore.</p> + +<p>He was but barely passed out of the immediate +hands of the surgeon, who contemplated his case +hopefully, when the carpenter of the Jane was borne +to the same place, having also fallen into the hold in +a similar way, with an adze in his hand, a fearful cut +from which in his forehead added to the severe effects +of so considerable a fall.</p> + +<p>Under careful and skilful assistance, however, both +the endangered sufferers were soon restored, being +enabled to return to the ship in about eight days’ +time,—the carpenter, indeed, with his wound but imperfectly +healed, and with a long and conspicuous +scar which might have been admonitory for the rest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +of his days. The lesson to my Father had not been +forgotten when, near half a century after, on recurring +to the adventure, he remarked, “This was another +kind interposition of Providence which has a claim on +my grateful homage.”</p> + +<p>Their cargo of timber being completed, they immediately +sailed from Memel, and joining convoy at +Elsinore, safely reached the Thames, whither their +cargo was destined.</p> + +<p>Whilst the ship was lying at Limehouse, my Father +and another of the apprentices obtained leave, on a +Sunday, to go on shore and visit the great Metropolis, +where they met with another, and to them a previously +unknown, species of adventure. On reaching +the city they were accosted by a man dressed in +regimentals (apparently a serjeant), who, pretending +that he was a Yorkshireman and knew them, contrived +to insinuate himself into their confidence, and offered +to guide them in their object of sight-seeing, remarking +particularly that they had a fine opportunity of +seeing the King, who was about to attend a general +review in Hyde Park. Catching at a suggestion so +naturally pleasant, they, without an idea of mistrust, +put themselves under his, apparently, friendly guidance, +and proceeded in the direction of the Park. On +reaching Temple Bar he invited them to accompany +him into an eating-house, where he ordered refreshments.</p> + +<p>But the landlady, on making her appearance—a +respectable and benevolent person, as they subse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>quently +had good reason to know—observed and surveyed +the little party with a very unusual kind of +scrutiny, first looking the soldier sternly in the face, +and then, with an expression relaxed into compassion, +turned her gaze on his youthful and obviously too +confiding associates. Repeating her scrutiny of their +pretended friend till assured of his identity, she addressed +him with an air of stern authority, and commanded +him to leave the house. The man affecting +surprise, and ‘presuming that she must have mistaken +him,’ endeavoured, by a well-practised self-possession, +to avoid the threatened defeat of his insidious purpose. +But she, persisting in her knowledge and +accusation of him, and threatening to call in a constable +to her aid, succeeded in causing him to feel +that it might be for his safety to take himself off.</p> + +<p>On his departure she turned to the wondering young +sailors, and to this effect addressed them:—“I perceive, +young men, you are from the country, and are +strangers in London. I am from the country myself, +but I know that man to be a villain. Not long since +he stole some articles from this very house, and I am +fully assured he will wait for you to get you trepanned; +you shall therefore not leave my house this night.”</p> + +<p>They accordingly remained her guests till the morning, +when she allowed them to depart for their ship; +but on offering her compensation for her kindness, she +refused to take anything more than was barely sufficient +to pay for their moderate refreshments.</p> + +<p>“This act of generous friendship,” remarks the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +writer of the Memoir, “deserves to be recorded on +three accounts: first, for the honour of our common +nature; secondly, to be contrasted with the villany of +the pretended soldier; and thirdly, to illustrate the +watchful Providence of God.”</p> + +<p class="gap2">Having delivered their cargo at Limehouse, and +taken in ballast, they sailed on their second voyage, +to St. Petersburgh, for a cargo of hemp and iron. +Here they were unfortunately caught in the formation +of ice, with but little expectation of escaping during +the winter. But on the 4th of November, a gale from +the eastward having broken up the impeding ice, they +immediately sailed, and in four days reached Elsinore, +where they expected to join convoy for England. All +the men-of-war from home, however, having sailed, +they joined a fleet of similarly unprotected ships, numbering +altogether six-and-twenty sail, and together +proceeded for England. About half-way across the +German ocean, they proved the advantage of their +mutual association for defence, a large cutter privateer +having hove in sight, and attacked the rear of the +fleet. For a considerable time the enemy’s fire was +directed from a respectful distance against the nearest +ships, which they, according to their proportion of +armament, as actively returned,—so actively, indeed, +that, in their ill-provided warlike stores, they soon +expended the greater part of their ammunition. The +enemy, however, ignorant of this circumstance, and +unable to detach any single vessel, kept aloof, proba<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>bly +for the chance of the night; but the night proved +dark, and afforded them a screen from the prowler, +and they all escaped unscathed into port.</p> + +<p>They reached Portsmouth, their new destination, +about the middle of December, and delivered their +cargo among the naval stores of the King’s Yard.</p> + +<p>During the discharging of the cargo, my Father +received vexatious abuse, without any provocation on +his part, from the chief-mate of the ship, which so +annoyed him that, under the impulse of a strongly +excited feeling, he had resolved to quit the Jane, and +enter on board His Majesty’s ship the Royal George, +just then passing them from the graving-dock, where +she had been undergoing repairs. But reflecting on +something which, in the bustle and confusion amongst +her crew as she hauled away, he had observed incongruous +with his feelings, he happily paused in his +hasty resolve, and ultimately decided on submitting +himself to a continuance, though under the constant +exposure to like arbitrary annoyance, of the duties of +his humble station, with a view to the fulfilment of +the engagement he had entered into with the owner +of the Jane. And, as estimated by the probability of +his being involved in the disaster of that ill-fated ship, +had he entered on board of her, the decision appeared +to be Providentially guided; for at no long interval +after this time it was that the Royal George came to +her end so strangely, as to place the catastrophe alone +and without parallel, amid the varied and marvellous +records of our naval history. The story is well known.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +She was “careening,” for the purpose of having some +caulking of her seams effected, or damage of her copper +sheathing repaired, whilst anchored at Spithead, +with her lower-deck ports open in all imaginable +safety. A sudden squall, whilst the ship swung across +the tide, laid her on her beam-ends; the water poured +in by the open ports in such force and quantity, that +she sunk in less than eight minutes, involving officers, +men, and visitors, so generally in the common catastrophe, +that out of about 1200 souls, or upward, on +board, only 331 escaped alive! The brave Admiral +Kempenfelt, an experienced and accomplished navigator, +who, through many perils of war and tempest +had passed unscathed, suffered among the rest, a fate +which, very probably, had been that of my Father, +had he carried out his impetuously-formed design. +But, with the good hand of God upon him, he +escaped the then unimagined peril.</p> + + +<p class="gap2">On the laying up of the Jane for the winter, the +seamen, as usual, were discharged, and the apprentices +sent by a coasting vessel passengers to Whitby. +My Father repaired to his country home for the interval +of service, until summoned again to London, in +the early spring of 1781, to join his ship on her being +chartered for a voyage to Riga, for a cargo of deals +for the Government.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>His Progress as a Seaman, with +Incidents of Sea-Life.</i></h3> + +<p>Entering the sea-service as a profession or business, +as an unaided adventurer, my Father felt, and +ever acted on the feeling, that, under the blessing of +Providence, to which he distinctly looked, he must be +the fabricator of his own fortune. To learn his profession, +from the very elements of a seaman’s duty to +its most manly and skilful perfection; to acquire a +knowledge of navigation, of which he had anticipated +but little, and to extend that knowledge to the highest +style of seamanship,—constituted the scheme and aspiration +of his naturally vigorous and enterprising mind.</p> + +<p>But in beginning, as a country lad, at the beginning, +with nothing of position, or education, or influence, +to raise him above the common and ordinary +class of learners in the school of maritime practice, he +met with no small difficulty in raising himself, as his +purpose was to do, in character and pursuits, above +his fellows. His habit was—as soon as raw inexperience +enabled him to form a habit—to spend his +leisure time, when not on watch, aloof from the galley-congregation +of idle, and often profane, companions. +And instead of following the useless and time-wasting +practices of those around him, his habit was, as +opportunity offered, to endeavour, by the help of a +few appropriate books, to carry out his former humble +acquirements in figures into the really practical “working +of a day’s work,” and “the keeping of the ship’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +reckoning.” Nor, in the ordinary “watch,” did he +associate intimately with the general body of the crew, +preferring, unless he could find a somewhat like-minded +aspirant after a better position, to walk alone +on the main-deck or forecastle, holding companionship +only with his own thoughts.</p> + +<p>Two incidents, in connection with this period of my +Father’s personal history, are fresh in my recollection,—one +of them illustrative of his difficult position in +refusing familiar association with his fellow mariners; +the other illustrative of his success in the acquisition +of nautical knowledge, by his own persevering and +unaided application.</p> + +<p>A marked degree of ill-will, on the part of several +of the crew in one of his early voyages, followed his +prevailing separation from familiar association with +them. This was exhibited by innumerable tokens +and expressions, both in word and action. Jeers, insinuations +and ridicule, were indulged in with painful +and increasing frequency, and these not unmixed with +contemptuous or offensive actions. Naturally spirited +and quick-tempered, as the subject of this ungenerous +behaviour was constitutionally, it was hard to restrain +the expression of indignation, or to resist the urgent +impulse to a just retaliation. But, acting on the system +of non-retaliation, so long as they kept “hands +off,” he bore this persecution with extraordinary forbearance. +For constitutionally strong and energetic, +few would have been able to compete with him, as the +issue proved, if the lion in him were roused. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +height was now near six feet; his frame was strong-boned +and muscular; his vigour and activity were +unusually great. But he restrained himself to the +utmost, and his great strength, as to the perceptions +of his associates, continued long unknown.</p> + +<p>At length the time of resistance, which he could +not but feel must some time or other arrive, came. +It happened in this way. My Father had descended +the deck after his watch, and with the view, I believe, +of retiring, as usual, to a quiet part of the vessel alone, +when two of the crew made on him a premeditated +attack—a kind of half-joking assault by no trifling +hits, rudely grasping him at the same moment, one on +each side. Endeavouring to shake them off without +coming to extremities, he quietly requested them to +desist. Their sinister defiance and rudeness in grappling +him increased in offensiveness. “You had <i>better</i> +be quiet;” “Do be quiet;” “Let me alone;” and +other peace-desiring solicitations of like kind, were +tried. But the attack and effort to throw him became +more determined. At length, after a firm and decided +utterance to the command “Hands off!” indicating +that the spirit was up, the attacked party in his turn +grappled the necks of his assailants, one with each +hand, and, taking advantage of the muscular reaction, +after they had made a simultaneous but ineffective +thrust against him, he flung them, by a Samson-like +impulse, right and left, and both of them fell, heavily, +prostrate on the deck! So unawares was the throw, +and so totally unsustained by cautionary preparation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +that, as to one of them, the subject of this self-earned +retribution, lay motionless, insensible, and bleeding! +Others of the crew who had noticed the scuffle came +up, and seeing the man lie so helpless, and apparently +inanimate, exclaimed, “He is dead! Scoresby has +done for him!” Happily, the catastrophe was not so +serious. By and by there was a return of motion, +and obvious reflux of life; but when at length the +prostrate had, with much difficulty, gathered himself +up, he contrived to stagger meekly enough away, +without noticing the author of his humiliation, or ever +after attempting either a renewal of his bravadoes, or +a retaliation for his severe punishment.</p> + +<p>It is hardly needful to say that, from that time, my +Father was allowed to pursue his own way without +further molestation or offensive remark; and that the +respect which seamen are generally ready to yield to +true bravery and superior skill was as generously bestowed +by the right-minded of the crew, at least, as +the fine and successful effort of the unfairly assaulted +one deserved.</p> + +<p class="gap2">The other incident was of a totally different character.</p> + +<p>My Father had early discovered, on his studying +out the rules and practice of navigation, as set forth +in the comparatively humble nautical works of that +period, that there was much that was gratuitous, or +arbitrary and uncertain, in the allowances and corrections +proposed to be made on the “ship’s log.” On<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +these things he made his own observations, and, in +calculating the ship’s position, which he was now +tolerably well able to accomplish, he made his <i>own +corrections</i>, instead of those marked on the “log-board” +by the officer of the watch. His position, in +consequence, often differed very materially from the +ordinary reckoning, as well as from that kept by one +of his associates among the apprentices, who, like himself, +was anxious for advancement in his profession.</p> + +<p>At the time referred to he was in progress of his +third voyage in the Jane, when, having taken in their +cargo of spars for masts, at Riga, they were on their +return towards Elsinore.</p> + +<p>On the third day after their departure from Riga, +a little after twelve at noon,—the wind being easterly +and the weather foggy, and the ship under studding-sails, +making a progress of about five knots,—the two +young navigators finished the day’s reckoning, and +then proceeded to compare the results. The position +of the ship, as calculated simply from the register on +the log-board, necessarily differed from that deduced +from the same data on which the judgment had been +exercised, and various allowances and alterations made. +Observing the nature of the difference, which amounted +to several miles, the intelligent youth exclaimed, +“Why, by your account, we are just running down +Bornholm; but my journal is the same as the ship’s, +and we are going round to the northward of the +island.” The question being discussed with considerable +animation betwixt them, it excited observation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +among the crew, and reached the ears of the Captain. +A sharp look-out for land was ordered, when, in +brief space, the look-out on the forecastle shouted +“Breakers a-head!” “Put down the helm—Let go the +anchor!” cried the Captain. The manœuvre was just +in time to save the ship from destruction. When she +swung to her anchor it was in four-and-a-half fathoms +water; the breakers were close by the stern, and the +stern not above twenty fathoms from the shore,—and +the shore, as had been predicted, was that of the +island of Bornholm!</p> + +<p>The weather soon cleared up, when they found +themselves in a sandy bay on the south-east side of +the island. The sea not being considerable they soon +got under weigh, and sailing round the island to the +southward, they reached Elsinore the next day. “It +was to this private reckoning kept by Mr. Scoresby,” +observes the writer of the Memoir of which I have +here and elsewhere availed myself, “and the debate +to which it led, that the preservation of the ship and +cargo may evidently be ascribed.”</p> + +<p>“The reward which Mr. Scoresby received for this +piece of essential service was such,” adds the biographer, +“as the deserving too frequently obtain from +their superiors in office, who feel themselves insulted +when their deficiencies are exposed by the efforts of +their superiors in merit. The preservation of the ship +and cargo,” by the superiority of a mere tyro in seamanship—a +young apprentice, “drew upon him, especially, +the envy of the mate, who, it will be remem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>bered, +had aforetime shown a painful measure of ill-will, +and the disapprobation of some of the inferior +officers. These ungenerous influences, in their combined +effect, rendered his situation so uncomfortable +that, on reaching the Thames, he left the ship, and +engaged in an Ordnance-armed storeship, the Speedwell +cutter, destined to carry out stores to Gibraltar.”</p> + +<p>This step, which it is to be apprehended had not +the sanction of the parties to whom he was apprenticed, +was attended with consequences which, with one +whose mind was early directed to regard a Providential +hand perpetually engaged in guiding, controlling, +or, for merciful ends, rebuking the affairs of man, +could hardly fail to be impressive, and to yield salutary +convictions of the error into which a manly indignation +at ungenerous usage and jealous antipathy had +urged him.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>Capture by the Enemy, and Escape +from a Spanish Prison.</i></h3> + +<p>The Speedwell was soon equipped, and, the service +being urgent,—the relief of the garrison at +Gibraltar,—with all haste got to sea. But admirably +as this fast-sailing cutter was adapted for a service +requiring all possible despatch, the weather proved +very unfavourable for making a satisfactory, much less +a rapid, progress.</p> + +<p>The delay was additionally trying to those on +board the cutter, from the deprivations in which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +unexpected length of the voyage, by reason of calms +and adverse winds, involved them. For, economical +of room for the requisite stores whilst on the passage +to the Straits, the Speedwell was sent out so inadequately +supplied with water, that the crew were +reduced to a distressingly short allowance.</p> + +<p>This incident, however, afforded occasion and opportunity +for the development of my Father’s peculiar +acuteness of intellect, and the exercise of his natural +science. Whilst suffering greatly from thirst, the +idea occurred to him that some refreshment might +possibly be derived through the medium of the pores +of the skin by bathing—an idea which the calmness +of the weather enabled him to put to the test and +satisfactorily to verify. For on undressing and taking +a rope for his security, and jumping overboard, he +realized, even beyond his expectations, a decidedly +refreshing influence—such as, under his report, to +induce most of the officers and crew not only to try +the same experiment, but to render it a prevailing +practice, whenever the state of the weather would +permit.</p> + +<p>But a new incident soon substituted for this another +species of deprivation and suffering. They had +advanced within sight of the Spanish coast, when, on +the 26th of October 1781, being off Cape Trafalgar, +they fell in with a force so overwhelmingly superior, +as to render resistance useless. The cutter became a +prize to the enemy, and my Father, with his associates, +prisoners of war. They were taken into Cadiz<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +Bay, and he, with some others, were marched into +the interior of the country, to St. Lucar la Major, +a small town of Andalusia, seated on the river +Guadiana, a tributary of the Quadalquiver.</p> + +<p>Here, they were not ungenerously treated; whilst +the rigour of imprisonment, as at first practised, became +gradually relaxed under the imagined security +of the captives. The degree of liberty, indeed, after +awhile became such, that the prisoners were entrusted +to go unguarded, to some distance from their quarters, +to fetch water. In this indulgence my Father saw +a chance of escape, which, being participated in by +one of his associates, a spirited young sailor and +friend, they privately conferred thereon, and ultimately +arranged to encounter the difficulties and +risks of the adventure.</p> + +<p>Availing themselves of an occasion when various +circumstances gave favour to the experiment, they +proceeded, in their usual manner, to the place where +water was procured; and, finding themselves unobserved, +they walked away, as if incidently strolling +about, until they had obtained shelter, I believe, +from a wood. Here they pushed rapidly on, dropping +their water-vessels in a place of concealment, until +having made what they deemed a sufficient progress +to baffle an ordinary pursuit, they hid themselves for +the remainder of the day. Then, with the stars only +for their guidance, they travelled, as by a steeple-chase +route, throughout the night towards the coast. +This, indeed, became their prevalent plan of pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>ceeding, +to rest in some concealment by day, and to +travel by night.</p> + +<p>Their progress proved, indeed, fully as adventurous, +consistently with their safety, as the liveliest imagination +could have pictured. The perils and difficulties +they encountered from native Spaniards, or from the +pursuit of troops sent after them; from their imperfect +concealment during the day, or critical exposure in +their progress during the night; from the applications +which they were necessitated to make on the <i>generosity</i> +of the enemies of their country for relief and sustenance,—for +they had been deprived of everything they +possessed except two little bundles of clothing which, +in contemplation of the adventure, they had previously +concealed beyond their prison; from their suspicious +appearance in the dress, and with the language of +foreigners, inducing attempts to give them up to the +public authorities; with the aid and consolations, on +the other hand, which they occasionally met with from +the sympathies of the gentler sex, even whilst others +were seeking their recapture,—yielded altogether a +series of exciting and anxious incidents, which, if the +particulars could be thoroughly recalled, might afford +materials for a history of really romantic interest. +The fact of kind and generous sympathy, and effective +aid from women, I well remember as constituting a +touching element in the relation of their perilous +undertaking. As Mungo Park, in his varied and +perilous travels, ever found kindness, in the instinct +of a sympathising nature, from women, savage though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +their race might be, so did my Father and his associate +realize, among the Spanish peasants, the like experience. +Once, in particular, I remember its being +stated, that when our adventurers had confided themselves +to the supposed friendly shelter of a cottage, +the master of the cottage stepped away, in order to +give information about the fugitives at some neighbouring +magisterial or military post, whilst his wife, +compassionating the proscribed strangers in a foreign +land, meanwhile contrived to give them a secret +warning of their peril, and at the same time to provide +the means, by the back of the cottage, for their prompt +and effectual escape.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the story, so far as relates to their +escape from the Spanish shores, may be summarily +given.</p> + +<p>Under the guidance of a gracious and prospering +Providence, they arrived safely at the coast, and, +happily, when circumstances proved singularly favourable +for the completion of their adventurous project. +For it so happened (and happened it not by the providential +ordering of times and circumstances to fit +each other for an issue accordant with confiding trust +and fervent prayers?) that when they reached this +most critical position, they found a <i>cartel</i>—an English +vessel which had disembarked her freight of prisoners +of war, brought out in exchange—just preparing to +depart for the land of their hopes!</p> + +<p>Penniless and friendless, as our now reanimated +adventurers were, besides being specially exposed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +detection on the well-watched shores of an enemy’s +country, it required no little management and tact +to get off during the night; that so, fugitives as they +were on the one part, and intruders on the other, +they might elude the observation both of the Spanish +officers and the captain of the cartel. But the same +gracious furtherance, as heretofore they had experienced, +continued to prosper their way, and all +difficulties and hazards were safely accomplished; and, +by the friendly aid of the crew, upon whose humanity +they cast themselves, the means of concealment were +provided until the circumstances of present risk and +anxiety should have passed away.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<i>Rewards of Masterly Seamanship.</i></h3> + +<p>We are here brought to the describing of an incident +particularly characteristic of my Father’s talent +as an accomplished practical seaman.</p> + +<p>After the vessel was fairly at sea, and, furthered +by a favourable wind, in encouraging progress on her +way to England, my Father and his gallant associate +ventured to appear upon deck. The natural surprise +of the Captain, on finding two intruding auxiliaries +amongst his people, assumed no very friendly character, +even when the daring and almost romantic +undertaking of the strangers had been made known +to him. On the contrary, he received their explanation +with no small measure of anger, and followed up +his pitiless inconsideration with heartless threatenings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +He threatened, with much apparent determination, +either to land them again amongst their enemies, or +give them up as a boon, though of most unwilling +hands, to some English ship-of-war. Their appeals +to his sympathy and benevolence were unavailing. +Their offer “to work their passage,” which <i>they</i> +thought might be a compensation for their provision, +was slighted, on the ground that “the crew was +sufficient.” But at length the Captain suggested the +alternative, at which he evidently aimed, of their paying +for their accommodation and passage to England. +Being, as we have shown, absolutely penniless, this +was a difficult requirement, though the Captain got +over it by proposing that they should sign a document +pledging themselves, on arrival in England, to +a payment which they deemed most exorbitant. With +this demand the urgency of their own purpose, and +the fear of the threatenings of the Captain, obliged +them to comply, and the paper was drawn up and +signed.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for them, the Bay of Biscay maintained +its too dreaded celebrity at the season referred to, by +becoming the scene of a formidable sea and storm. +The gale commenced rather suddenly, and became +rapidly so fierce, that the seamen, who were quite +inadequate in number, as well as in capabilities, were +unable to get in the sail within the limits of safety. +The canvas was flapping furiously aloft, and all efforts +to reef were distressingly slow. Meanwhile my Father +and his comrade were eyed with indignation and sur<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>prise +by the Captain, as they moved on the deck, or +stood holding by the “weather-rail,” with quiet composure, +as if ignorant of, or indifferent to, the increasing +peril of the position of the ship. At last, an +exclamation of astonishment burst from the Captain, +that, regardless of the general safety, they should not +offer a helping hand. They replied most coolly, “that +the crew, they understood, was ample, and needed no +help of theirs, and they were but passengers!” The +perplexed commander turned away in ill-concealed +vexation. Still the gale increased in severity, till the +ship was thrown almost on her “beam-ends,” and +their situation became quite alarming. He then +renewed his application under a severe taunt, as if it +were unmanly to allow the crew to struggle so against +the difficulties of the storm, and they, two able and +efficient seamen, looking on! “Destroy the paper,” +they said, “and let us work our passage, and we shall +be ready for your orders.” Desperate now, in his +anxiety to save the canvas and spars, and, indeed, to +secure the safety of the ship, the Captain produced +the important and vexatious paper, and tearing it +passionately into pieces, he scattered its fragments on +the wild waste of waters to leeward.</p> + +<p>Forthwith the two emancipated passengers spring +forward to their duty as members of the crew. They +could not have been unobservant of the slovenly manner +in which yards and sails had been prepared for +the operation of reefing,—so ill-arranged, indeed, with +a ship heeling almost yard-arm in the water, and sails<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +flying over the yards to leeward, as to render the +operation scarcely practicable. First of all the yards +are, in a seamanlike manner, laid to pass; braces are +hauled taught, and lower yards steadied by the +“trusses” and “lifts;” “reef-tackles,” with a helping +hand probably by the men aloft, are well hauled out, +and the inflated and flapping canvas pressed in by the +“buntlines” to the yards,—and then, bounding into +the rigging, their feet scarcely touch the “ratlines,” as, +aided by the elasticity of tension in the shrouds, they +ascend up the mast. Way is instinctively made by +the previously dispirited hands for my Father to the +“weather-earing” of the topsail, and for his friend to +leeward. Here, as in most other operations, his singular +energy, strength and skill, render him wonderfully +efficient. Seated across the yard-arm, with +shoulder steadied and supported by the “lift,”—the +“earing” passed round and reeved in the “reef-cringle” +of the sail,—he is enabled, with little aid from the hands +on the yard, to haul out the sail by vast muscular +strength, skilfully applied, to the fitting position, when +the cry “Haul out to leeward,” is replied to by +his associate there with similar vigour and celerity of +action, so that the enclosed section of the sail, previously +so intractable under other hands, is in a few +moments laid compact on the yard, and securely enfolded +within the “reef-points.” Thus reef succeeded +reef, till the broad flapping sail displayed but its +smallest dimensions—the “close-reef” adapted for the +storm, whilst corresponding operations were performed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +on the other sails with marvellous smartness and +despatch; for the superior energy and commanding +efficiency of these leaders, of a previously heartless +and dispirited crew, had happily infused into all a new +spirit of confidence, and stimulated to unwonted effort +to imitate their admired ability, and thus to become +useful helps in the task to be accomplished.</p> + +<p>Within a less interval of time, perhaps, than had +previously been wasted in inefficient endeavours to +accomplish the duties required by the sudden violence +of the storm, topsails are reefed and set compactly to +the wind; courses and other sails are reefed or made +snug by handing; top-gallant-yards, with spars and +flying gear aloft, are sent down upon deck; and the +ship, now no longer pressed down by overwhelming +top-weight and fluttering sails, is restored to the desired +equilibrium, and snugly prepared to encounter +and weather the storm!</p> + +<p>From this time the duty of the ship was well and +smartly done. The superiority of my Father as a +thorough practical seaman must have been both felt +and acknowledged: the distance at which he soared +beyond the others was too great and obvious for the +intrusion even of that bane of social concord—jealousy; +and the effect seems to have been the infusion of a +higher character into the ordinary crew. Well, +therefore, did our fugitives from a Spanish prison +repay to ship, captain, owners and crew, the benefits +they themselves received.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VI.</span>—<i>Entrance on, and Progress in training +in, the Greenland Whale-Fishery.</i></h3> + +<p>After his exciting adventure in escaping from +imprisonment in an enemy’s country, my father retired, +for a season, from his seafaring pursuits. He +returned to the homestead of his fathers, where, assisting +in the management of the farm, he remained +about two or three years. During this interval he +married; the object of his choice being Lady Mary, +(viz. Mary, with the prefix of Lady, taken, not ostentatiously, +but in rural simplicity, from the characteristic +designation of the day of her birth, which +was on <i>Lady-day</i>), the eldest daughter of Mr. John +Smith, of Cropton,—a rural district about five-and-twenty +miles from Whitby,—who resided on a small +landed property which he had inherited from his +ancestors.</p> + +<p>By no means satisfied, however, with this retirement,—which +recent hard and perilous service had, +for a time, rendered congenial to his feelings,—and +as little contented with the limitation of his unusual +energies to such a contracted scope of employment, +he turned his attention again to the sea. And in this +object he at length found a congenial opening, in a +region and employment admirably adapted to his physical +constitution and adventurous spirit, the <i>Greenland +Whale Fishery</i>; a trade which, at this period, +the latter end of the eighteenth century, was pursued +with considerable enterprise from the port of Whitby.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>On this new species of maritime service he embarked +in the ship Henrietta, Captain Crispin Bean, +in the spring of the year 1785, as one of the seamen. +Of the incidents of his training in this adventurous +and stirring profession, we have, unfortunately, no +special records. To the requirements, however, in +every species of knowledge and duty connected with +the Arctic navigation and the capture of the huge +cetacea of the north, he gave himself with such tact +and perseverance, that, on his sixth voyage, we find +him to have risen over the heads of all his original +associates, and occupying the position of second +officer, the <i>specksioneer</i> of the ship.<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a></p> + +<p>A single incident, though of the most trifling +nature, has been preserved in connection with this +period of my Father’s life, which I am induced to +record, simply because there was something in it +illustrative of character.</p> + +<p>As the ships employed in the whale fishery in +the spring and summer were usually <i>laid up</i> during +the rest of the year, it was the frequent practice of +the officers, who were generally engaged from year +to year, to embark as seamen in the coasting trade +during the interval of winter. My Father, habitually +energetic and industrious, and having now an increasing +family to support, adopted this commendable +course. On one occasion it so happened that he was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>employed in a vessel whose chief officer, the mate, +was a young man possessing a full share of self-conceit, +evinced by a not unfrequent exhibition of +supercilious assumption of superiority—characteristics +excessively obnoxious to my Father’s manly disposition. +But, notwithstanding the occasional exhibition +of an offensive manner towards himself as well +as others, such was always his high sense of the <i>duty +of obedience to superiors</i>, and of the importance, in +principle, of <i>proper subordination</i>, that he bore with +restrained feelings in silence this youthful and vexatious +folly. An occasion, however, occurred, in +which he might legitimately suffer the fault to chastise +itself, and it is to that to which my story refers.</p> + +<p>The vessel was lying in port about to take in +ballast. In this operation, which is often effected +(as in this case) by the shovel of “ballast-heavers” +out of loaded “lighters” laid alongside the ship, +there is a liability to scatter a good deal of the shingle +or other material, so as to fall overboard to the encumbrance +of the harbour. To prevent this damage +to the navigation, it is in many places a harbour +regulation that a canvas screen or sail, called a “port-sail,” +should be placed below the small port-hole cut +in the side of the ship for the reception of ballast, so +as to catch the ballast-heavers’ scatterings.</p> + +<p>In the good ship, the ——, however, this canvas +protector happened to be wanting when ballast was +about to be taken in. The mate, with a manner (it +is presumed) of excessive superciliousness, came to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +my Father with a <i>“bolt”</i> (or roll) of canvas, asking +him, as if doubting his capacity, whether he could +make such a thing? and then requesting him to set +immediately to work to supply the lack of port-sails. +Assuming a look of meekest simplicity, which for +such a just retribution my Father could well put on, +he quietly asked, in reference to the order to make +port-sails, “how <i>many</i> he was to make?” Mistaking +the look of simplicity for simpleness itself, the young +officer, as he turned jeeringly away, replied, “<i>half-a-dozen</i>, +to be sure.”</p> + +<p>One only, or two, at the most, could possibly be +required; but, to punish arrogancy, the order was +strictly regarded. Some hours subsequently the +mate returned to the place where the work of the +sail-needle was being actively carried on, when, to +his astonishment and vexation, he found the deck +covered with the breadths of canvas <i>cut out</i> for the +half-dozen port-sails, and some two or three of them +already seamed together! His fierce demand, “Why +have you cut up the whole bolt of canvas?” was +responded to in the former quiet manner of simplicity, +“Did you not order me to make half-a-dozen?”</p> + +<p>Whilst thus justly chastised for his own folly, and +biting his lips with vexation,—the vexation being +the more exciting because <i>consciously self-earned</i>,—he +could not refrain from resorting to abuse, where +reason and justice must fail him. But singularly +enough it happened, whilst the altercation which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +ensued was being carried on, and when it had been +broadly intimated to him, I believe, that his further +services could be well dispensed with, that a letter, +just then brought by some one coming on board, was +put into my Father’s hand, offering him the unexpected +appointment and preferment which constitute +the subject of our next chapter. He was thus +enabled, with no small advantage of position over the +still fretted and abusive officer, to say, “If you are +not satisfied with what I have commenced, I can +leave you to do it yourself.”</p> + +<p class="gap2">In concluding this chapter, it comes appropriately +in connection, to mention something of the state of +my Father’s mind and feelings with respect to the +grand object of this probationary state with man—the +attainment and furtherance of a religious life.</p> + +<p>On this topic I am the better enabled to write satisfactorily, +because of the repeated references to it +which I have heard my Father make in after-life. +At all times, within my own recollection, he evinced +a very marked regard for religion, with a clear apprehension +of the great principles of our holy faith, and +an ardent desire for the experience of its divine consolations. +But he used to refer back, with a kind of +longing regret, to the days of his youth, when he had +<i>felt</i> the consolations of godliness, and realized the +happiness of heavenly meditations. Often (as I have +heard him intimate) whilst pursuing his agricultural +labours, and not unfrequently, too, when walking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +to and fro in his night-watch at sea,—he had been +privileged to realize that enviable feeling of peaceful +happiness, in the lifting up of the heart in pious +meditations and communings heavenward, which constitutes +at once an experimental evidence and present +reward of the reception of the Gospel of our Lord +and Saviour Jesus Christ. For, however it may fall +short in the ardency of its perceptions, or however it +may be liable to be confounded with the hasty and transient +impulses of mere excitement, yet, in its nature, +and according to its degree, the feeling thus realized +belongs, I doubt not, to that truly enviable class of +Christian experiences described by St. Paul, as “the +peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” and +as the rejoicing “with joy unspeakable and full of +glory.”</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> “Memoir of William Scoresby, Esq.” by the late Mr. Samuel Drew, +in the “Imperial Magazine,” for 1822.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Life of Captain James Cook, by the Rev. G. Young, of Whitby.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> The title “specksioneer,” derived from the Dutch, is applied to +the officer who has special charge of the fishing apparatus, and the conduct +of the flensing operations in the fishery. He is also a principal +harpooner.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter II.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">HIS COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS IN WHALE-FISHING +ENTERPRISE, AS A COMMANDER.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>Disappointment in his first Command.</i></h3> + +<p>In the history of men who, relatively to their prospects +by birth, have attained to distinction in life, +there will generally be found some special incident, +sometimes apparently trifling in itself, or some particular +circumstance, or chain of circumstances, in +their professional career, on which, under Providence, +their fortune manifestly turned.</p> + +<p>Both the <i>incident</i> and the circumstance referred to +were clearly and strikingly marked in my Father’s +history. The incident appears in what occasioned +the disgust which he took in early life at farming +occupations, whereby he was stimulated to enter upon +a seafaring life. The <i>circumstance</i>, or chain of +circumstances, we find in the important preferment +which unexpectedly, as to the occasion, was given to +him when, over the heads of many associates, he was +appointed to his first command.</p> + +<p>Crispin Bean, the captain under whom my Father +had had his training and experience in Arctic adventure, +was, for <i>his time</i>, a successful whale-fisher. For,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +in the course of from seventeen to twenty years in +which he followed this commerce, he realized a <i>small</i> +fortune, sufficient, at least, with a little patrimony, to +satisfy his very moderate desires and requirements, and +to induce him to retire, whilst in fulness of vigour, from +his arduous profession. He was a man of excellent +character, and one for whom my Father always retained +a sincere regard, and towards whom he was +ever ready to show kindly consideration, when his +means for subsistence and comfort were less sufficient +in after-life. A vivid remembrance of Mr. Bean’s +regard and preference for him, on the turning point +of his temporal destiny, was observably retained, and +was elicited, as I had myself not unfrequent opportunities +of noticing, both in his manner of speaking of +his former commander, and in his readiness to minister +to him in acts of kindness.</p> + +<p>It was after his voyage in the year 1790, that Mr. +Bean announced to his owner, Nicholas Piper, Esq., +of Pickering, his intention of relinquishing his command, +and retiring from the sea. Himself entirely +unprepared for appointing a successor, Mr. Piper +enquired whether there was any one, among the +officers of the Henrietta, whom he (Mr. Bean) could +recommend for a Master? Mr. Bean, well observant +of my Father’s persevering energy, seamanlike +talent, and general superiority, replied,—“There is +Scoresby, the specksioneer, who, I think, is the man +for the duty.” And to him, with but little delay in +further investigation, the command, to the agreeable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +surprise of my Father, and the jealous vexation of +some of his brother officers, was transferred.</p> + +<p>Mr. Piper, however, whilst so promptly exercising +this generous confidence in his appointment, failed, +in consistency, when proceeding with the measures +for carrying it into effect. Considering his limited +measure of experience, when contrasted with the +much longer engagement in the fishery of the then +chief officer, and some of the leading harponeers, he, +unfortunately, took <i>upon himself</i> to re-engage these +men for the ensuing voyage,—a proceeding which, +however prudential, my Father felt to be at once +uncourteous and unwise, though a measure which he +was by no means in a position either to contravene or +satisfactorily to resist. Every ground of hope, however, +which he might have indulged in respect to any +favourable views of such a principle, in its working, +failed, whilst his very worst apprehensions were more +than realized.</p> + +<p>This result, indeed, came out the more characteristically, +because of the singular unfavourableness of the +season, wherein he made his first trial, for the objects +of the adventure. The fishery, in general, proved +unprecedentedly unsuccessful. Of seven ships which +set out from Whitby, (the port from whence the +Henrietta sailed,) one, the Marlborough, was lost; +four returned “clean,”—that is, without any cargo; +and two had but one fish each—one of them very +small. Tradition has it—and the tradition I can well +believe to be a historical fact—that the cargoes of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +whole Whitby fleet of <i>Greenland</i> whalers (except one) +from the fishery of 1791, were carried overland to +Pickering, a distance of 21 miles, in one wagon!</p> + +<p>It was in the worst class, that of “clean ships,” in +which the Henrietta stood at the conclusion of this +unpropitious season. But she so stood, not by any +means deservedly, as regarded either the talent and +perseverance of her new Captain, or the opportunities +which his enterprise had afforded to his officers and +crew for a position of, at least, leading prosperity. +My Father, indeed, whilst often speaking in after-times +of this trying, mortifying, and, as to his +prospects in life, perilous failure, was known to +remark, that such were the opportunities which his +own people had, of doing as well as the most successful +of his competitors, that there was scarcely a “fish” +caught by the whole Greenland fleet, but whilst the +Henrietta was in company, or during the capture of +which he was not within view!</p> + +<p>It was not the wish of the leading officers of the +Henrietta, however, that their position should be +different. A strong feeling of jealousy was injuriously +cherished by certain officers over whom my +Father had been preferred; and so far was this +carried, and so variously indicated, that it became +evident that their wish and <i>design</i> was, <i>that their +commander should be found in the most humiliating +position</i> amongst his fellow fishermen. The reality +of the existence of this feeling was manifested in +various ways. Among the early indications of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +conspiracy which my Father clearly detected, was +the positive and wilful inattention of some principal +officers to the objects of their enterprise, when he was +in bed, with the substitution of idle, if not venomous, +converse, for officer-like diligence and watchfulness. +For on one occasion, when being on very promising +fishing-ground, he had sent a boat “on bran,”—the +term used for designating the condition of a whale-boat +when stationed afloat, with the crew ready for +instant action, watching for the incidental appearance +of a whale,—he heard, whilst lying anxiously awake +in his bed, the subdued creaking of the “tackles,” as +of a cautious and surreptitious hoisting up of the +boat; and, on afterwards going unexpectedly on deck, +he found the “watch,” both officers and men, engaged +as we have just stated.</p> + +<p>Attempts on the part of the officers to direct or +dictate, not unfrequently made, failed, as was right +they should do, except in one instance (judging from +the case being often alluded to by my Father with +regret), where the yielding to a proposition against +his better judgment met with its consistent rebuke. +A number of whales had been fallen in with, and the +greater part of the boats had been sent out in pursuit. +Reckless and ill-conditioned they pulled about +hither and thither, frightening many, but harpooning +none, of the objects of chase. For a considerable +period the same folly or inefficiency was being +enacted, and yet “fish” in encouraging numbers were +still to be seen. The chief mate, one Matthew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +Smith, came to my Father to remonstrate with him +for keeping the boats so long abroad without something +to exhilarate the men,—urging, that spirits, as +he said was usual, should be sent to them, or it could +not be expected that they could either succeed or +persevere. Though more than doubtful of the wisdom +of employing stimulants in an adventure requiring +the greatest coolness and self-possession, my +Father unfortunately yielded, and ordered the steward +to supply a quantity of brandy for being carried out +to the absent sailors. But the mate’s boat, which +was sent with this <i>refreshment</i> (?) was seen, after it +had proceeded a mile or so from the ship, to cease +rowing, and “lie to on its oars;” and there, as my +Father’s sure telescope told him, they remained, till +the crew had “drank themselves drunk.” Then, in +their mad folly, they proceeded to the field of fishing +enterprise, and effectually marred any chance of success, +if a single honest harpooner were there, and +gave a new and additional impulse to the existing +recklessness and disaffection.</p> + +<p>But private resistance of orders, as well as apparent +neglect of opportunities frequently afforded them of +advancing the grand object of the voyage, ultimately +grew into the most aggravated form of insubordination—<i>mutiny</i>.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, when the Henrietta had been +pushed into an unwonted position of imagined peril +among the ice by her commander’s adventurous spirit, +the alarm of her crew urged their disaffection into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +open mutiny. They gathered themselves together, and +proceeded to the quarter-deck, to demand (as I have +understood the incident) their being released from so +perilous a situation. My Father’s disregard of their +remonstrances, and expressed determination to persevere, +were at length met by brute force and open +violence. One of the men, excited by his companions’ +clamours, and his own dastardly rage, seized a hand-spike, +and aimed a desperate blow, which might have +been fatal, on the head of his Captain. But, now +roused to the exertion of his heretofore unimagined +strength and tact, he, whilst warding the blow with +his hand, disarmed the assailant, and seizing him, as +I have been told, in his athletic arms, actually flung +him headlong among his associates, like a quoit from +the hands of the player, filling the whole party with +amazement at his strength and power, and for the +moment arresting, under the influence of the feeling, +the unmanly pursuance of their mutinous purposes.</p> + +<p>The power of one against so many who had +committed themselves to a penal act and assault, +however, not being likely to continue to avail him, +my Father, with a decision of purpose scarcely less +surprising than his power of action, ordered a boy +to take the helm, and whilst himself and others, +whom his example might influence, “squared the +yards,” directed the ship’s course (the wind being +fair) <i>homeward</i>. Their demand to be released from +the ice being thus yielded, and, with circumstances so +very different from what they had expected, reduced,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +for a while, both the mutinous and insubordinate of +the crew, to a sort of dogged quiescence. But when +the ship, having cleared the ice, was still kept on the +same course, and when ice and haunts of whales began +to be left far astern, anxiety and alarm took place in +the breasts of the authors of the mischief, who now, +in their turn, felt just cause for dreading the issue +of a proceeding which they had thus unexpectedly +provoked. Words of unwonted calmness were now +dropped by one or other of the officers, in hopes of +eliciting some indication that the homeward direction +was but a threat. Hints of the loss to the owners and +himself were thrown out, if he followed out his apparent +purpose; but all to no purpose—the Henrietta +still wended her way before the home-blowing breeze +with steady and unrestrained progress. At length, +so great was the alarm excited, that the bold and +blustering mutineers became subdued, and they came +forward, backed by their subordinates in the crew, +humbly soliciting that the ship might be hauled on a +wind again for Greenland, and promising that themselves, +and every man aboard, would submit to orders, +and do their utmost to further the object on which +they had embarked.</p> + +<p>To have persisted in a purpose undertaken from +necessity, the result of which could only be of unmixed +injury to his employers as well as himself, when +yet there was a chance, however faint, of doing something +in respect to the intention of the adventure, +might have been deemed an act of obstinacy, rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +than wisdom. Not, therefore, to lose any chance of +success, which this demonstration of better feeling +might seem to promise, the ship was forthwith hauled +to the wind, and, as circumstances of wind and +weather allowed, every effort of seamanship was +employed for hastening their return to the fishing-ground +northward. The sunshine, however, which +had rendered the gathering in of a limited harvest +possible, was now departed, and all subsequent endeavours +to make up for lost time and opportunities +proved fruitless, so that the talented and efficient +commander of the Henrietta had the mortification +of reporting the result of his first and trial adventure +as “a clean ship!”</p> + +<p>On their arrival in port, the designs of the disaffected +became gradually developed. It was hoped, +and evidently expected, that my Father, failing of +success, would be superseded; and it ultimately came +out, though not until the whole scheme of this nefarious +conspiracy had been enacted, and the failure of +the experiment determined, that it had been matter +of promise or arrangement, in the event of the chief +officer obtaining the command, that the other officers +in succeeding ranks should have a step in the way of +promotion; and that the men, generally, should have +better, and more <i>equal</i> treatment, and, as they were +vainly flattered, be rewarded with higher wages!</p> + +<p>Indications of this dastardly attempt to arrest the +advancement of a young and enterprising commander +appeared in two or three circumstances, which oc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>curred +soon after the Henrietta’s return to Whitby. +One of these was the discovery of a letter, fastened +conspicuously on one of the sails, addressed to Mr. +Bean, the former captain, “requesting him to procure +another master, Captain Scoresby having left the +vessel, or gone ashore.”</p> + +<p>Another circumstance, of a bolder character, I +remember being related, which, however, operated in +a manner directly the reverse of what was designed +by the originators of the ungenerous device. A party +of the officers, three or four in number, proceeded to +the owner’s residence—I believe over the Moors to +Pickering—for the express purpose of complaining of +my Father’s unfitness for the command. One of their +reasons, more curious than manly, was founded on +observation of their commander’s <i>fearless and adventurous +practice, as a navigator</i>,—entirely different +from the habit of the times. The complaint was to +the effect, “that, instead of keeping the ship clear of +danger in the fishery, he was continually running +them into the ice; and his daringness was such that, +if he should be continued in the command, <i>he would +lose the ship and drown them all!</i>”</p> + +<p>On a sensible man like Mr. Piper, the information, +as to enterprising character, conveyed by objections +of this kind, was by no means lost. His reflection +thereon, as I understood it to have been, was, “Why +this is the very sort of man we need!”</p> + +<p>My Father was not, of course, without his anxieties +as to what the issue might be. He had embarked in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +a post of great responsibility, where, beyond the +ordinary qualifications of the navigator, <i>success as a +fisherman</i> was looked for, and so prominently regarded, +too, that successfulness, above all other qualities, stood +absorbingly pre-eminent. Having failed on his first, +and most critical, trial, he anxiously expressed his +regrets at his failure, when he first met his disappointed +and suffering owner. But he, having meanwhile, +I believe, spoken on the subject to his former +captain (Mr. Bean), replied encouragingly, “It can’t +be helped: you must try again.” The confiding +owner, however, could not but be a little surprised +when, on the first fitting occasion after the intimation +of his re-appointment, my Father, meekly, but firmly, +informed him, “that if he again took the command +he must have the appointment of all the hands—both +officers and general crew.” Mr. Piper’s usual “Pooh! +pooh!” at a demand so unexpected, produced no +change in the reasonable requirements of his anxious, +but decided dependent. He consulted Mr. Bean +thereon, and he, it is reported, recommended acquiescence +on the part of the owner. At all events the +owner did acquiesce. The happy effect and result +will appear in our next section.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>His Second Adventure, and commencing +Prosperity.</i></h3> + +<p>Under the fitting authority yielded to my Father, +in respect to the absolute selection and engagement +of his officers and crew, he acted with equal wisdom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +and decision. His first act was to discharge the +whole of his old and self-assumed accomplished or +experienced officers, and to replace them with younger +and more tractable men; some of those who had +served with him in his first command, whose characters +he had appreciated, being advanced from +inferior stations to places of responsibility.</p> + +<p>The principle that had been conceded by the owner +to his captain, as to the absolute selection of his crew, +was, however, in a very minor appointment, attempted +to be interfered with; but it only served to bring out +in greater distinctiveness the character with whom +he had to deal. The circumstance was this:—On +the fitting out of the ship in the spring of 1792, my +Father, on going on board one morning for his usual +superintendence of the work, observed a stranger,—one +whom he had not himself engaged,—busily employed, +as if quite installed in office, about the cooking +department. In surprise he asked the would-be +<i>cook</i> “who had sent him there?” “The owner,” he +replied, “had <i>shipped</i> him as the cook.”</p> + +<p>Without a word further, and without regarding +consequences, so momentous to himself which might +result, he gave himself up to the manly impulse of +his mind, determining either to have the appointment +revoked, or to relinquish a post which had +formed at once the object of his aspirings and the +summit of his hopes. His manner on the occasion, +whilst most respectful to his superior, was as unequivocally +firm, as his mind was decided. Taking the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +“ship’s papers” from their safe custody in a compartment +of the cabin, viz. the ship’s register, certain +bonds claimed by the Customs and Excise, and other +documents required to be held by the ship’s commander,—he +proceeded immediately on shore to Mr. +Piper’s apartments, at once presenting them, and in +so doing, resigning his command into the hands of +the astonished owner. His astonishment was hardly +lessened when, on being asked the reason of this +strange conduct, my Father referred him to the appointment, +without his personal sanction, of a cook +to the ship. The remonstrative “pooh! pooh! pooh!” +proved of no more avail than on a former occasion; +but Mr. Piper’s naturally good sense prevailing over +his mortified pride of authority, he conceded this +point also, and my Father, returning on board with +his papers, sent the intruding cook to the right-about, +leaving him and Mr. Piper to settle the disagreeables +as well as they might.</p> + +<p>The principle, the firmness, and the tact of my +Father, in respect to the engagement and selection of +his crew, were amply vindicated in the happy result +of his second adventure as commander. Men who +had been selected and appointed by him, readily +deferred to him. Men who, contrary to ordinary +slow progress, step by step, had been advanced, <i>per +saltum</i>, to places of responsibility, gave spontaneous +respect and honour to one who could so estimate +ability, and confide in the application of untried +talents. Discipline was easily preserved, and active,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +confiding, and cordial obedience succeeded to the +former disaffection. The commanding talent of the +director of the adventure thus obtained its proper +scope, and resulted in an almost unprecedented measure +of success.<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a> No less than <i>eighteen</i> whales were +captured, yielding 112 tuns of oil, on this, to my +Father, very momentous voyage; for, whilst a second +failure might have permanently blighted his hopes +and prevented his prosperity, this extraordinary success +directed admiring attention to the commander, +who had had largeness of mind to contemplate, and +superiority of ability to accomplish, so enterprising +and profitable an advance beyond what his predecessors +from the port of Whitby had either deemed +in any way practicable, or had been limited, by their +too narrow conceptions of sufficiency, from attempting.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>Further Successes, with their comparative +Relations, in the Ship Henrietta.</i></h3> + +<p>Future results clearly indicated the source, under +a favouring Providence, of my Father’s prosperity. +These first fruits of adventure were justified by the +subsequent harvest, as the legitimate proceeds of +superior management. Merely accidental circumstances +may yield, for an occasion or two, or for several +occasions, felicitous results; but where adventures +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>involving mind and talent for their conduct, prove, +through a long series of repetitions, under all the +diversities of times and seasons, unusually successful, +they give evidence of a master-mind directing the +operations.</p> + +<p>During the subsequent five years of my Father’s +enterprises in the same ship—from 1793 to 1797 +inclusive,—the Henrietta’s cargo stood generally, I +believe, at the head of the list of successful voyages +amongst the whole fleet of Greenland whalers. The +least successful voyage was liberally remunerating to +the owner—the most successful, unprecedentedly so. +The total captures in whales, during the six successful +years, including that of 1792, was no less than eighty; +and the produce in oil, (considered as wonderful for +that day,) 729 tuns.</p> + +<p>Before the introduction of this species of energetic +enterprise, the adventurers, as a class, were content +with small things. We have the commendatory +record concerning Captain Banks, of the Jenny, of +Whitby, who was esteemed a talented and successful +fisherman, that he brought home sixty-five whales +in ten years, or six and a half per year; whereas the +average captures by my Father, during the period +referred to, was thirteen and one-third whales, or +more than double the number of this successful +predecessor.</p> + +<p>The catch in his fifth year of command reached the +then extraordinary amount of twenty-five whales; +and in his last year, the proceeds in oil were greater,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +being 152 tuns, than had before entered the port of +Whitby in any one ship.</p> + +<p>Whilst giving the first detailed and authentic +records of a Father’s life and enterprises, it may be +permitted, I trust, in the son, to dwell still further on +these comparisons, whereby the enterprises referred +to may obtain their just estimation in their bearing on +the commercial prosperity of the nation.</p> + +<p>The comparison of my Father’s successes with those +accustomed to be realized by the northern whale-fishers +in general, will afford to him, as may have been +anticipated, a highly commendatory result.</p> + +<p>The most distinguished whale-fishers in the world, +during a century and a half, or more, were the +<i>Dutch</i>, with whose ordinary successes the comparison +may, with propriety, first be made. Within the long +interval of 107 years, ending with 1778, the produce +of 57,590 whales was brought into Holland by 14,167 +ships, (reckoning repeated voyages,) yielding an +average of four and one-fifteenth whales per ship. +During the ten years more immediately preceding +my Father’s commencement,—from 1769 to 1778, for +instance,—the average produce of the Dutch <i>Greenland</i> +whale-fishery, per ship, a year, (ninety ships, on +an average being employed,) was about three and a +half “fish.” In the ten years beginning with 1779, +(sixty sail being regularly sent out,) the average was +about three and three-quarters. And in the ten years, +from 1785 to 1794, passing within the period of my +Father’s early enterprises, (sixty ships being then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +also annually engaged in the fisheries of Greenland +and Davis’ Strait), the catch was 2294 whales, giving +an average of three and eight-tenths whales per ship +for each year. Hence my Father’s success, compared +with these various averages of the Dutch fleet, rises, +in respect of the number of whales captured, in the +remarkable proportion of above three and a half to one.</p> + +<p>But we turn to <i>home</i> comparisons, which as to the +object in view is of more importance to us,—though +the materials for obtaining <i>general</i> results are, I +regret to find, but very scanty.</p> + +<p>As to the whale-fishery of <i>Great Britain</i>, in 1787 +and 1788, we find (<i>Arctic Regions</i>, ii. p. 112,) 505 +cargoes were obtained in the two years, amounting to +15,894 tuns of oil, or 31·5 tuns per ship a year.</p> + +<p>The records in hand of the Greenland fishery from +<i>Scotland</i>, in the years just preceding my Father’s +commencement, relate only to the period from 1785 +to 1788. In each of the two latter years, when +thirty-one ships were employed in the trade, the +average success per ship was only two and four-fifths +whales. The general average for Scotland seems, +indeed, at this period to have been low; but, soon +after the commencement of the present century, the +enterprise and perseverance of our northern sailors +began, not only to assert their proper position, but to +recompense for past inferiority,—their whale-fishery +of these more recent times becoming second to none, +either in the ability with which it was pursued, or the +success with which it was rewarded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>With the port of Whitby, from whence the +Henrietta sailed, we have already drawn certain +comparisons. We only add the general result of the +fishery of 1786, 1787, and 1788, when twenty ships +sailed from this port yearly for Greenland. The +catch per ship, for each of these years, was about +three and a half whales; but, including the next three +years, one of which was most disastrous, the average +catch would hardly reach three fish per ship.</p> + +<p>But the best comparisons of my Father’s successes +are with those of the Greenland whalers from <i>Hull</i>; +these comparisons being rendered most satisfactory +because of the ample records before me of the whale +fishery of that port. The records referred to are +comprised in an elaborate and carefully kept manuscript, +kindly entrusted to me for the present object, +belonging to Mr. James Simpson, painter, of Hull, +in which an admirable abstract is preserved of the +whale-fishing enterprise of the port during a consecutive +period of fifty-nine years, from 1772 to 1830 +inclusive.</p> + +<p>From this document, for the comparison at present +designed, we obtain the following information:—During +the twenty years, from 1772 to 1791, reaching +my Father’s commencement, 266 ships (including +repeated voyages) sailed from Hull to the Greenland +whale-fishery, and obtained, altogether, an amount of +produce of 9377 tuns of oil, averaging 35·25 tuns +a voyage for each ship. In the six years <i>before</i> my +Father’s commencement,—1786 to 1791,—158 ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +(gross amount) obtained 4975 tuns of oil, or 31·5 on +the average. And in the next six years, corresponding +exactly with those of my Father’s successful enterprise +in the Henrietta,—1792 to 1797,—ninety-two +Greenland whalers, from Hull, procured 5464 tuns +of oil, or 59·4 tuns per ship a year.</p> + +<p>My Father’s average success, taken in comparison +of these various <i>home</i> results, we hence gather, was +about <i>four times</i> as great as the ordinary success +(within the limited periods specified) of the British +whalers generally. It was also <i>four times</i> as great +as the usual average of the <i>Whitby</i> whalers; in like +proportion above the average of the <i>Hull</i> whalers +during the previous twenty years; and more than +double the Hull average for the same actual period!</p> + +<p>But to institute the most <i>severe</i> comparison with +the successes of his competitors in this important field +of commercial enterprise, we may notice that during +the period of his command of the Henrietta (omitting, +for reasons already assigned, the first year only), the +amount of my Father’s cargoes exceeded, by 151 tuns +of oil, that of the most successful of the Hull ships +of the time, amongst more than fifteen annual competitors; +and was larger even than the amount +attained by the six united cargoes of the most successful +ship out of the whole of the whalers from the port, +taken year by year! And, it is believed, could the +comparison have been made with the entire fleet of +whalers proceeding from Britain to the Greenland +fishery, my Father, under this severest possible test<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +of competition, with all the disadvantages of time +and chance against him, would still be found at the +head!</p> + +<p>Among the captains of the Whitby fleet, no one, +I believe, at all approached his successes; and among +those commanding the Greenland whalers of Hull +none came at all near him, except one—Captain +Allan,—whose name I feel it but justice to record as +the most successful fisherman of his port, and one of +the first of his day. Captain Angus Sadler, whose +remarkable successes we hereafter notice, did not +commence until 1796. And Captain John Marshall, +who afterwards became so celebrated among his compeers, +was but, as yet, rising towards superiority; +besides, his enterprises, after he became so signally +successful, were conducted in Davis’ Strait,—a branch +of the fishery to which our comparison may not fairly +extend.</p> + +<p>The result of the enterprise of the other captains +of this period was, in each case, so far below that of +the subject of these memorials, as only, in two or +three cases, to reach one-half his success. Captain +Taylor, of the Fanny, brought home 400 tuns of oil +within those six years, and Captain Wilson, of the +Caroline, 318; but my Father’s catch, as above stated, +yielded no less an amount than 729 tuns! And when +it is understood that the Henrietta was of but small +tonnage, (254 tons,) whilst many of the Hull ships +were from 50 to 100, or even 120, tons larger, the +comparison instituted becomes the more remarkable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>In these successes of my Father, the people of +Whitby felt an universal and exciting interest, for +most of the principal inhabitants, as well as a large +body of those in the middle and lower classes, were, +more or less, directly or indirectly, participators in +the gains of the whale-fishery. But whilst all were +astonished at the results of enterprises so unquestionably +due to an individual guidance, no small +number were moved to feelings of jealousy in consequence +of successes, to which the fruits of their +personal ventures in other ships bore no reasonable +proportion. The modes in which this baneful feeling +towards my Father was evinced, were as various +as they were sometimes annoying. At first, the +extraordinary results were ascribed to “luck;” and, +subsequently, when more than luck was too obvious +to be denied, the waning phantom of superstition +was resorted to in order to escape the commendation +of a frank acknowledgment of superior merit. Some +persons there were of an order of mind so simple, as +actually to believe what was jocosely told, that he +“knee-banded” a portion of fish in one year to facilitate +the success of the next. Jeers and lampoons +were made use of as outlets for the expression of +narrow and jealous selfishness,—annoyances which the +substantiality of my Father’s advantages enabled him +very well to bear, but which were often keenly felt +when played off against the less stern materials of +his amiable and tender-minded wife and susceptible +young family.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>The working of this principle, in envious manifestations +of word and feeling, presents a painfully +characteristic fruit of human degeneration from original +perfectness. And the manner and sphere of its +working yield very characteristic instruction on the +nature of the deteriorated mind. Mankind can well +bear, and be free to commend in generous frankness, +successful enterprise in <i>other</i> departments than that +of their own sphere. Nay, by a strange concession +of the secret mind, when under a disposition to withhold +the meed of praise in the department which +trenches on self-interest, or self-consequence, we +find many disposed to bestow an utterly extravagant +measure of adulation, where it may be popular +to do so, on individuals and enterprises distinctly +separate and remote from interferences with themselves. +But let a man be “ploughing in the same +field” of enterprise, or intelligent research; let the +admired results of the labour of one but stand out on +the sculptured tablet of fame in bold relief of the +mere groundwork surface of the other explorers of like +mysteries; or let the profitable fruits of the industry +of one contrast with the sad failures or meagre successes +of others engaged in the self-same species of enterprise, +and then we shall find, more or less developed, among +the many whose efforts have been overtopped and +eclipsed, and among the multitudes, perhaps, associated +relatively or interestedly with the mortified competitors, +the feelings of envy and jealousy, sometimes of hatred +and malice, most sadly conspicuous and dominant.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>In my Father’s case, where sometimes the owners, +captains, and crews of near a dozen ships sailing +from the same port had their most ardent enterprises, +year by year, altogether eclipsed by his superior success,—and +where, by reason of relative or interested +association, the majority of a town’s population became +participators in the mortifying competition,—the +measure in which the ungenerous feelings might +possibly have their existence and impulses, may be +well imagined to have been very extensive. That it +was so in an extraordinary degree in the early progress +of my Father’s adventures, and during many years +of his singular prosperity, every member of his family +had too painful evidence.</p> + +<p>But as to the observant and intelligent classes +separate from this baneful prejudice, and as to some +of more dignified minds amongst parties who were +personally interested in whale-fishing concerns, the +character and merits of the subject of these records +were sufficiently appreciated and acknowledged.</p> + +<p>The fame of his successes reached throughout the +commercial ports of the realm, and applications of a +very tempting nature came unsolicited upon him, for +transferring his guidance and energies to other associates +in Arctic enterprise, with encouraging promise +of far more profitable results.</p> + +<p>My Mother, who was much attached to Whitby, as +a place of residence, viewed these repeated offers +with much anxiety, feeling that my Father’s taking a +command elsewhere must involve her either in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +trial of leaving Whitby, or in the great inconvenience +of a much more considerable period of severance than +the mere Greenland voyage required, of the family +circle. For awhile her objections prevailed; but +ultimately, as in another chapter we shall have to +record, these objections sunk under the advantages +elsewhere proffered.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>Episodical Incident—the Rescue of +endangered Pleasurers.</i></h3> + +<p>Before carrying forward the records of my Father’s +new adventures in a more promising field for his personal +prosperity, I shall introduce an incident of a +very peculiar and interesting description, belonging +to the period, though not to the business of the +fishery, whilst he still held his command of the “good +ship” Henrietta. It occurred whilst the ship lay at +anchor, incidentally, in the river Tees, on one of her +most successful voyages, homeward bound, when I +was myself on board. Though I was but a child, I +remember the time well. The novelty of my position +in being taken on shipboard by my Father, when, +a few days before, he had been on shore at Whitby, +and the interesting circumstance, to me, of the capture +of a small sand-bird, which I anxiously fed and endeavoured +to keep alive, made an indelible impression +on my youthful recollection. The incident, however, +constituting the present story, I did not well understand +till long afterward, but which I now record with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +much confidence of being substantially correct in +every detail, from hearing it repeatedly related in +after-life.</p> + +<p>The incident consisted in the interesting and gratifying +circumstance of the saving of the lives of two +individuals moving in an upper sphere in society, by +my Father’s habitual facility and accuracy in the use +of the pocket telescope, and by the information derived +therefrom being made use of with his characteristic +forethought and energetic promptness of action.</p> + +<p>The success of the voyage had been such that the +largest amount of whales yet captured in the then +progress of the fishery, being twenty-five in number, +had enriched by their produce this single adventure. +Beyond the capacity of the <i>casks</i> taken out for the +reception of the cargo, a large quantity of blubber “in +bulk,” or in massive flitches, had been stowed on the +top. The draught of water of the ship, thus unusually +loaded, was found on their arrival in Whitby Roads, +which was just after the spring-tides had passed off, +to be too great for the flow in the harbour. Whilst +waiting the advance of the succeeding spring-tides, +therefore, the ship was taken northward to the river +Tees, the nearest accessible port, and a supply of +empty casks sent thither by a small coaster, whereby +the men were usefully and savingly occupied throughout +the interval in chopping up the loose blubber, +from which its valuable contents in oil were perpetually +oozing out, and securing it from further waste +in the auxiliary casks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Whilst this operation was still in active and <i>greasy</i> +progress, my Father, in walking the deck, remarked +on a large patch of sand, about a mile from the ship, +a gig, occupied by a gentleman and a lady, driving +pleasantly up and down. The day was fine, and the +recreation of driving on a smooth and extended surface +of sand, so singularly firm that the wheels did not +penetrate beyond the slightest impression, was very +enjoyable. But, as it soon appeared, and as my Father +providentially anticipated, it was by no means—on the +place selected—a <i>safe</i> recreation.</p> + +<p>The bank of sand referred to, of which there are +many such within the wide extent of the Tees, appeared +uncovered at about half ebb, and became +accessible soon afterward by the drying of a slightly +depressed channel lying betwixt it and the shore. +Previous to this time of tide the party had been +driving nearer the fields; but tempted by the fine +smooth expanse of surface of the outer sand, and encouraged +by its admirable firmness on trial, they +forthwith limited their driving to the breadth of the +continuous surface, and continued to enjoy themselves +in this recreation and their social converse, unconscious +of danger, till after the tide had long been +rising.</p> + +<p>My Father, who continued observing them anxiously +with his glass, had noticed the rapid rising of the +tide, which he soon found was entering the channel, +and separating them unconsciously from the shore. +Engrossed as they seemed in their pleasant recreation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +he inferred, and that justly, that their lives would soon +be imperilled. Anticipating the danger, he ordered +a boat to be got ready to push off at a moment’s +notice, should the absorbing inattention of the +strangers continue. At length he saw that they had +become aware of their position, and were driving their +vehicle into the narrow channel into which the tide +had recently flowed. With palpitating anxiety he +perceived that the water was deeper than they had +imagined, and that the previously firm ground, disintegrated +by the action of the tide, had turned into +the treacherous quicksand. He then saw the horse +take alarm, the gig sink down to the axles of its +wheels, and the lady and gentleman jump out in +obvious terror behind, and with difficulty regain the +broad surface of the yet dry, and, happily for them, +firm sandbank.</p> + +<p>Promptly he summoned the crew of the boat, whom +he had previously advised of the probable result of +this adventure, and sent them off with the urgent and +stimulating command, “Pull as for your lives, or they +will be lost!” Bravely and humanely did the sailors +perform their cheerfully undertaken task: every nerve +was strained to give speed to the boat, whilst the +steersman, as he is wont in the pursuit of the whale, +no doubt urged their nervous and energetic efforts by +the oft-reiterated cry “Give way! Give way, or they +will be lost!”</p> + +<p>With intense anxiety and interest my Father +watched every oar’s stroke in the progress of the boat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +and every action of those whose rescue he sought. +He marked the gradual rise of the tide, till it just +washed the highest part of the surface on which the +dismayed party now stood. He perceived that the sand +became softened, and that they began to sink; but, +with a well-tutored judgment, he marked also, to his +heart’s great joy, that the boat would be in time. It +approached them as they were gradually sinking, when +the lady threw herself forward in the water to anticipate +the rescue, and both in a few moments exulted, +with nervous trepidation, in their now conscious safety +from a justly-dreaded watery grave. It was a touching, +heart-stirring result, realized as well by the author, +under Providence, of the timely relief, as by the generously +sympathising sailors and the parties themselves.</p> + +<p>They were of course conveyed at once to the safety +of the proximate shore, and, being landed there, the +seamen returned to look after their horse and gig, +which were all but submerged. The horse, with no +small difficulty, they got disengaged from its entanglement +with the vehicle, which, fortunately, had still +energy enough left to enable them to swim it to the +shore. The gig was then sought after, secured, and +floated to the same place of safety. And, ultimately, +the horse was reharnessed by their active aid; and +the two individuals, who had experienced such a +providential rescue, drove forthwith away from the +scene of this memorable adventure.</p> + +<p>The gentleman was found to be a Mr. M——, nephew +to a dignitary of the Cathedral Church at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +York; his companion, Mrs. S——, a lady of fortune. +The wife of the one, I understood, and the husband of +the other, were also spending the morning together +mutually reciprocating in a social drive; but they had +chosen the common road of the highway, and, of +course, ran no risk of a similar adventure.</p> + +<p>One would have been glad to have had to record, +in connection with such an unusual incident, that the +preservation from a premature death, by the sailors’ +cheerfully devoted energies, had met with something +like a grateful recognition of the service rendered. +The only acknowledgment, however, which was made +for this timely and momentous aid, whereby a carriage +and horse, besides the lives of two individuals in a +genteel position in society were saved, was the reward +of a guinea to be divided amongst the whole +boat’s crew. The high-minded philanthropist feels +sufficient reward in the satisfaction of being privileged +to be the instrument of yielding distinguished +benefits to his fellow-creatures; but every right-minded +person loves to see some fitting evidence of +a grateful apprehension of benefits conferred. As to +the paltry offering to the sailors, I remember my +Father being grieved and vexed,—vexed that they +should have condescended to accept any reward, +where the offering, in reference even to the efforts +made, much less to the service conferred, was so +contemptible. As for my Father himself, the opportunity +of saving the lives of two of his fellow-creatures +was the source, in itself, of fervent and per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>manent +satisfaction, affording him, no doubt, one of +the most peculiarly pleasant and grateful recollections +of his adventurous life.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<i>The Greenland Doctor.</i></h3> + +<p>Some circumstances of a more playful nature belonging +to the period embraced by the present +chapter may here be introduced, with a view to +vary and perhaps enliven these parental records.</p> + +<p>The subject I select belongs to the history of a +kind of <i>steward-surgeon</i>,—the humble class of medical +practitioners usually employed at the period of my +Father’s early career, being designed, on the one +part, to fulfil the technical requirements of the law, +that a whale-ship claiming the advantage of the +Government “bounty,” must carry a surgeon; and, +on the other part, to gratify the officers in the captain’s +cabin by the improvement of the common +culinary operations of the ship’s cook, by the hands +of the doctor or second-mate acting as cabin-steward +and pastry-cook. To my Father’s credit, however, +it should be stated, that he was the first, as I have +understood, who sought out a more fitting person for +this department, and, obtaining a medical student +from Edinburgh, employed him strictly as a medical +officer, and gave him the advantage of a gentleman’s +position.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, during the period referred to, +my Father had not succeeded, when the time for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +arrangement became pressing, in engaging a surgeon +for the voyage. Hearing, however, of a person +living in a village near Whitby, who had, according +to repute, sundry qualifications appropriable to the +station as its <i>duties</i> were then ordered, my Father +sent to inquire whether he would like a situation, +the emoluments of which might far exceed his usual +earnings from a multifarious profession. The “doctor,” +(as we shall hereafter call him,) forthwith proceeded +to Whitby, and, on being particularly questioned +as to his various capabilities, gave a most +ample schedule of the duties he was qualified to undertake. +He could bleed and draw teeth—the two +essentials for the surgeon;—he could shave and dress +hair—the qualifications of the barber;—he could +make pastry and bake—the chief requisites of the +cabin cook.</p> + +<p>But, in order to his passing the mustering-officer +of the Customs, a medical certificate, to be obtained +only by personal examination, he, somewhat to his +discomfiture, was told would be requisite. After some +consideration, as to the difficulties of such an ordeal, +and the probabilities of failure or success, he expressed +his willingness to submit to an examination. Whatever +his anxieties might have been, in prospect of the +trial, my father could hardly be less solicitous than +the doctor himself about the result, as the sailing of +the ship might possibly be delayed if the present +candidate for the post of medical-officer should fail.</p> + +<p>An appointment was forthwith arranged for this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +serious affair, Doctor R——, of Whitby, being the +examiner, and the Angel Inn, the place for the +exercise. My Father, who had accompanied his +candidate officer to the place of meeting, sent him, +under guidance of a waiter, to a private room, where +Dr. R—— was waiting for him, wishing him, with +no small measure of anxious misgivings, good-luck +in his examination. But the doctor was a <i>wise</i> man, +and his simple-minded forethought did him essential +service.</p> + +<p>In a very few minutes, to my Father’s much surprise +and disappointment, as he naturally anticipated, +the doctor returned. “How is this?” he exclaimed, +“What is the matter, that you have returned so +soon?” “Oh,” said the doctor, with a curious mixture +of expression of subdued happiness and self-sufficient +gratulation, “it’s all over—I’ve passed.” +“Passed!” ejaculated my Father, “how is that possible? +Doctor R—— had no time to examine you.” +The doubt was settled by the handing over of a slip +of paper containing a sufficient certificate. All curiosity +to know how such an issue could have been +attained in so limited a space of time, my Father +impatiently asked, “But how was it, doctor? How +were you examined?”</p> + +<p>The doctor described the scene, as I well remember +my Father’s account of it, in about the following +terms:—“When I went to Doctor R.,” said the now +happily appointed surgeon, “I spoke first; I said to +him, Doctor R., the long and the short of the busi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>ness +is this—<i>if I can do no good, I’ll do no harm</i>.” +“Then,” after a moment’s pause and consideration, +with some little expression of cool surprise, as the +candidate described it, “Then,” replied the examiner, +“<i>you’ll do better than half the doctors in +England</i>;” and, without a word more, he proceeded +to write out a certificate.</p> + +<p class="gap2">Anecdotes of the doctor were not unfrequently +told, with evident pleasant recollections, by my Father, +who seemed, in an unusual degree, to have exercised +a playful pleasantry with this simple-minded officer of +many departments.</p> + +<p>The cookery he managed with a fair measure of +ability; and the breakfast cakes, though not always +so <i>fair</i> as they might have been, were sufficiently +enjoyable in comparison of hard coarse biscuits. +But a little disrelish was threatened by an accidental +sight of the process of cake-making, which +it required the full measure of indifference to trifling +unfitnesses among the sailors of the mess to get over. +One morning, early, my Father happened to pass by +the place where the doctor was industriously preparing +the paste for the oven. To his surprise he +observed, and uttered an exclamation expressive of +the surprise, that the hands of the manipulator of the +elements of bread were not only unwashed, but most +remote from the ordinary colour belonging to cleanliness. +The doctor bore the exclamation with the +coolest perseverance, and without even lifting his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +eyes from the bowl in which he was mixing the +materials, contented himself with remarking, in reduplication +of expression, the but ill-consoling fact, +as to the effect of the operation on his hands, “the +paste will clean them! the paste will clean them!”</p> + + +<p class="gap2">The doctor was ambitious of practice in shooting, +and fond of embracing occasions for the purpose. +Whilst the ship was incidentally lying close beset +in the ice, without the possibility of any movement +being effected, my Father, on one occasion, bethought +himself of an enlivenment of the general +depression incident to such a situation, at the expense +of the simple-hearted, good-natured doctor. +For this he made the fitting arrangements, and then, +calling up the doctor, pointed him out a dark-looking +object, apparently a seal, lying at some little distance +from the ship, and asked him if he would like to go +and try to shoot it? The proposition was too pleasant +to the doctor’s wishes to be rejected, and preparations +were forthwith made by the bringing up +of two guns, with the requisites for loading, upon +the deck. My Father took one of the guns to load, +handing over the other to the doctor for the same +purpose, and then they descended upon the ice, which +afforded a sufficiently firm footing for their travelling +to the place where the object of the contemplated +sport was seen.</p> + +<p>As they proceeded, my Father favoured the doctor +by offering him the first shot; but supposing his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +gun might suit the doctor best, being a finer and +lighter piece than the other, he proposed an exchange, +which was readily and thankfully accepted.</p> + +<p>Coming near the place, they saw the dark-looking +back of the creature plainly appearing, with an occasional +slight movement indicative of wakefulness, +behind a small hummock of the ice; then advancing +cautiously, till almost within shot, my Father suggested +that the doctor should creep forward, in +shelter of the hummock, till he got the animal sufficiently +within command of his gun. Having +attained the requisite position, my Father, in an +audible whisper, cried, “Now, doctor, now’s your +time!” The doctor having anxiously taken his aim, +and satisfactorily covered the creature with his gun, +fired, when, instead of a seal, up started one of the +seamen, uttering a terrific shout of “Murder! murder! +I’m a murdered man!” My Father joined in +the exclamation of horror at what the doctor had +done; and the doctor turning ashy pale, his knees +tottering and his teeth chattering from terror, had +well nigh fallen insensible under his acute emotions—emotions +aggravated in intenseness of anxiety, by +the cries of the other seamen now rushing in a body +to the place, to see the sad catastrophe of “a man +shot in mistake for a seal by the fool of a doctor.”</p> + +<p>Happily for the dismayed and suffering sportsman, +the catastrophe, though almost too painful as a joke, +was soon proved to be exaggerated and unreal, by +the supposed wounded seaman throwing aside the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +deceptive character he had assumed, and coming +forward to join in the laugh against him.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to mention that the whole +affair was contrived, and that, by the changing of +guns, my Father had secured the well-charged one +of the doctor’s, and replaced it with one abundantly +furnished with powder and wadding, but devoid altogether +of deadly shot.</p> + +<p>It is seldom that practical jokes go off so well; +for few persons will be content to be made the dupe +for others’ entertainment. The potion, therefore, that +we should not like to have given sportively unto +ourselves, we should be cautious in administering +to others. Manifold cases of very serious mischief, +extending even to results fatal to human life, have +arisen from the unfitting or unseasonable playing off +of practical jokes. In the case which I have ventured +to describe, however, there was little risk. The position +of the author of the joke in respect to that of +its subject, on the one part, and the good-natured +simplicity of character of the subject on the other, +afforded, together, a sufficient security against any +essential mischief. Perhaps, too, where an entire +ship’s company were in much depression of mind, +by reason of the alarming and tedious besetment +under which they were suffering, a beneficial and +redeeming effect was, on the whole, realised. For +the doctor himself, so far from cherishing any painful +or unkindly feelings on account of the part he had +unconsciously played in the little facetious drama,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +was too happy in being relieved from the temporarily +imagined misery of having, whilst seeking sport, deprived +a fellow-creature of life. So effective, indeed, +did this influence react upon his feelings of anxiety, +that he himself joined in the general hilarity as +heartily as any of his amused shipmates.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VI.</span>—<i>Taming of a Bear—Interesting +Recognition.</i></h3> + +<p>The <i>Polar Bear</i> is popularly known as one of the +strongest and most ferocious of that class of animals +which shrinks not from voluntary conflict with man. +The species is often met with, sometimes in considerable +numbers, upon the shores of the Arctic lands, +and within the region of the ices of the Greenland sea. +It not unfrequently occurs of the length of seven or +eight feet, and four or five feet high, weighing as +much as a small ox. Specimens whose skin measured +twelve to thirteen feet in length, have been described +by voyagers. The “paw of the bear,” of which there +is Scriptural mention, may, in the full-grown animal, +as now met with, be from seven to nine inches in +breadth, and large enough to overspread two-thirds of +a square foot, or more, of the snowy surface on which +it treads. Hence its admirable adaptation for the +region in which Providence has placed its abode.</p> + +<p>Of this animal the Arctic whaler has frequent +opportunities of making captures, and, sometimes, of +adding a stirring variety to the ordinary scenes of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +conflict and adventure. My Father’s experience, +whilst affording many examples of the former result, +had a reasonable share of the latter. It is to a special +case, however, as indicated in our head-title, that the +present record relates.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, when a female bear with cubs had +been attacked, one of the young ones was taken alive. +It was a fine, and, for a cub, well-grown animal. +When first taken on board, it was temporarily secured +on an unoccupied part of the deck, but in a place +near to which my Father had incidentally to pass. +Whilst thus passing, inconsiderate about any risk of +assault, the animal very unexpectedly made a spring +at him, but fortunately, checked by his rope, failed +in the ferocious intent. This circumstance suggested +the idea, which he soon proceeded to carry out, not +only of chastising, but of subduing the captive animal. +The proceeding adopted was as follows:—</p> + +<p>The rope already encircling the neck of the bear +was put through a ring-bolt on the deck, and the +head was thereby drawn so closely down as to limit +its capabilities of extension within the range of a +few inches, or perhaps about a foot. My Father then +took his station in a secure position, and held out +his hand invitingly towards it, an action which the +irritated creature retorted by a furious roar, and +attempt to bite. This act he rebuked by striking it +over the snout with the fingers, closely compacted, +of one of his hands. At each blow, attempts were +vainly made to catch and tear the audacious instru<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>ment +by which Bruin was thus being chastised. But +after very many repetitions of the now keenly-felt +strokes of the hand on this tender place of the head, +and after as many failures, on the part of the chastised +creature, in his endeavours to retaliate, the bear +began evidently to feel a commanding influence, as +indicated by the frequent effort to avoid the coming +blow. Occasionally, however, he would renew his +attempts to bite, roaring, with an obviously mixed +expression of ferocity and pain. Perseveringly, as +the bear continued to resist, the same chastisement +was regularly administered, till at last, the recently +intractable animal began to be subdued under the +master-power with which he struggled.</p> + +<p>The effect of the process was, from time to time, +tested, by holding out a finger near to the creature’s +face. If it attempted to bite, the chastisement was +continued until, on the application of the test, there +was either a quiet submission, or a turning away of +the head. Ultimately the animal was made acquainted +with our accustomed modes of expressing approbation, +by being patted on the neck or side of the head; and, +then, as often as it rebelled, the usual punishment was +renewed, and, whenever it indicated submission, it +either received the former token of approval, or the +more substantial and intelligible reward of being +fed by the hand by which it had been wont to be +chastised.</p> + +<p>The thorough subjection, indeed, of this naturally +ferocious creature was soon effected,—within the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +space, I believe, of two or three days,—and from +that time forward my Father’s command over it was +uniform and supreme. Nor was the kindness with +which he treated the captive lost upon it; for it yielded, +as occasions permitted, very decided indications of +an inversion of its ordinary vicious propensities in +respect to its considerate master. Two illustrative cases +belong to this record.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of the ship in port, bruin was removed +to the oil-yard,—the premises on which the +blubber was landed, in order to its being reduced into +marketable oil. Its arrival became a subject of +popular interest, and the inhabitants of Whitby +flocked out in masses to see it.</p> + +<p>Whilst so situated, the bear, somehow or other, +obtained his release, and escaped into an adjoining +covert,—“Cockmill Wood.” The incident soon became +known at Whitby. A wild and dangerous +animal—now rendered supremely ferocious by reason +of the almost perpetual teazing to which he had been +subjected from his numerous visitors—at large, within +a mile or so of the town, and in a wood intersected by +a much-frequented footpath, proved the occasion of +great and general excitement. Men and lads, assisted +by dogs, and armed with guns and a variety of other +destructive weapons, were speedily in progress, and +with overwhelming superiority, towards the retreat of +the bear, with a view to its destruction.</p> + +<p>Happily for poor Bruin, my Father got timely intimation +of the circumstance that had occasioned so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +much alarm. He proceeded forthwith to the oil-yard, +where he provided himself with a short piece of rope, +and then climbed the cliff into the wood in search of +the stray animal. Guidance was sufficiently afforded +by the stream of persons flowing towards the place of +his retreat, and, on nearer approach, by the noise and +clamours of the assemblage.</p> + +<p>It was a curious scene. A motley crowd of men +and boys and dogs formed, at a respectable distance, +a curvilinear front, with the surprised object of attack +quietly standing in the focus. Fortunately no blood +had yet been shed; no wounds or bruises yet given. +It was the important moment of mutual reconnoissance. +It might have been a question how the creature +should be dealt with? Whether he should be summarily +attacked with fire-arms, or, by the help of the +restrained dogs, his recapture attempted?</p> + +<p>Any doubts which might have thus occasioned the +desirable delay were now speedily settled. My Father, +with only the rope in his hand, made his appearance. +He passed through the ranks of the would-be warriors +in the contemplated fight; when, to their utter amazement, +and to the no small alarm of many, he proceeded +without hesitation forward. Speaking to the bear, in his +usual manner, as he approached, and walking straight +up to him, face to face, he patted the shaggy neck, as +he placed a prepared noose of the rope around it, and +then quietly led away the furious brute, which, under +his commanding guidance, became as tractable as a +lap-dog!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>The other incident connected with this animal is +worthy of record, being, if somewhat less adventurous, +not less curious.</p> + +<p>The care-taking and maintenance of a now considerably +grown Polar bear soon became matter of +inconvenience. It might, there is little doubt, have +been sold advantageously for being itinerated as a +<i>show</i> about the country; but my Father imagined a +destination for it, where it would be better cared for, +by having it deposited along with the wild beasts in +the Tower.</p> + +<p>It being ascertained that the contribution would be +very acceptable, the bear was embarked in a coaster. +On its arrival in the Thames, it was received in a +manner befitting its importance and security, and +safely transferred to its final destination.</p> + +<p>It was about a twelvemonth or more, I believe, +after Bruin’s regular installation among the wild +beasts of the National collection, that my Father, +happening to be in London, determined on taking +a look at his old acquaintance, Bruin. Proceeding +to the Tower, he paid the usual entrance-fee, and +without intimating anything about his special object, +took the course through the collection, like other +visitors, as guided by the exhibitor.</p> + +<p>His eye being wistfully directed in advance of his +position, he at length got sight of the looked-for +object; when, breaking away from those pursuing the +prescribed progress, he hurried directly up to where +his ursine friend was encaged. A warning cry came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +urgently from the keeper, who had noticed his near +and bold approach to a place of danger—“Take care, +sir, that is one of the most ferocious animals in the +collection;” but it was disregarded. My Father only +paused, whilst, by his familiar and accustomed salutation,—“Poor +Bruin! poor fellow!”—he gained the +attention of the animal, when, catching its eye, and +perceiving he was recognised, he went quietly up, +thrust his arm through the cage, and, whilst he patted +the neck and head of the evidently delighted creature, +received a species of fawning response, which was +eloquently interesting and touching. The keeper, who +had rushed forward on witnessing the daring intrusion +on the interior of the bear’s cage, now stood fixed +in almost speechless astonishment. At length, lifting +his hands with a characteristic indication of his extreme +amazement, he exclaimed,—“Why, sir, I never +saw the like of that all the days of my life!”</p> + + +<p class="gap2">The subjection of the wildest and most ferocious +animals to the authority of man is not so much, we +may observe, the result of man’s superiority as of the +Creator’s special appointment. It was His design and +command, in respect to the inferior creatures, that +this should be so. The superiority appointed originally +to Adam was, that he should “have dominion +over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, +and over every living thing that moveth upon the +face of the earth.” But the appointment, which was +simple and natural when all was innocency, was after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>wards +renewed, we find, under a <i>new influence</i>, that +of <i>fear</i>, specially induced on the general constitution +of the animal creation. For among the blessings +graciously assured by the Almighty to the righteous +Noah and his sons, on their descent from the Ark, +we have this pervading influence set forth in these +characteristic terms:—“The <i>fear</i> of you, and the +<i>dread</i> of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, +and upon every fowl of the air; upon all that moveth +upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea: +into your hand are they delivered.”—Gen. ix. 2.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> This measure of success, I find, had been in a trifling degree +exceeded by vessels sailing from the port of Hull, but only in four +instances during the preceding twenty years, comprising the enterprises +of 286 ships, reckoning their repeated voyages.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter III.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">THE SHIP “DUNDEE,” OF LONDON.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>Entrance on, and General Results of, +this New Command.</i></h3> + +<p>The aversion of his wife to a change in the port of +sailing, though it might retard, did not prevent my +Father’s ultimately making that change. He had +been applied to by letter, and with reiterated urgency, +and offers of additional advantages, by a mercantile +firm in London (Messrs. Edward Gale and Sons) to +take charge of a ship of theirs, which they were +anxious to employ in the northern whale-fishery. +But, finding that the applications by letter failed, or +at least led to no satisfactory result, one of the principals +of the house determined on an application in +person,—an undertaking, at that time, involving a +most troublesome and tedious journey,—and, totally +unexpected, made his appearance at the residence +of our family in Whitby.</p> + +<p>The circumstance of Mr. Piper’s early consideration +for, and confidence in, my Father, on an occasion which, +under the Divine blessing, proved the turning-point +of his fortune in life, had induced a feeling of regard +and gratitude so decided as to become strongly resistant +of the temptation to change. But, on the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +hand, he had long felt dissatisfaction at the abridgment +of some allowances and perquisites enjoyed by his +predecessor in command, and promised to himself, +which, though of but small consideration in the meagre +extent of the former wonted success, had accumulated, +in the estimation made year by year during his extraordinary +successful career, to a very handsome amount, +in money value. His repeated remonstrances at this +deprivation and injustice being always met with a +“Pooh, pooh! be content; you have done very well,”—no +doubt served greatly to weaken the binding influence +of ties otherwise so decidedly felt, and frankly +acknowledged. Hence, from an unwise and ungenerous +policy, which, in the course of six years had +deprived my Father of a sum amounting, as he calculated, +to about 300<i>l.</i> out of his rightful earnings, the +alliance previously existing betwixt himself and the +owners of the Henrietta, was, with due and honourable +notice on his part, brought to a conclusion by the visit +and liberal proposals of Mr. Gale. These proposals, +as I have understood, involved a new and additional +advantage to the commander, in a per centage upon +the value of the cargo obtained, together with the +proffer of a small share in the concern, on terms at +once equitable and easy. On this encouraging basis +an arrangement was forthwith made with the house +which Mr. Gale represented, for the command, by +my Father, of the <i>Dundee</i>, of London, a ship much +larger and finer than the Henrietta, on a whale-fishing +adventure in the Greenland seas.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the spring of the year 1798, the Dundee, according +to the arrangement made, was, after being strengthened +and fortified for the navigation of the formidable +ices of the north, fitted out, and set forth on her first +voyage to the fishery. The result far more than +realized the hopes and expectations of all the parties +interested in the adventure; for, in a surprisingly +short interval of time, the return of the Dundee to the +Thames was announced, with the exulting and almost +incredible report, that she brought the spoils of no +less than <i>six-and-thirty</i> captured whales! The report +proved true; and, although many of the whales were +of small size, yet a quantity of produce, in oil and +whalebone, such as no other adventurer had hitherto +obtained, was yielded by this extraordinary “catch.”</p> + +<p>During subsequent adventures, with but one exception +in a series of five years, my Father’s high reputation +for pre-eminent skill and success, was amply +maintained. In one of these voyages (that of 1801) +twenty-three whales were captured, which yielded +the previously unequalled quantity of 225 tuns of +oil;<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a> and the voyage following, which terminated his +command of the Dundee, produced twenty whales, +yielding 200 tuns of the best kind of train oil, with a +proportional weight of whalebone.</p> + +<p>These voyages were not only unequalled in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>Greenland whale-fishery in their measure of success, +but likewise in the quickness with which they were +accomplished. <i>Ordinarily</i>, my Father’s ship, not +sailing earlier than his competitors in general, not +only brought home the largest cargo of any in the +fleet, but returned amongst the soonest. The produce +in oil, therefore, partly from the freshness of the +blubber when it was brought to the “coppers,” and +partly from the care taken, under his direction, in the +process of boiling, was, as I have advisedly designated +it, of the <i>best quality.</i></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>Dangerous Accident—Admirable +Tact.</i></h3> + +<p>Whilst pursuing for a long series of years, so +adventurous a profession as that of the whale-fishery, +accidents of a peculiar nature were not unfrequently +occurring. On such occasions, my Father’s promptness +and judiciousness of action were as admirable as +they were characteristic.</p> + +<p>But leaving such incidents, as far as may be, to +their place, chronologically, in our present Memorials, +we adduce here a single example, which may serve +at once to illustrate and to justify this observation. +The case, indeed, though pertaining to his professional +pursuits, did not occur when at sea; but during the +process of reducing the blubber of the whale into oil, +after the return of the ship into port.</p> + +<p>The ship Dundee, whilst commanded by my Father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +had but recently returned from one of her usually +successful voyages, and was laid, for discharging at +the quay, in Blackwall Dock, near to the premises in +which the oil was being boiled. My Father, during the +most active part of the operations of discharging and +boiling, was in the habit of sleeping on board the ship; +and, at the time of the accident referred to, I, then a +boy, happened to be with him. Sometime during the +night, we were all awoke by loud and fearful shrieking, +from the direction of the boiling-house. My Father, +instantly apprehending some accident there, jumped +from his bed, and, just as he was, flew up on deck +and over the ship’s side, and in a few moments of +time was at the spot from whence the shrieks proceeded. +The idea that had at once flashed upon his +mind was appallingly realized. One of the poor +fellows, engaged at the reducing of the blubber, was +in the condition of being dragged out of the boiling +cauldron by his associate in the work!</p> + +<p>My Father’s most powerful helping hand was +opportunely available, and, with the quickness of +thought, he plunged the appalled sufferer into a large +cistern of cold oil and blubber, resting on the platform +above the copper,—a cistern, or “beck,” as it +is called, out of which the contents of the copper, +after being boiled and emptied, were to be renewed. +In this most appropriate bath, the poor fellow was for +a considerable time kept immersed. My impression +is that he was kept there until means were obtained +for his removal; and then he was conveyed, without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +further delay, to the London Hospital. His life, +notwithstanding the terrible severity, was thus happily +saved. My Father’s conduct was highly commended +and applauded by the medical staff of the Hospital, +both for his discernment of the best treatment, +perhaps, which could have been administered, and for +his so promptly giving the sufferer the advantage of it.</p> + +<p>The cause of this appalling accident, was, I believe, +the breaking of the staff of the stirrer, which the +night-watch over the boiling was required to have +continually in motion, to prevent the “finks” (the +cellular substance of the blubber) sticking to the +bottom or sides of the copper when boiling. By the +sudden failure of the staff, against which he pressed +his shoulder, he was projected forward, but, providentially, +not so as to fall headlong,—his effort to +recover himself so far succeeding as to cause him to +plunge feet foremost, whilst he sunk, on attempting +to reach the shelving side of the copper, up to the +waist in the horrible bath!</p> + +<p>I yet remember, young as I then was, the return +of the debilitated but happy sufferer, after his discharge, +“as cured,” from the Hospital. The man, +whom I had known familiarly as a stout, lively, good-natured +fellow, was now reduced into a mere shred—a +poor, pallid creature, an almost skeleton of a man! +But his ultimate restoration, I believe, was quite +complete. He knew and appreciated the wisdom +with which he had been treated—he felt and acknowledged +that to my Father, under Providence, +he owed his life.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>The Dandy Sailor; or, “Fine +Tommy.”</i></h3> + +<p>In this connection, whilst now story-telling, we +may perhaps, as fittingly as elsewhere, introduce a +little record, very often told by my Father, for enforcing +a moral lesson in respect of a species of folly +which we often witness, and from which some of my +young readers, peradventure, may not find themselves +entirely devoid.</p> + +<p>If the sacrifice of personal comfort to the tyranny +of fashion appeared to my Father a great absurdity; +much more did the risking of health for the indulgence +of personal conceit in dress, or the braving of +severity of climate, inadequately clothed, from the +vanity of singularity in hardiness, seem to him as +the very summit and extravagance of folly.</p> + +<p>It was in support of his views on this particular +subject, when conspicuous instances of such folly +happened to come before him, that my Father was +wont to tell, as an impressive warning, the instructive +story of “Fine Tommy.”</p> + +<p><i>Fine Tommy</i>, who had acquired this appellation +by particularity and almost dandyism of dress when +at sea, was a smart and well-looking youthful sailor, +who had shipped himself with my Father in one of +the voyages in which he commanded the “Dundee.” +His personal conceit, so unusual with the thoroughbred +sailor, was nevertheless associated in him with +such a measure of activity and seamanlike acquire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>ments, +as to save him from that ridicule of his associates, +which in any other case would have been +excessive, if not intolerable. Whilst the temperature +of the weather was but moderately severe, his appearance +on deck in a smart light shore-going jacket, +exposed him to little damage beyond the playful +salutations of his comrades,—salutations which he +was wont good-humouredly to return by speaking +with indifference of the hitherto experienced cold, +and ridiculing the feminine weakness of a premature +muffling of the person with pea-jackets, huge boots, +comforters, and mittens.</p> + +<p>During most of the progress of the ship northward, +Fine Tommy continued successfully and proudly to +brave, as I have just intimated, the gradually increasing +cold, and that without material inconvenience +or damage. But at length, when the region of ice +had been some little way penetrated, the previously +prevailing southerly or temperate wind happened to +shift during the night to the northward, which, with +a fresh blowing gale, brought a rapidly lowering +temperature, approaching the zero of the thermometic +scale. The ship soon became covered with +ice, and a chilly penetrating “frost-rime” powdered +the hair, or (as in some cases adopted) the rough +wigs of the sailors. Before Fine Tommy’s watch +was called,—for there were usually three watches in +the whale ships, affording eight hours below alternately +with four upon deck,—the extreme change, +almost from a bearable frostiness to the greatest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +severity of cold, had taken place. He, incredulous +of the influence as well as unconscious of the change +that had taken place, came up in his usual clothing, +a thin jacket, light shoes, and uncovered hands. +Now jeered by his watch-mates as to his perception +of cold, he determinately faced the chilling blast, +renewing his bravadoes of indifference of feeling +even to the then prevailing severity. This lasted +during his two watches for the day. All hands +besides were muffled up in every species of warm +clothing, whilst Fine Tommy still walked the deck +and performed his various duties with no other protection +against the really Arctic severity of cold than +aforetime.</p> + +<p>On the calling of the watch the following morning, +however, Fine Tommy did not appear. The next +day, too, he was absent from his station. When +his turn came to take the helm he was not there. +Enquiry was made, and my Father found, as he +had well predicted, that Fine Tommy was ill, and +obliged to keep his bed. Day after day, and week +after week, passed over, and the absent one was still +unseen. Even <i>months</i> passed over until the voyage, +which had been prospered with splendid success, +was approaching to a close, so that the attainment +of a temperate latitude and a return of warm weather +had begun to cheer our northern adventurers with +the prospect of a speedy realization of home enjoyment, +when, like the hybernating insect revived by +the genial influence of the summer sun, Fine Tommy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +was also resuscitated; and the long prostrate and +once foolish defier of the Arctic climate appeared +again upon deck to breathe the restorative air as it +came pure from the grand repository of the atmosphere, +instead of the defiled and mixed vapours of +the ’tween decks of a whale-ship.</p> + +<p>The lesson thus impressively taught was often read +in my hearing; the application, in some cases, possibly, +might be intended for myself. If one was seen +wading, as it were, in mud with a pair of light shoes +inadequate for defence either against cold or wet,—the +admonition or remark was ever prompt, “it +would be well to mind Fine Tommy.” If a fashionable +“dandy” coat, in the days of dandyism, were +worn in the severity of winter; if a dress insufficient +for protection or warmth were, by either sex, observed +to be worn; if the outside of a coach were +mounted without an adequate covering, or a ride in +an open carriage undertaken with only the habiliments +usually worn in walking, the monition became +natural, as the moral was apt,—“to remember Fine +Tommy.” Whenever, too, I have myself remarked +the analogous folly, every where, indeed, more or +less observable, of risking health or abandoning personal +comfort to <i>appearance</i> or <i>fashion</i>, the moral of +this very lesson has constantly been forced on my +recollection, tempting to the relation of the story, +in order to the more impressive effect of the warning,—“Remember +Fine Tommy!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>Unfortunate Voyage, and Adventure +in the Greenland Ices.</i></h3> + +<p>One of my Father’s voyages in the Dundee, and +but one in the various ships he commanded for a +period of upwards of a quarter of a century, commencing +with the year 1792, proved a failure. The +failure, however, arose from one of those incidental +circumstances of climate, on the one part, and neglect +of a principal officer, on the other part, which no +human foresight could have anticipated, or human +skill or diligence have remedied, after the perilous +character of the ice-entanglement became clearly +apparent.</p> + +<p>This misadventure occurred, singularly enough, +when I happened, though only a boy of ten years of +age at the time, to be of the number of the souls on +board. On the invitation of my Father, who had +landed from his ship in passing Whitby, on his progress +northward, to take leave of his family, I had +gone off with him, designing to return by the pilot +boat, to see the ship. I was astonished with what +I saw; I explored with unmixed delight every accessible +compartment of the cabins and store-rooms +below, and conceived an irresistible desire to remain +where I was, and go out on the voyage. At length +the call of the pilots for “Master William,” as the +day advanced to its close, put my desire to the test of +practicability. For a while I remained silent below, +and when silence was no longer likely to be available,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +I contrived the child-like device of hiding my hat, +which, on ascending the companion ladder bare-headed, +I let it be understood I could not find! My +Father having noticed my delight, and interpreting +rightly the little device, remarked to the pilots,—“Don’t +mind him; he will go along with us.” A +mother’s anguish, however, who loved me with the +tenderest and most ardent affection, flashed into my +mind. It forced utterance in the expression,—“But +what will my Mother say?” The reply, curiously +enough regarded as being consolatory, sufficed to +allay my scruples,—“She will love you better when +you come back!” The pilots still urging haste in +my embarkation, as the boat was thumping heavily +against the ship’s gangway, were at length made +sensible of what they at first could not credit, that +I was to remain behind; and they set out for the +shore in no small condition of amazement, and with +no slight feeling of sympathising embarrassment, on +account of the report they must yield to one, whom +they sufficiently knew as an anxious, susceptible, and +affectionate mother!</p> + +<p>But my own story must be here suspended, as it +possibly may hereafter find a place, if Providence +yield me health and life for the undertaking, in the +series of the “Memorials of the Sea,” which, sometimes, +I venture to contemplate carrying on.</p> + +<p class="gap2">The leading incidents of this disappointing enterprise, +I am enabled to give with a satisfactory measure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +of confidence, from a record made of it, many years +ago, in a private autobiography, from which, mainly, +I extract the following details.</p> + +<p>After touching at Lerwick (Shetland), for the completion +of our supplementary crew of <i>boatmen</i>, we +proceeded northward towards the usual whale-fishing +stations. On arriving in sight of Spitzbergen, and +finding the western coast accessible, with a vein of +clear water running continuously along shore, we pursued +the encouraging opening as far as the northern +headland of Charles Island, in latitude 78° 53′ N. +Here, tempted by the clear water eastward, we +reached into a wide inlet near King’s Bay, when, by +a sudden gale coming on from the northward and +north-westward, we were driven, encumbered by ice +of recent formation, and fragments of old ice, into +the opening betwixt the foreland and the main, where +the ship ultimately became closely beset in the <i>Bay +of Birds</i> of Barentz.</p> + +<p>At first, the officers in general thought little of the +entanglement, expecting that any favourable change +of wind would serve to release us. My Father, +however, watching the augmentation in the thickness +of the ice, by pressure and frost, received, very early, +a more anxious impression. He had observed, indeed, +that the ice was not yet thoroughly sealed together +and fixed into an immoveable mass. For, periodically, +he perceived, that some relaxation in the compactness +of the general body of ices took place, which he +ascribed to the action of a tide; and, on one evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +before retiring to rest, when a fine breeze, favourable +for promoting an opening seaward had begun to prevail, +he rather confidently anticipated some relaxation +which might be available for our escape at the period +of the favourably acting tide. In this expectation, +he gave special orders to the chief officer, who had +formerly been a whaling commander, and ought to +have well appreciated the importance of the instruction,—to +call him when the hoped-for relaxation of +the ice might take place. But, disappointingly +enough, he awoke of himself after a rather long +sleep, when, as his watch indicated, the time of +favourable tide must be passed. He anxiously dressed +himself and hasted upon deck; but, whilst much +slack and navigable ice was yet visible at some little +distance to the north-westward, all about the ship +was close and impenetrable. His enquiry as to +whether the ice about the ship had not also slacked? +led to the mortifying admission, reluctantly extracted, +that the ice had indeed slacked very near to the ship, +but, as was intimated in excuse, “it was so <i>rank</i> and +difficult that nothing could be done without ‘calling +all hands,’ and much trouble; and he,” the chief +mate, “thought it would perhaps be more cleared +away, by the hopeful breeze, by the time the Captain +turned out!”</p> + +<p>The highly culpable folly of this conduct became +too soon apparent to all. For when an easterly, and +then a southerly wind blew, without inducing any +repetition of the slackness that had been missed;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +when we found the whole of the accumulated ices +frozen into a solid field, without crack, or opening of +any kind to be seen from the mast-head; when we +marked our position as deeply embayed within the +projecting headlands, and the ice everywhere wedged +up against and cemented to all the circumjacent +shores,—every one became anxious respecting the +success of the voyage, whilst some began to entertain +the depressing apprehension that the ship might +possibly be detained throughout the winter!</p> + +<p>The story of our distressing detention, with the +measures adopted partly for the employment of the +men, but which became ultimately available, even +beyond our utmost hopes, for facilitating our release, +is too long,—consistently with the extent designed for +this volume, and the completion hereafter, possibly, +of some personal records,—for being given in detail. +It may be sufficient, for our present purpose, now to +say, that after the endurance of the misery of an +eight weeks’ besetment, release was happily attained, +and the Dundee was again free (but not until the +season adapted for the fishery had thus been all but +wasted) to range through any part of the ordinarily +accessible ocean.</p> + +<p>Our course being directed towards the north-west, +we soon fell in with ships, and learnt that the fishery +had been tolerably good, and that two or three ships +had already obtained almost full cargoes.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards we met with fish, and all hands +set forth in earnest anxious pursuit. But they were,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +in fact, too anxious, and, in part, discouraged by the +idea that the season was about at an end. Their efforts, +in consequence, were ill directed or inadequately +followed up, and only mortifying failures resulted. +Stimulated by the defects and failures of his harponeers, +my Father was induced to try the chase +himself. Forthwith taking his post at the bow of +one of the boats, he soon gave evidence of his superior +efficiency. He “struck” whale after whale to +the amount of three; but not being adequately supported +by the other boats, one of the first of these +escaped from the harpoon, under circumstances such +as, he considered, should have led to its capture. +Excited by this failure, he changed boats, in one of +the other cases, after the fish, under the first harpoon, +had reappeared at the surface; and, as the harponeers +generally seemed heartless and inert, he changed +again, after fastening another harpoon, until he had +planted no less than three or four harpoons, in the +same fish, with his own hands!</p> + +<p>The season, however, soon came to a close, and +these two whales, with a dead one which was also +discovered by himself, constituted the whole of the +Dundee’s cargo in this trying year,—a cargo yielding +only five-and-forty tuns of oil, yet amounting, after +all, to nearly two-thirds of the general average of the +Greenland fishery.</p> + +<p class="gap2">Notwithstanding this serious abstraction from the +general average of his five years’ adventures in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +Dundee, my Father’s general pre-eminence was, in +the issue, still maintained. During these five voyages, +ninety-four whales were captured, and an amount of +812 tuns of oil brought to market. The yearly +average, <i>inclusive</i> of the year of unavoidable failure, +was no less than 18·8 whales, producing 162·4 tuns of +oil, besides the fair proportion of whalebone, sealskins, +etc.</p> + +<p>Compared with the fishery from Hull and Whitby, +and, as far as my materials go, elsewhere, this result +was considerably beyond that of any other Greenland +whaler. With respect to the Hull average for the +same period, the Dundee’s superiority was in the ratio +of 162·4 to 77·5 tuns of oil, or more than two to one. +In comparison with the success of any other individual +ship, the Dundee still stood at the head of the list,—the +nearest approach in Hull being that of the +Ellison, a ship commanded, during four years out of +the five, by the same enterprising and talented officer, +Mr. Allan, as we had occasion to notice, so favourably, +in a former comparison. The Molly, Captain +Angus Sadler,—a hardy adventurous and able commander, +who, in subsequent years, became chief +amongst his competitors from Hull,—obtained, during +my Father’s command of the Dundee, the next +highest amount of cargoes,—the total, in the five +years, being 689 tuns of oil. The Egginton, Wray, +(one voyage under another captain) obtained, at the +same time, 508 tuns; the Symmetry, Rose, 481 tuns; +the Fanny, Jameson and Taylor, 460 tuns; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +Manchester, Matson, 417 tuns, etc.;—the Dundee’s +cargoes, as has been shewn, being, in the same period, +812 tuns.</p> + +<p>But, besides these comparisons, in all respects so +favourable, we may again venture, up to the end of +eleven years of consecutive adventures, to take the +severest test of competition; viz. a comparison betwixt +the Dundee’s cargoes, and that of the select cargoes, +for the five corresponding years, of the most prosperous +Greenland-man, from Hull, of each year. +And under this amount, being 806 tuns of oil, the +Dundee is found still to stand the first.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<i>Successful Stratagem in War.</i></h3> + +<p>An incident of a very stirring and exciting nature +occurred in the very outset of the unfortunate voyage +just referred to, which I here take occasion of introducing, +as very characteristic of my Father’s tact and +cool self-possession.</p> + +<p>A day or two after leaving the coast of Yorkshire, +from whence I had myself embarked,—the weather +being fine with a brisk and favourable wind, and the +ship going steadily and swiftly under her ample and +well-trimmed sails,—all hands were set to work, my +Father superintending, in clearing the ’tween-decks +of a variety of stores hastily taken in, and confusedly +scattered about, in order to make all snug and secure +for the North-Sea passage. So much were all hands, +men and officers, engrossed by this important labour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +of clearance and order, that, some how or other, the +“look-out” had been for awhile neglected, when, +suddenly it was announced, by a voice calling out +from the deck at one of the hatchways—“a ship +bearing down close upon us!”</p> + +<p>It being a time of war, and the North Sea abounding +with ships of war and privateers of the enemy, +the announcement produced an instant suspension of +the work going on, and drew universal attention to a +circumstance which might possibly involve the safety +of life and property in the ship.</p> + +<p>My Father’s quick eye, and sure telescopic glance, +discovered at once the characteristic marks of an +enemy, and vessel of war. She was bearing down, +steering easterly, exactly so as to intercept our track, +but not on any of the courses usually steered either +for England, France, or Denmark. Already she had +approached within a little more than a mile of our +position, and so that in about a quarter of an hour we +must be within hailing distance.</p> + +<p>With the promptness and coolness characteristic of +the Dundee’s Commander, measures for self-defence, +and skilful strategy, were arranged and progress +commenced. These measures, I conceive, are worthy +of some particular notice.</p> + +<p>His habit, it should be observed, was to endeavour +to anticipate, in quiet contemplation, the various +contingencies pertaining to his enterprise, which, +peradventure, might be considered as not unlikely to +happen. The meeting of an enemy, therefore, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +one of those incidents that had been regarded as by +no means improbable, and the dealing with which, +by what ingenious tact or device might be available, +had been well considered. For to <i>fight</i> with an +enemy, where stratagy might answer for an escape, +was justly held as most unwise, where success in +conflict could gain no prize;<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a> where failure must +issue in loss of property, voyage, and personal liberty; +and where either failure or success must probably +involve a loss of life, for which there was neither call +of duty to risk, nor possible compensation to justify.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, had the extremity required, he was +in a position calculated for a brave defence. The +Dundee was as well armed as she was well manned, +carrying twelve guns, eighteen pounders, I believe, +with a crew of betwixt fifty and sixty men. The +guns were already loaded, and in every way fit for +immediate service.</p> + +<p>The stratagy, in this case, contemplated, was to +give, to the threatening assailant, the surprise of a +concealed armament, and the impression as of a +designed deception in the class of ship assumed.</p> + +<p>And fortunate it was, that there were circumstances +connected with the qualifications of the crew, and the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>construction of the ship, admirably adapted for the +experiment proposed. For contemplating, as we +have intimated, such a risk as that now threatening +him, my Father had selected out of the variety of +hands offering themselves for the voyage, two men of +rather unusual qualifications,—one, who was an adept +in beating the drum, the other “in winding a boatswain’s +call.” These qualities, amongst seafaring +men, being almost peculiar to classes employed in +vessels of war, induced a preference, in respect to +them, over others, though the drummer might by no +means be equal to some who were rejected, in regard +to general seamen-like attainments.</p> + +<p>The construction of the ship, too, was well adapted +for the execution of the proposed surprise, being +“deep-waisted” with a high quarter-deck, and having +her guns entirely below, with no outward indication, +at a distance, of either ports or armament.</p> + +<p>On the first alarm, the hands, with one accord, had +begun to swarm up on the deck, but their retirement +was promptly commanded. The men required for +the guns were sent to their quarters, with orders to +make all ready for action, but to lift no port. The +hands above, whilst requiring to move about, were +kept as much as possible on the leeside of the deck, +where, from the heeling of the ship and the enemy’s +windward position, they were in sufficient concealment. +The <i>drummer</i> and <i>boatswain</i>, now most +important elements in the plan, had their special +instructions, whilst the crew thus became generally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +sensible, by means of the orders given, of the ingenious +device of their commander, so as to be well +prepared to give to it its utmost impression.</p> + +<p>Short as the time was,—the coolness of the commander +being communicated to the men, so as to +relieve the urgent haste from any embarrassing confusion,—all +arrangements had been completed before +the enemy came within hailing distance. At that +period (as <i>apparently</i> from the first), everything +visible on board the Dundee indicated an unconcerned +quietness, and utter unconsciousness of danger from +the stranger’s approach. The men on deck were laid +down flat on their faces. My Father coolly walking +the quarter-deck, and the helmsman engaged in his +office of steering, were the only living beings who +could be discerned from the deck of the assailant.</p> + +<p>Without showing any colours, in answer to our +English ensign waving at the mizen-peak, the stranger +came down to within short musket-shot distance, when +a loud and unintelligible roar of the Captain, through +his speaking-trumpet, indicated the usual demand of +the nation or denomination of our ship. A significant +wave of my Father’s hand served instead of a reply. +The drum beats to quarters, and whilst the roll yet +reverberates around, the shrill sound of the boatswain’s +pipe is heard above all. And whilst the +hoarse voice of this officer is yet giving forth the +consequent orders, the apparently plain sides of the +ship become suddenly pierced; six ports on a side +are simultaneously raised, and as many untompioned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +cannon, threatening a more serious bellowing than +that of the now astonished Captain’s trumpet-aided +voice, are run out, pointing ominously toward the +enemy’s broadside!</p> + +<p>The stratagem was complete; its impression quite +perfect. The adversary seemed electrified. Men on +the enemy’s deck, some with lighted matches in hand, +and plainly visible to us by reason of her heeling +position whilst descending obliquely from the windward, +were seen to fall flat, as if prostrated by our +shot; the guns, pointed threateningly at us, remained +silent; the helm flew to port, and the yards to the +wind, on our opposite tack; and without waiting for +answer to his summons, or venturing to renew his +attempt on such a formidable looking opponent, he +suddenly hauled off, under full sail, in a direction +differing, by some six points, from that in which he +had previously intercepted our track!</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VI.</span>—<i>Extraordinary Exploit in “cutting-in” +single-handed, a moderately-grown Young Whale.</i></h3> + +<p>The tardy formality with which the “flensing” of +the whale was accomplished, irrespective of the particular +magnitude of the animal to be despoiled of its +blubber and whalebone, was frequently a source of +great annoyance to my Father. The number of cuts, +with the placing of straps, and attachment of tackles, +had become—like the skeleton forms issued by public +offices—an established system; and, cumbrous as it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +was, with respect to fish of smaller growth, it was +made generally applicable to all. The effect of this +was, that whilst the largest sized fish would be flensed +in about four hours, the taking in of one of the fourth, +or sixth part its size would occupy nearly half as +much time. An hour and a half at least, but more +frequently two hours, at that period of the fishery, +would be expended upon one of the ordinary small-sized +whales. The poor little carcass, indeed, was encumbered +by the number of the harponeers (to whose +province belongs the fixing of the tackles and the +cutting away of the blubber) congregated upon, or +about it, whilst flensing.</p> + +<p>As every instance of remonstrance, whilst failing +in producing any improvement, regularly induced +unpleasantness of feeling, my Father was at length +provoked to put forth a challenge, to which his +officers were able to offer no possible objection, +except the indication, by look and gesture, that +they would derive some recompense for the rebukes +passed on them, by certain and signal failure. His +adventurous challenge was, that, with the assistance +of only one-third part of the available crew, he +would go on a fish, and send it in, single-handed, +in <i>half the time</i> occupied by the four or six harponeers +with the help of all hands!</p> + +<p>Opportunities for the experiment being at this time +abundantly afforded, he forthwith prepared himself +for this trial of skill. The available hands—that is, +excluding cook, steward, surgeon, etc.—were usually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +about forty-five or forty-six in number. Out of these +he took, not a picked set, but only two boats’ crews, +with their supernumeraries, according to their existing +classification, comprising about sixteen men. These +he appointed to their several stations about the deck; +eight to the capstan, four, perhaps, to the “crab” or +“winch,” and the rest to manage the “tackle-falls,” +to cut up the blubber and heave it into the “flens-gut,” +or receptacle for it below. The two boys who +were appointed, on the usual plan, to hold the boat +in which he was to stand whilst flensing, were, perhaps, +extra; but this I forget.</p> + +<p>Previous to the commencement of the experiment, +the preparing of his cutting instruments, viz. +a “blubber-spade” and “blubber-knife,” became +matter of personal and special attention. The <i>spade</i>, +(an instrument with the cutting part about eight inches +broad, and used in the manner of the “hay-spade,”) +was not merely ground to a fine edge and then +sharpened with an oil-stone, but the sides (ordinarily +left black with varnish, or encrusted with rust,) were +reduced by the grindstone to a bright and smooth +surface. His blubber-knife (an instrument with a +three feet blade and three feet straight handle) was, +in like manner, carefully ground, sharpened, and +polished; so that these instruments, presenting the +least possible resistance, from the adhesion of the +metal to the blubber, when in use, the muscular +strength of the flenser might, in no respect, be uselessly +expended.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>All things being ready, and the men duly distributed, +the time was noted, and my Father, single-handed, +as I have said,—except as to a man to put in +the straps<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a> and attach the tackles, that he might not +have occasion to wet or grease his hands,—proceeded +to the trial on his apparently presumptuous challenge.</p> + +<p>The plan he had previously determined on, and +which subsequently became very common in the +flensing of small fish, was the following:—</p> + +<p>The under part of the head (always being placed +upward for flensing), with the jaw-bones, “lips,” and +tongue, is first attached to the capstan tackle, and, +being separated as it is hove up, is taken on deck +altogether. Meanwhile the skull, with the whalebone +and upper part of the head,—which is brought in +sight, clear of the water, by the strain hove upon +the other section or lower jaw,—is secured by the +second tackle, and speedily made to follow its companion +in the ascent to the deck.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> +<p>One of the fins, having a strap previously put +round it, is next hove upon, till (the fish being free +to roll over, so as to adjust its position to the direction +of the strain,) it is well raised upward, and, the +blubber annexed to it, put upon the stretch. The fin +is then easily “unsocketed,” and the blubber on the +seaward side being cut across beyond it, it becomes +the attachment for heaving up a long slip of three or +four feet in width, and extending, with its upper part, +high above the level of the deck. As this ascends, +(the fish meanwhile spontaneously “canting” outwardly +from the ship), the other fin appears in sight, +and, being embraced by another strap, is, in its turn, +hove up by the “fore-tackle” correspondently, as +to its further progress, with its fellow. When the +attachment of the second, or fore-tackle, rises to +about the level of the deck, the blubber-slip is cut +across, just above the place of that attachment, and +the separated portion, being lowered down upon the +deck, is cut up, with singular celerity, into square +lumps, adapted for being easily thrown about by the +“pick-haak” men; and these, as rapidly as they are +cut out, are made to disappear through a hole in one +of the main-hatches into the flens-gut below.</p> + +<p>The moment the first, or “after-tackle,” is released, +it is overhauled again over the ship’s side, +and, a fresh strap being fixed in the continuous slip, +(which, to preserve its continuity, is cut spirally from +the carcass,) the progress of the operation goes on, +without ceasing, till the whole superficies of blubber +is removed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>The progress in the case referred to must, doubtless, +have been regarded with strange feelings of +astonishment and mortification by the severely rebuked +harponeers; for, on the completion of the +operation, the watch being again appealed to, the +adventurous challenge was found to have been +triumphantly vindicated. Instead of the work being +effected, as challenged to be done, in half the time +which had been expended by thrice the force in the +number of men, it was found to have occupied but +little more than a third part of that interval. With +all hands to help, the time frequently expended by +the harponeers in flensing a small fish had been +nearly two hours; my Father, with a third part of +the crew, had, single-handed, done the same thing in +almost forty minutes!</p> + +<p class="gap2">This extraordinary feat of tact and strength was +first accomplished, I believe, during my Father’s +command of the Dundee; but the feat was repeated, +under my own observation, on board the Resolution, +and the tardiness of a burdensome system, still too +prevalently acted upon by the officers, was similarly +rebuked. To the extent, at least of a saving of +<i>one-half</i> the time spent in the operation by the harponeers, +the bold experiment, single-handed and +with but one-third of the crew, was successfully +repeated.</p> + +<p>My Father’s plan of proceeding, in this extraordinary +feat, is worthy of notice. His constitutional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +habit, as I may term it, of a sort of <i>deliberate celerity</i> +was here the characteristic of his progress. But no +time was wasted. As fast as the men on deck could +heave-up the blubber, the blubber was freed to their +hands. Every change of tackle, or place of working, +was so managed as to leave no interruption in the +labours of his men. As he never himself ceased +working, he took care by judicious preconsideration, +that they should never stand idle. On the contrary, +he had his own part always in advance of their +province, so that, in order to keep pace with him, +they were stimulated to the utmost practicable degree +of activity. The capstan, whilst the tackle was slack, +or the strain slight, actually spun round, whilst the +hands on it, “shortening in on the bars,” ran at their +utmost speed. An instinctive spirit was infused into +every department; for no section of the men liked to +be behind, so as to be in the humiliating position of +hinderers of the others.</p> + +<p>Though the master-hand was accomplishing so much +in so short a time,—more, in this species of work, I +may be bold to say, than any other man ever did +before or since,—there was no appearance of hurry. +His sharp and finely-polished <i>spade</i> with which he +chiefly worked, seemed to meet with no resistance +from the animal textures against which its edge was +directed. Instead of cutting downward through the +blubber a spade-breadth at a time, as most usually +was done, he would run the instrument in a direction +obliquely horizontal, so as to separate the slip then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +heaving up from the general envelopment of the +blubber, for a yard or two in extent, at a single stroke +or thrust of the instrument. The slight attachment +of the blubber to the muscles of the carcass could +then be usually torn away (with a touch underneath +with the spade when incidentally needful to be cut) +by the force with which the slip was being raised by +the mechanical engines in motion on the deck.</p> + +<p>Thus proceeding with calm and quiet self-possession, +and with unceasing perseverance, few cuts +being made but at the best advantage, and no stroke +of his cutting-tools being struck in vain, the work +proceeded with such despatch as to accomplish the +extraordinary results we have just described.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> Up to the end of the eighteenth century my Father’s successes, +with but rare exceptions, were at the head of the list of the whole of +the northern whalers, both of Davis’ Strait and Greenland. But about +this period Captain Marshall, in the Davis’-Strait branch, began to take +the lead of all competitors there.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> Some of our readers may require to be informed, that an ordinary +merchant ship, not having “letters of marque” for acting as a privateer, +can have no claim on any property which the bravery of her captain +and crew might take from an enemy. So that, in the event of capturing +an assailant, as might have been possible in the case referred +to, the hard blows and damage must be borne by the merchantman, +whilst the prize would fall due to the first ship of war incidently met +with, or otherwise to the sovereign or public officers at home.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_G_7"><span class="label">[G]</span></a> <i>Blubber-straps</i> are usually made out of whale-line, but some of +thicker cordage, and consist of a length of about two fathoms for each +strap, the ends of which being spliced together, constitute a flexible ring +of rope. A hole being cut through the commencing end of the slip of +blubber to be raised, the strap, being of course double, is inserted +therein, and the two ends, brought together from the opposite sides of +the blubber, are looped over the hook of the tackle, and so the attachment +for heaving up made complete. It may here be added, that the +tackles for flensing are fixed aloft to a strong rope, along which the +blocks are distributed, extending (but not very tightly stretched) from +the mainmast-head to that of the foremast, called the <i>guy</i>. The considerable +height of this attachment of the tackles (or, technically, “speck-tackles”) +permits a long slip of blubber to be hove up in continuity, +whilst the distribution of the blocks thereon admits of the two tackles +being worked either jointly or separately without interference.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter IV.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">THE SHIP “RESOLUTION,” OF WHITBY.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>Continued Prosperity:—the Results, +comparatively and generally, of this +fresh Enterprise.</i></h3> + +<p>The change of command which, in the progress of +our Memorials, comes now under consideration, was +brought about by two circumstances;—the great inconvenience +of a family residence at Whitby, whilst +my Father was sailing from, and returning to, London; +and the incidental formation of a co-partnery +at Whitby, which my Father was invited to join, for +the building and equipment of a new Greenland ship +from that port.</p> + +<p>The advantages, in point of comfort and convenience +alone, were such as to render the change in +ship and port to which this scheme pointed, highly +desirable; and most earnestly and imploringly was +the proposition of the parties at Whitby supported +by my long discomforted and pining mother. But +the conditions submitted to my Father were equally +acceptable. It was designed that the co-partnery +should consist of the holders of eight equal shares, +of 1000<i>l.</i> each; that Messrs. Fishburn and Brodrick, +the designed builders of the ship, should hold two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +shares, five other inhabitants of Whitby, as arranged +among themselves, each a share, making seven, and +my Father the eighth. His wages and perquisites, +too, on the liberal and advanced scale as allowed him +by the Messrs. Gale, were to be continued.</p> + +<p>Without difficulty, and with but little loss of time, +the arrangements were all completed, and the owners +of the Dundee, who were justly esteemed for their +honourable and generous dealing by their Captain, +had due and respectful notice given them of the +intended change, and were easily made sensible of +the propriety of it, as far as regarded his personal +well-being.</p> + +<p>In the “Resolution,” a fine, substantial, and in all +respects well-built ship of 291 tons burden, was comprised +the property of the new co-partnery. The cost +of the ship, with casks and all other stores, was +6321<i>l.</i> 3<i>s.</i> 4<i>d.</i> The provisions for the voyage, together +with insurance, and the advance wages usually +paid to the men, amounted to 1470<i>l.</i> 4<i>s.</i> 1<i>d.</i> Thus +the total expenditure in preparation for the voyage +was 7791<i>l.</i> 7<i>s.</i> 5<i>d.</i>, leaving a small balance out of the +sum subscribed in the hands of the managers.</p> + +<p>The proceedings on board the ship, with the results +of this adventure, for, and during the whole time +of my Father’s command (a period of eight years), +are in considerable detail before me, being comprised +in a regular series of journals kept by myself. For +young as I was when the Resolution commenced her +career of adventure—being then but thirteen—I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +regularly installed, and by no means unwillingly, in +training for the whale-fishery as a profession, as one +of her apprenticed hands.</p> + +<p>On the 21st of February, 1803, the ship was +launched, and duly “christened” the “Resolution;” +and on the 21st of March, she left her moorings in +the harbour and proceeded to sea. We made the +ice on the 2d of April; on the 12th were in latitude +78° 40′ N. in sight of the “Middle Hook of the +Foreland;” and on the 18th “struck” and killed our +first whale. The 20th was a prosperous day, for so +early a period of the season, adding two more large +fish to our commencing cargo. The 29th, however, +was very different, being a day of mortifying adventure. +We had obtained shelter, during a gale of +wind, under the lee-side of a “field,”—a large and +continuous sheet of ice extending beyond the reach +of vision from the mast-head,—where several whales, +(chiefly old ones, with their cubs or calves,) were +met with. Four of them—comprising two old and +two cubs—were harpooned during the day. The +little ones, of but trifling value, were captured; but +both the “mothers” escaped. One of them had been +so energetically assailed as to receive four harpoons,—a +condition from which the capture generally results,—when +she made a most determinate advance beneath +and beyond the ice. She ultimately escaped, carrying +away with her a spoil (a painful and deadly boon, +indeed, to herself) of a harpoon, with twelve attached +lines, comprising a total extent of 1440 fathoms, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +about a mile and two-thirds, in measure! The next +day, however, yielded us some compensation, in the +capture of another <i>large</i> fish, a result altogether not +a little inspiriting, where the attainment of an amount +of six whales, before the expiration of the month of +April, was a circumstance rarely, if ever, realized +before. Our thirteenth fish was killed on the 8th of +June; but, though we persevered about ten days +longer, and had well nigh captured another fish, in +which two harpoons were struck, we made no accession +to our not full, but, as the season went, most +satisfactory cargo.</p> + +<p>In looking over my journal for materials for this +abstract, it was singularly interesting and pleasant to +the feelings to find, under date of the 27th of June, +when the good ship Resolution was on her homeward +passage, a written recognition, which I remember to +have received from my Father, of the Divine hand +and Providence in respect of the successes obtained. +It is comprised in this brief but appropriate Collect:—“O +most merciful Father, who of Thy gracious goodness +hast crowned our labours with success, we give +Thee humble and hearty thanks for this, Thy special +bounty, beseeching Thee to continue Thy loving +kindness unto us, that we may enjoy the fruits of our +labours to Thy glory and our comfort, through Jesus +Christ our Lord, Amen.”</p> + +<p>The proceeds of this first voyage in oil were 163½ +tuns: the <i>Whitby</i> average of the same year (exclusive +of the Resolution’s cargo) being only 62 tuns,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +and the greatest catch among the rest of the Whitby +fleet being eight whales, yielding 139 tuns of oil. +Hence, with relation to the average of the port,—six +ships,—my Father’s success stood in the ratio of +2·8 to 1, or nearly three to one!</p> + +<p>But subsequent voyages—the next three especially—proved +regularly and increasingly prosperous; the +cargoes of the years 1804, 1805, and 1806, yielding +a produce of rather more than 600 tuns of oil, derived +from the capture of eighty-seven whales. The +entire proceeds of my Father’s enterprises in eight +voyages, in this successful ship, amounted to 194 +whales, yielding 1617 tuns of oil, or an average of +twenty-four whales and one-fourth, with 202 tuns of +oil per voyage!</p> + +<p>His competitors from the same port, during the +whole of this particular period, comprising 7·8 ships +a year, obtained, on the eight years’ average, only +sixty-eight fish, yielding 646·4 tuns of oil; whilst the +united cargoes of the most successful ship of each +year, amounted but to 138 whales, 1228 tuns of oil; +this select amount being exceeded by nearly a third +part, by my Father’s individual catch; and the general +average being exceeded in the proportion of two and +a half to one!</p> + +<p>But it was hardly to be expected that, whatever +might be my Father’s peculiar superiority, as compared +with the general body of competitors, no one, +out of many hundreds of different commanders, +should be found successfully to emulate, within a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +long series of years, even his extraordinary enterprise.</p> + +<p>Yet, closely as two or three individuals commanding +in the Greenland fishery might approximate, or occasionally +exceed, his successes, it is remarkable that +no one, within any of the periods of the Henrietta, +the Dundee, or the Resolution, or within the whole +period of nineteen years, ever went beyond him!</p> + +<p>My Father’s most successful competitor, within +the longest period of cotemporary enterprise, ending +with the year 1810, was Mr. Angus Sadler, of Hull. +From 1796 to 1810 (fifteen voyages) they fished in +the same region, the Greenland Seas, my Father +obtaining 2693 tuns of oil, and Mr. Sadler 2539. +In the eight voyages of the Resolution, however, the +competition was singularly close; Mr. Sadler bringing +home the produce of only two whales in number +less, and the exact same quantity (1617 tuns) of oil. +But, in this comparison, my Father was at great disadvantage +from the inferior size of his ship,—the +Aurora, of Hull, which Mr. Sadler commanded in +several of his most prosperous voyages, being of the +burden of 366 tons, and the Resolution only of 291. +This difference of capacity was very important, +enabling Mr. Sadler, in two or three different voyages, +to bring home a quantity of produce exceeding by +some sixty or seventy tuns, altogether, the capabilities +of stowage of the Resolution,—which ship, five years +out of eight, having been what was called “a full +ship,” might, no doubt, have obtained some greater<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +cargoes, and, by consequence, a better position in the +competition, had her capacity been larger.</p> + +<p>It falls not within my present province, nor within +the scope of my materials, to set forth the considerable +successes of some other leading fishermen at the +time of the Resolution’s enterprises. I may merely +notice, that Mr. Kearsley, of the Henrietta (trained +under my Father), was the most successful of the +other <i>Whitby</i> captains; and that some enterprising +men, commanding ships out of <i>Scotland</i>, began now, +or soon after this, to take a high position in the +prosperous class.</p> + +<p>The only other <i>general</i> competitor of my Father’s +yet to be named, whose enterprises were cotemporary +during the whole or greater part of his career, from +1792 to 1810, was Captain John Marshall, of Hull. +Within the <i>western</i> field of Arctic enterprise—the +whale-fishery of <i>Davis’ Strait</i>—Captain Marshall +stood pre-eminent. His successes there corresponded +very much with those of my Father in the fishery of +Greenland; and the total results did not materially +differ. Whilst my Father’s successes yielded, within +the period referred to 2728 tuns of oil, Captain Marshall’s, +though deprived of the chance of one year’s +adventure in which he remained on shore, amounted +to 2691 tuns. Had the full nineteen years been +completed, his successes would, probably, have been +the greatest. But the <i>services</i>, and the qualities +required for them, differ so materially, as not to +permit, in fairness, of an arithmetical comparison<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +of the <i>mere quantities</i> of produce. For success in +the fishery of Davis’ Strait, at the time under consideration, +was a far more easy undertaking than in +that of Greenland. This fact is satisfactorily derived +from a comparison of the average success in the two +fisheries. In seventeen years out of the nineteen +under review, (there being no ship from Hull to +Davis’ Strait during 1792 and 1793,) the average +success of 313 Greenland whalers from Hull was +a produce in oil of 84·4 tuns, whilst the mean success +of the Davis’ Strait fishery, 190 ships, was for +the same period 124·3,—indicating, most clearly, that +the latter fishery then afforded a better chance of a +cargo than the fishery of Greenland, in the ratio of +very nearly three to two!<a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_H_8" class="fnanchor">[H]</a></p> + +<p>Hence, my Father’s success, when taken on the +most extensive comparison with the fishermen of his +day, stands decidedly conspicuous and pre-eminent. +And this pre-eminence, it should be noted, was not only +in the amount of the cargoes he obtained, but also in +the shortness of the time occupied in his voyages; for +whilst the general average of Greenland voyages of +this period (as indicated, at least, by the extensive +enterprise from the port of Hull,) comprised four +months and nineteen days, the average of my Father’s +absence from sailing to his return was, in the Resolution’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>eight voyages, only three months and twenty-eight +days!</p> + +<p class="gap2">It may not be uninteresting to some of our readers +to be informed, before we conclude this section of +results, of the actual realization in gross amount of +value, and in profits divided amongst the partners, in +this prosperous whale-fishing adventure. This, by +reason of a complete abstract of the payments and +receipts during the greater part of the Resolution’s +career, I am enabled to give with perfect accuracy:—</p> + +<p class="center">PAYMENTS.</p> + +<table class="simpletable" summary="Payments and Receipts"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="ralign">£ </td> +<td class="ralign"><i>s.</i> </td> +<td class="ralign"><i>d.</i> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent">Expenses on First Voyage, including Outfit of the Second</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4008</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">18</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto for Second Voyage.</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4476</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">2</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto for Third Voyage</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4679</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">11</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto on Fourth and Fifth</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">9216</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">14</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto on Sixth</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">5823</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">14</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto on Seventh</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">4729</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">11</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto on Eighth</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">4722</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">11</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">£37,657</td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">4</td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="pad1t center" colspan="4">RECEIPTS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent">Proceeds of Cargo and Government Bounty +(20<i>s.</i> per ton on the ship’s measurement, +or 291<i>l.</i>) on the First Voyage</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6864</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">10</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Second Voyage</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6568</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">1</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Third</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6287</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">10</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">9</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Fourth and Fifth</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">10,428</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">7</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">11</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Sixth</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">7157</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">8</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Seventh</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">8275</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">14</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto, Eighth</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">8195</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">16</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">10</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent">Amount of Receipts</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">£53,777</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">9</td> +<td class="ralign pad5l">11</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent2">Ditto Expenses</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">37,657</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">4</td> +<td class="ralign bb pad5l">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="hangindent">Clear Profits</td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">£16,120</td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">5</td> +<td class="ralign bb2 pad5l">9</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></p> + +<p>This balance I have stated as “clear profits,” because, +in consequence of the perfect state of repair of +the Resolution, the large augmentation in the quantity +of her stores, and the increased cost of shipping, +the value of the ship (augmented by the charge of +outfit for the ninth voyage in the table of expenses) +was scarcely at all deteriorated. Hence we derive +for the clear profit on the original advance of 8000<i>l.</i>,—a +capital still existing,—during eight years continuously, +the sum of 2015<i>l.</i> 0<i>s.</i> 8<i>d.</i> a year, or 25 per +cent per annum.</p> + +<p class="gap2">With this result, the enterprises of my Father in +the Resolution, of Whitby (influenced, in a considerable +degree, I believe, by a kindly and parental consideration +for myself), concluded. For on the very +day on which I completed my twenty-first year, he, +at a Board of the co-partnery, specially summoned, +formally resigned his command; and, on the same +day,—the earliest at which, by reason of age, I could +legally hold a command,—I was unanimously elected +his successor.</p> + +<p>Whilst thus retiring from the command of the +Resolution, my Father was by no means disposed to +abandon his stirring and highly remunerative occupation. +At the very period of his retirement, indeed, +the opportunity of a new and satisfactory connection +was, incidentally by my own medium, opened to +him, of which he forthwith availed himself.</p> + +<p>But before entering on the relation of his subse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>quent +enterprises, we shall proceed, according to our +usual plan, to adduce a few incidents or circumstances, +illustrative, mainly, of character or talents, which are +associated with this period of our memorial history.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>Treatment and Recovery of a half-frozen +Seaman.</i></h3> + +<p>The peculiarity of the conflicts, and the severity +of the climate, encountered by the Arctic whale-fishers, +yield a characteristic novelty both to the incidents +and accidents of their adventure. So that, +although the incidents of whaling enterprise may, for +the most part, possess such general characteristics as +to admit of some classification among themselves, +they are at the same time novel, when considered in +relation to the results of ordinary adventure; whilst, +every now and then, an accident happens, or a circumstance +is met with, which, taken on the broadest +scheme of comparison, is found to be <i>sui generis</i>.</p> + +<p>Such incidents afford special occasions for the exercise +of inherent science and originality of intellect +in those who have to deal with the results. And, +I may add, every accident or occurrence of this kind, +which claimed my Father’s directing consideration, +was, in all cases that I ever heard of, dealt with in +a manner consistent with a condition of mind of +inexhaustible resources in itself.</p> + +<p>Several cases of this description happened, whilst +I was myself present, during my youthful training as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +a seaman and a fisherman. The one referred to, in +the title of this section, was specially interesting.</p> + +<p>Whilst the ship Resolution navigated an open lake +of water, in the 81st degree of latitude,—something +like the Baltic Sea in magnitude,—during a keen +frost and strong northerly wind, a whale appeared, +and a boat put off in pursuit.<a name="FNanchor_I_9" id="FNanchor_I_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_I_9" class="fnanchor">[I]</a> On its second visit +to the surface the boat came up with it, and a harpoon +was securely struck. A convulsive and terrible +heave of its ponderous tail, which succeeded the +wound, struck the boat at the stern, and by its reaction +projected the boat-steerer overboard. As the +line attached to the harpoon drew the boat instantly +off, the crew threw some of their oars towards him +for his support, one of which he fortunately seized.</p> + +<p>The auxiliary boats, as well as the ship, being at a +considerable distance, and the fast-boat being rapidly +drawn away from the imperilled seaman, the harponeer, +under the instinctive impulse of humanity, cut +his line with the view of yielding him succour. But +no sooner was the sacrifice made than, to the great +mortification of all in the boat, it was found to be +useless; for, in consequence of the loss of oars, some +being thrown towards the sufferer, and some broken +or carried off by the stroke from the whale, the boat +had become altogether unmanageable!</p> + +<p>A considerable time elapsed before the headmost +auxiliary boat reached the place: happily they were +so far in time that the object of their anxious solicitude +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>still floated, stretched over an oar, whilst retaining +but little sensation.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at the ship, being hauled up the +side by ropes, with judicious help from his comrades +in the boat, he was found to be in a deplorable condition. +His clothes were frozen like a casing of +mail, and his hair was consolidated into a helmet +of ice.</p> + +<p>My Father, having ordered him to be taken into +the cabin abaft, gave his immediate attention, in +guidance and precedence of the ship’s surgeon, in a +system of treatment which, under the circumstances, +was, perhaps, the most judicious that could have been +adopted.</p> + +<p>Whilst placed on the cabin floor, where the temperature +was moderate, but not high, the frozen clothing +of the patient was forthwith removed, and his person +dried with warm towels, and then industriously +rubbed, by two or three hands at a time, with well +heated coarse cloths and flannels. There being great +exhaustion, and all but a suspension of the circulation, +stimulating cordial was administered as he +was able to take it.</p> + +<p>When the process of friction had been continued +until sensation began to be restored, and the general +faculties in some measure awakened, he was covered +with dry under clothing, and placed, amid an abundance +of warm blankets, in my Father’s bed. After a +few hours’ sleep he awoke considerably resuscitated, +but complained of a painful sensation of cold.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>Some warm and nourishing diluents having been +given to him, he was conducted to his own berth, +and, with the view of removing his distressing feeling +of chilliness, two of his comrades were requested to +accompany him; where, one on each side, their +abundant healthful circulation and animal heat, +proved most effective in ministering, restoratively, +to these defects in the condition of the patient.</p> + +<p>The shock on his constitution, however, was greater, +with respect to his apparent early recovery, than was +anticipated. He was so far restored, within a few +days, as to be able to engage in his usual duties; but +months elapsed before his countenance exhibited its +wonted glow and appearance of health.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>Judicious Treatment of Men having +suffered from severe Exposure.</i></h3> + +<p>The Resolution was moored to a flat sheet of ice, +surrounded by streams and open drift ice, on the 30th +of April, 1808. It blew fresh, and the weather was +cold. In the evening a whale was harpooned, which +ran out about the length of a mile and a half of +line from the fast-boat. Other harpoons, and several +lances, were then struck, and no doubt remained with +the pursuers but that it would speedily become their +prize. But this expectation signally failed. A tremendous +and convulsive throe of the whale produced +an extraordinary effect: one of the lines, and also a +harpoon were broken, and the other two harpoons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +drawn out simultaneously, when, to the astonishment +of the beholders, the imagined capture was found, in +one moment, to have become free. It dived and +escaped!</p> + +<p>A storm meanwhile had commenced. Five boats, +with their crews, remained for the getting in of the +long length of line run out from the first fast-boat, +whilst two, myself in one of them, returned to the +ship, in aid of the inadequate residue of men—for any +nautical operation—left on board.</p> + +<p>Thick snow set in, the storm increased, and the +ship, being fast to a <i>light</i> piece of ice, drifted rapidly +to leeward, and away from the boats. We became +distressfully anxious about the safety of the absent +men. At one the next morning the mooring was cut, +and the ship being got under way, was worked on +short tacks to windward, in the supposed direction of +the boats. At three we were rejoiced by the appearance +of three of the boats, which, with crews unharmed, +we got safely on board. The remainder, +they reported, might be expected by the same track +in half an hour.</p> + +<p>Cheered by this hope, we continued making every +effort to get the ship to windward. But, long after +the time of their expected return, no other boat +appeared. Hour after hour of anxiety and distress +passed over whilst we navigated, off and on, among +troublesome and dangerous ices. Guns were fired +occasionally, and at every unoccupied interval all +hands were engaged in the one object which sym<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>pathy +urged—the straining of their eyes in the hope +of discerning the boats of their comrades through +the obscurity of the snow. The obscurity was not +attenuated; the storm raged, and the sea increased, +whilst a foreboding gloom appeared in every countenance, +darkening and keeping pace with the dismalness +of the night. The loss of one-half of the +Ipswich’s crew on a similar occasion was yet fresh on +our minds, and low whisperings of expressions of +fear, and shuddering responses, indicated a prevailing +dread of a similar fate to their comrades.</p> + +<p>At length, happy moment! a little after eight in +the morning, a sudden shout of joy announced the +discovery of the boats, and in a few minutes we had +the undescribable satisfaction of seeing them alongside. +Aided by those on board with ropes and hands, +they were all, twelve to fourteen in number, received +safe on board, and welcomed with the most heartfelt +greeting by their truly exulting shipmates.</p> + +<p>The natural desire and effort to get below, into a +place of genial warmth, both with the shivering +sailors and the sympathising people on board, was, +with most judicious consideration on the part of my +Father, restrained. The men had been suffering from +more than a twelve hours’ exposure, without food or +adequate extra clothing, to cold and storm,—the thermometer, +which had been as low as 13 degrees, being still +8 or 10 degrees below freezing,—and many were partially +frost-bitten, and some stiff and half-paralyzed +with the severity of the weather. In this case, he wisely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +considered, that sudden transition to the warm galley, +and proximity to the blazing fire of the cabouse +below, might be productive of dangerous, possibly of +fatal, effects. He felt it was needful for their safety +that means should be <i>previously</i> adopted for restoring, +in some measure, the arrested or retarded circulation.</p> + +<p>Stimulants, in a case of this kind, moderately administered, +were considered advantageous; but friction, +and muscular exercise, much more essential to safety. +Those, therefore, whose hands or feet, or faces or +ears, had become <i>white</i> (like the appearance of a +tallow candle) by the utter abstraction of the blood, +had their frost-bitten parts actively and perseveringly +rubbed with the open hands of others, and the worst +cases with snow, until the endurance of the severe, +or even agonizing pain usually attending the recovery, +when the repelled circulation begins to be +restored in the affected parts, had removed the risk +of <i>mortification</i> taking place. Others were variously +<i>exercised</i>, as they were able to make muscular efforts +of themselves, or with the assistance of others. Those +who were capable of the exertion were made to run +about the deck, chasing, or being chased, one by +another. And soon apprehending, as most of them +did, the wisdom of the measures adopted, they not +only entered into them heartily, but those who had +been the most affected, as soon as their limbs obtained +power for the exertion, were ready to join, or to +attempt to join, in the exercise and race, until some +glow of warmth, and consciousness of restored sensa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>tion, +had taken place of the pre-existing chilliness or +insensibility. They were then, under strict cautions +against approaching at first too near the fire, suffered +to go below; and, happily, under this wise and +effective treatment, all escaped without any permanent +injury.</p> + +<p>A stout Shetland boy had well nigh fallen a sacrifice +to the severity of the exposure. He expressed +a great desire, whilst abroad in one of the boats, for +sleep, and earnestly entreated the men, who objected +to the indulgence of the inclination, to allow him to +compose himself for half an hour, “for he was sure,” +he said, “that he should dream of the situation of +the ship.” After a few minutes’ repose, which they +were induced to permit, he was awoke, but with +difficulty, and it required considerable attention on +the part of his companions to keep him from a sleep +which, under such circumstances, they well knew +must be the harbinger of death.</p> + +<p class="gap2">Other instances of the happy exercise of good +judgment in the treatment of men who had suffered +long exposure to cold and hunger, might have been +adduced had I particularly noted them. One other +case, though of no real danger, (occurring May 29th, +1809,) may be briefly mentioned, in which I was +personally a participator.</p> + +<p>It was blowing a fresh gale from the north-east, +with strong frost, thermometer 20°, but the sea was +not very considerable because of the sheltering in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>fluence +of surrounding ice. Two whales were captured; +but one of them dying at a great depth under +water, had to be hauled up by the united crews of +two or three boats, which proved a tedious and severe +labour. We were absent from the ship from fourteen +to sixteen hours, without food or shelter from +the inclement gale, sometimes lying inertly on our +oars waiting for the rising of the harpooned whales, +or for the hauling up of the sunken one to the surface; +and sometimes we were engaged in pulling +about, hauling in lines, or in “towing” the dead +fish to the ship. By the time we got on board we +were mostly in a state of considerable exhaustion, and +all were painfully suffering from cold and hunger.</p> + +<p>My Father had considerately provided for our +return. Instead of the distribution of ardent spirits,—the +measure universally resorted to at this period, +with the view of cheering and restoring the depressed +energies of any long-exposed party of adventurers in +the boats,—a far better and more effective provision +had been made. A huge kettle of coffee was boiling +on the fire, which, with the usual supplies of bread +and beef, was distributed in ample quantity among +the half-starved party now returning; and a more +grateful or more salutary instance of administered refreshment +I do not remember ever to have enjoyed. +The heat of this beverage, supplied as it was so +liberally to all, had the most happy effect in aiding +the restoration of the animal heat, and of exhilarating +without unduly stimulating the depressed physical<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +condition of the men. The case afforded an admirable +practical example of the correctness of the +principles generally asserted, in favour of simple +drinks over spirituous or fermented stimulants, by +the advocates of “Temperance.”</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>The Crow’s Nest.</i></h3> + +<p>The invention of the <span class="smcap">Crow’s Nest</span> in the form +now universally used by the British Arctic whalers, +and adopted generally by our discovery ships, deserves, +from its convenience, comfort, and importance, +a special record.</p> + +<p>For the safe and effective navigation of the Arctic +ices, as well as for a due watch being kept for the +discovery of whales, an elevated position on the +mast, as a station for the directing or “look-out” +officer, is absolutely necessary. In seas covered over +with numerous masses of ice, or in positions where +the navigation is at once encumbered, difficult, and +perhaps dangerous, it is impossible for the officer +<i>on deck</i> to perform the duty, at all adequately, of +directing the ship’s course and progress.</p> + +<p>From time immemorial, therefore, the captains of +whalers, or other acting officers, have always been +wont to take their station occasionally, and when +necessity required, at the mast-head, or rather on +the main top-mast “cross-trees.” For the benefit +of a little shelter from the piercing breezes in this +exposed situation, some ships were provided with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +canvas screen of about three and a half or four feet +in height, passed round the sides and fore-part of +the top-gallant rigging, from the top-mast cross-trees +upward. This, with a sort of wooden rail for a seat, +extending betwixt the aftermost shrouds of the top-gallant +rigging, afforded the <i>best crow’s nest</i> hitherto +made use of; a shelter tolerably effective when the +ship was sailing by or near the wind, but altogether +useless when going with the wind abaft the beam. +It was not very safe either, as accidents from sleepiness, +or the giving way of the very inadequate seat, +sometimes happened. Besides, when top-gallant sails +were set, this contrivance was all but useless. But +a far inferior sort of protection than this was in frequent +or ordinary use at the time of my first experience +in the Arctic seas. For years, I remember, +we had nothing more for sheltering behind but bits +of canvas on either side of the top-gallant rigging +and round the top-mast head, without anything in +front; and in some voyages still less,—a slip of canvas +bound round the head of the top-mast and heel +of the top-gallant mast, spreading some eighteen +inches to two feet wide, and perhaps three and a +half feet high, being all that the poor officer had to +shield him from the most penetrating severity of the +Arctic winds. Often have I myself sat, when a little +boy, by the side of my Father for hours at a time, in +this wretchedly exposed position, shivering with cold +generally, and with hands and feet frequently in +severe pain, whilst he habituated me in his superior +practice of navigating amid dangerous ices.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>The consequences of this deficiency of protection +were,—that the proper navigation of the ship was +often neglected, the discovery of many whales sufficiently +within view from thence was prevented, and +the success of the adventure was much restricted.</p> + +<p>The greatest boon, therefore, of modern times, +ever given to the Arctic navigator, it may be safely, +I think, said, was my Father’s invention of the <i>round +top-gallant crow’s nest</i>. It was in May, 1807, I +believe, in which the first of these was built. It +was placed, in the first instance, at the top-mast +head, but ultimately, when the invention became +perfected, it was perched, like a rostrum, on the +head of the main top-gallant mast, with nothing +whatever above.</p> + +<p>This structure, as most approved by the inventor, +is about four and a half feet in height and two and +a half in diameter. The form is cylindrical, open +above and closed below. The frame-work of the +cylindrical part is covered with leather or canvas. +The entrance is by a trap-hatch at the bottom. +Arrangements are made for the depositing (sheltered +from the weather) of various pieces of useful apparatus, +such as speaking-trumpet, telescope, signal-flag, +perhaps a rifle for shooting narwals, compass, +etc. For the more effectual shelter of the observer +when standing up, a moveable screen, two or three +feet wide and adding a foot to the elevation, is placed +on the windward side, and shifted whenever the ship +is tacked, or the course materially changed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>The protection thus obtained from the chilling +action of the wind is most perfect. Not a breath +of air stirs within this elevated rostrum. The observer +has free use of all his limbs, and, being safe +from the possibility of falling, has nothing to disturb +him in giving his entire attention to the navigation +of the ship and the look-out for whales. Being +perched, too, on the most elevated part of the mast, +there is nothing to interfere with his view of the +whole area of the circle of vision, having, in clear +weather, a diameter of twenty to twenty-two geographical +miles. So supported, and so effectually +protected, with the means of sitting, and space for +moving about when standing, there is no particular +hardship, in tolerable weather, in remaining at the +mast-head for some hours together. Often has this +elevated position been occupied by my Father, (and +often by myself, too,) during ten or twelve hours, +and sometimes fourteen hours or more, within the +twenty-four.</p> + +<p>This invention has not only added unspeakably to +the comfort and security of the officer at the mast-head, +but has, no doubt, contributed greatly both to +the safety of ships navigating the Arctic ices, and, +in respect of its position for “a good look-out,” in +no inconsiderable degree to the prosperity of their +adventures.</p> + +<p>The attainment of this position during storm and +snow, or when the rigging, as not unfrequently happens, +is covered with glassy ice, is the chief matter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +of discomfort, difficulty, and risk. The frigid northerly +blast feels as if blowing quite through and +through you. The ascent, by the ordinary rigging +and ratlings, conducts you to about three-fourths of +the elevation of the top-mast; you then step into midships, +upon a series of battens extending betwixt the +top-mast backstays; and, finally, when approaching +the cross-trees, you proceed up a vertically stretched +ladder of ropes and battens,—ropes on the sides, and +battens as steps,—until you make lodgment within the +crow’s nest by the trap-hatch, which, being then put +down, forms a part of the close and secure platform.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<i>Extraordinary Celerity in preparing +an empty Boat for active Service in the Fishery.</i></h3> + +<p>In the celerity with which he accomplished complex +or tedious operations pertaining to seamanship +or the whale-fishery, my Father stood quite unrivalled. +We have elucidated this characteristic in a former +section, in respect to the flensing of a young whale +with extraordinary rapidity, and we now adduce +another example of a more incidental nature.</p> + +<p>During the outward passage towards the fishing-stations, +the boats, designed for the fishery, are +carried out in an entirely dismantled state,—some +being stowed away upon deck, and some, perhaps, +below. On reaching the ice it is usual to suspend a +couple of boats, or more, by their davits, at the +quarters of the ship, to be ready for sealing, or any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +occasional purpose. But the whale-lines and other +fishing apparatus are not wont to be put into them +until the ship reaches, or approaches near to, some of +the accustomed fishing-stations.</p> + +<p>The boats of the Resolution were in this second +condition on the 11th of April, 1808, when the ship, +in her progress northward, had reached the 71st +degree of latitude,—a parallel in which whales were +not expected to be met with. It happened, however, +on the occasion alluded to, (as I find it noted in +my log-book, kept at the time,) that a whale made its +appearance very near to the ship. It was in the +morning, early, whilst my Father was yet in bed; +but he was not called, because, in the unprepared +condition of the boats, the officer of the watch, and +indeed all the people on deck, considered the pursuit +of it to be utterly impracticable.</p> + +<p>My Father, however, as little trammelled in judgment +by ordinary usages as he was in the habit of +being guided by popular ideas of the limits of practicability, +was much annoyed by the officer’s assumption, +which had prevented his being called. “It was +no use disturbing you,” the officer pleaded, “as +there was not a boat in readiness for the fishery.” +“But a boat might have been got ready,” was the +confidently asserted rebuke. That this could have +been done, however, within the short period of time +in which a solitary whale might be expected to +remain within sight, seemed to the officers as utterly +impossible; for whilst a whale, under such circum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>stances, +would seldom be found to remain within sight +for half an hour, the preparing of the boats with +lines, harpoons, and other requisites for the fishery, +would, as they conceived, occupy several hours.</p> + +<p>My Father maintained, however, the practicability +of a boat being fitted out, in a manner sufficient for +efficiency, in the course of a quarter of an hour; and, +when the idea was unhesitatingly objected to as an +<i>impossibility</i>, he undertook to prove his assertion. A +boat then hanging at the larboard quarter, empty, +except as to oars, he selected for an experiment, and +undertook, with the help only of the watch upon +deck,—about sixteen hands,—to have that boat ready +for active service within the space of fifteen minutes.</p> + +<p>To the due apprehending of this unprecedented +undertaking, it will be proper to describe what is +ordinarily deemed needful for fitting out a boat for +the harpooning and capturing of the whale. The loose +furniture of oars, harpoons, lances, etc., present no +particular difficulty; but the supplying of an adequate +quantity of lines, and placing them in a condition for +being safely run out, is, as ordinarily practised, a +long and tedious operation. The lines, it may be +mentioned, are taken on board from their winter +storehouse, in coils made up by the ropemaker, in +the shape of a short drum, each coil weighing a +little more than a hundred-weight, and measuring 120 +fathoms in length. They are so coiled, in regular +layers, commencing with that of the slender square +or cylindrical centre on which they are wound, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +they may be either unwound, by reversing the +original motion of the coil from the exterior, or by +taking up the inner end left loose in the open centre, +the line may be drawn out thence whilst the coil +remains at rest. For the lodgment of the lines, when +deliberately preparing for the fishery, they are <i>unrolled</i> +from the cylindrical mass, and coiled in compartments +in the boats as they come off; but as this could not +be done under a period of some hours, the running of +the lines out of the centre of the coils was the plan +alone available for my Father’s object.</p> + +<p>Whilst every article of the requisite apparatus was +yet in the place of its ordinary lodgment,—harpoons +and lances being in the places appropriated for them +in the ’tween decks, and whale-lines in the gunroom,—the +time for commencing was noted, and my +Father proceeded, as I very well recollect witnessing, +to the proof of this new feat of activity and management.</p> + +<p>To the several hands of the “watch,” now gathered +round him, was distinctly apportioned his part of +the undertaking; first of all in bringing promptly on +deck the requisite quantity of whale-lines and fishing +apparatus, and then in placing them fit for service. +Several lines (I think about four in number) were +stowed away in different compartments of the boat, +with the interior cavity of each upward. The inner +end of the line of one of the coils, in the most favourable +position for running, was rapidly “spliced” to +the “foreganger” of the harpoon by my Father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +whilst the officers about him were set to the splicing +properly together of the alternate outside end of one +coil with the inner end of another, so as to constitute +an appropriate running series. Everything being +accomplished, and the boat got ready for lowering, +the time was again noted, when, to the astonishment +of all on board, the interval expended was found only +to have been <i>twelve</i> minutes!</p> + +<p>The rebuke of the officer of the morning watch, +thus experimentally justified, occasioned, very naturally, +a desire to question, if questioning could in +any one particular be maintained, the effectiveness or +safety of the preparations thus hastily made. And it +<i>was</i> questioned whether lines so disposed, for being +run off the ropemaker’s coils, would be safe to trust +to their running clear in the case of actual service. +This matter was soon settled by a most satisfactory +experiment. As a whale when harpooned does not +go faster away than a man can run, it was proposed +to run off the whole of the lines out of the boat by +hand, in order to prove that the arrangements that +had been made were adequate, both for ordinary +service and safety.</p> + +<p>The decks were forthwith cleared, fore and aft, +and the men arranged to run with the line, from the +boat to the forecastle, in unceasing succession,—a +service which they performed, after the word was +given to start, with a hearty goodwill and their +utmost activity; and the experiment was admirably +successful. The whole of the lines went out of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +boat, by the usual notch over the stem, without hitch +or failure of the slightest kind interrupting their free +progress from beginning to end!</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VI.</span>—<i>Tact and Bravery in attacking and +killing a dangerously-resisting Whale.</i></h3> + +<p>It was no uncommon event for my Father, in case +of any difficult or dangerous enterprise in the fishery, +to take part himself in the adventure. The special +case now referred to will illustrate at once his practice +and talent.</p> + +<p>On the 29th of May, 1807, a whale was harpooned +by one of our officers. It descended to some considerable +depth, but speedily returned. On its reappearance, +it evinced an uncommon degree of +irritation. Its motions, whilst making but little +progress a-head, were vehement and incessant,—rolling +itself quite over, or, in an oscillating manner, +from side to side; throwing its huge tail into the air, +or flinging it with fearful impulse right and left, and +so keeping the surface of the sea around it in perpetual +commotion and foam. The display of its fins and tail +was so terrific and dangerous, that few of those in +command of our boats were hardy enough to approach +it. But, under this violent action of the fish, and the +inaction of our men, the risk of losing the hoped-for +prize became imminent. This being evident to my +Father, who, with discerning and watchful eye, had +all along been viewing from the mast-head, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +intense anxiety, the exciting scene with his glass,—he +made the signal, and in a manner indicative of +urgent haste, for one of the boats to come to the +ship. In brief space,—the fish not being far distant,—he +had personally embarked on his dangerous enterprise.</p> + +<p>On reaching the scene of action, where the wounded +monster was still exerting its excited energies in +aiming blows at any approaching boats, or thrashing +the sea into a foam,—our accomplished whale-hunter +quietly assumed a station, in parallelism, nearly, with +the direction of the animal’s extended length, and +within a few fathoms of its broadside. The boat-steerer,—as +the custom is,—he guided by the motion +of his hand; but the boat’s crew, being previously +urged to exert a tremendous spring on their oars +when he should decide on making his attack, were +to await his verbal command.</p> + +<p>A favourable pause, succeeding a terrific display +of action and power, had been watchfully discerned +by my Father, when, giving the signal to the boat-steerer +to sheer towards the fish, and, simultaneously, +the emphatic order to the men,—“Give way, my +lads; give way!”—he was in a moment placed within +reach; and then, at long arm’s length, whilst leaning +over the boat’s bow for distance’ sake, he plunged +his well-sharpened harpoon deep into the writhing +creature’s side. Its usual vengeance-slash of its tail +was made harmlessly; for the order to “back off,” +had been so instantly and effectively obeyed, that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +boat was beyond reach before this ponderous engine +of motion or destruction could be thrown out.</p> + +<p>Rebuked, in a measure, by this daring attack of +their commander, as well as encouraged and stimulated +by its success, one of the hitherto hesitating +boats immediately followed for a similar object; but +the officer commanding it, not having the same tact, +advanced incautiously, at an unfavourable moment, +and too far within the range of the enemy’s destructive +members, as to subject himself and comrades to +a formidable peril. The tail of the fish was again +reared into the air, in a terrific attitude over the +boat. The harponeer, who was directly underneath, +happily discovered his danger, and leaped overboard; +and the next moment the threatened stroke was impressed +with tremendous force upon the centre of the +boat, which literally buried it in the water!</p> + +<p>Providentially, no one was hurt. The officer who +leaped overboard, escaped certain death by the prompt +adventure. The huge tail (a member measuring perhaps +twenty feet in width, extending to a superficial +area of about eighty square feet, and weighing from +one to two tons), struck the very spot on which he +had previously stood. The effects of the blow on the +boat were extraordinary. The keel was broken; the +gunwale, and all the planks, except two, were cut +through; and it was evident that the boat would +have been completely divided, had not the tail struck +directly upon a deep coil of the whale-lines. The +crew, succoured by the various boats lying around,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +were all speedily picked up; but the boat was so +thoroughly smashed as to be rendered useless.</p> + +<p>This alarming discouragement, with the crippling +of their strength and resources by the destruction of +one boat and the withdrawal of another for the conveyance +to the ship of the drenched and shivering +sailors, threw the principal burden of the exploit of +capture on my Father. For though other harpoons, +after some minor adventures, were struck, the actual +killing of this leviathan of its tribe was effected by +himself.</p> + +<p>Contrary to the usual habits of the Greenland +whale, this individual, instead of occasionally seeking +the depths of ocean for its protection, especially on +receiving a fresh and painful wound, remained mainly +at the surface. Its natural energies, but yet little +acted on by the exhausting influence of the <i>pressure</i> +of water, were consequently very little impaired; +for the superficial wounds of harpoons produce no +immediate effect upon life.</p> + +<p>Hence, the operation of lancing was yet to be +effected, before there could be any chance of subduing +the still existing dangerous vigour. My +Father, as was his wont, proceeded next to this +venturous undertaking. Again he plants his boat +in parallelism of position with that of his gigantic +game. Full of ardour and confidence in their leader, +his boat’s crew are ready for any effort or adventure +which the daring or activity of man may accomplish. +The proper moment for the attack is waited for, and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +when seen, instantly improved. The boat, as a thing +of life, springs, at his signal, towards the side of the +whale. The Commander’s long lance—six feet in +the iron, and four feet in the handle—is darted, at +arm’s length, into the writhing carcass, up to the +very socket; and, before the fling of fins or tail can +reach, he has recovered a safe distance. The effect +of the wound in the vitals is speedily seen. The +previous white steamy vapour ejected from the lungs +has become tinged with red; and nature’s powers, +as experience indicates, must soon decay. Convulsive +action in the monster, as stimulated by this +inward stab, being at length suspended, the favourable +moment is again improved. Another lance,—darted +in as quickly as the stroke of the tiger’s paw,—penetrates, +for the second time, the vast viscera +of the whale; whilst the active agents of the attack +escape, as before, unscathed. The deadly thrust is +quickly repeated; and, as the capability of exerting +instant violence is diminished, the deeply stricken +lance is worked actively up and down whilst still +within, so that every movement effects an additional +wound, and the work of death is the more speedily +and mercifully promoted. Thick jets of blood now +issue from the blow-holes, and the sea, through the +wide space of disturbed waters, is tinged by the +overflowing streams; whilst boats, oars, and men, +are thickly sprinkled with the sanguinous dye. +Lanced, now, on both sides at once, with these formidable +instruments of destruction, the dangerous ener<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>gies +of this vast animal become soon overpowered, +and it now yields itself passively to its inevitable +fate. One effort alone remains. The instinctive +impulse or spasm of expiring vitality,—like the +brilliant gleam or coruscation of the expiring taper, +is expended in a series of tremendous death-throes. +The writhing body of the giant captive is now +thrown into strangely powerful action; fins and tail +play with terrific violence, tossing up huge waves, +and dashing the sea, for a considerable circle round, +into foam. The prudent fishermen push off to a safe +distance, and, looking on with the solemnised impression +of a spectacle at once wonderful and sublime, +leave the convulsions of expiring nature to expend +themselves. The vital energies are exhausted; the +huge carcass, so recently perilous in the energies of +life, rolls, by the gravitating tendency of its formation, +on one side, and slowly the helpless fin rises to the +surface of the water, and inherent power of motion +ceases for ever! Three hearty cheers from all +hands engaged in the capture, with the waving and +“striking” of the “jacks” displayed in the boats +from which harpoons had been struck, announce to +the ship the happy issue of the conflict; from whence, +in turn, similar exulting cheers are heard loudly responding.<a name="FNanchor_J_10" id="FNanchor_J_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_J_10" class="fnanchor">[J]</a></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> +<p>We have remarked, in a foregoing chapter, on the +economy in Providence, by which the fiercest quadrupeds, +under human tact and intelligence, become +subdued and tractable. Here, again, we are led to +reflect on the economy manifest in respect to the +<i>hugest</i> of the animal creation, whether on earth or in +the ocean, whereby all become subject to man, either +for advantageous employment, as to their living +energies, or for purposes of utility as to the produce +of their dead carcasses.</p> + +<p>The capture of the whale by man, when their +relative proportions, as to physical power and mass, +are considered, is a result truly wonderful. An +animal of a thousand times the bulk of man, with a +corresponding superiority in strength, inhabiting an +element in which man cannot exist, and diving to +depths where no other creature can follow, with the +capabilities, too, of abiding there for an hour together, +is attacked by man on its own ground, not only +in the tranquil Pacific, but in the boisterous north-western +seas; not only in the open seas of the tropics, +but amid ice-bound regions around the pole; and in +each region is constrained to yield its life to his +attacks, and its carcass a tribute to his marvellous +enterprise.</p> + +<p>Why this result, with such disproportionate physical +powers in conflict, should not only take place, +but prevalently follow the attack, is satisfactorily explained +on the simple principle of the Divine enactment. +It was the appointment of the Creator that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +it should be so. And this, besides what we have +already quoted from the sacred records of creation, +we have again, by the inspired Psalmist and elsewhere, +declared. Hence, as to the fact of the dominion +of man over the inferior creation, Divinely +yielded, we have the authority of this adoring appeal +of God’s inspired servant:—“What is man, that thou +art mindful of him!” “Thou madest him to have +dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put +all things under his feet; all sheep and oxen, yea, +and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and +the fish of the sea, and <i>whatsoever passeth through +the paths of the sea</i>. O <span class="smcap">Lord</span>, our Lord, how excellent +is thy name in all the earth!”—Psalm viii. 6-8. +No doubt this striking psalm has direct reference to +the world’s Great and Divine Redeemer; but what +herein is true of the “Son of Man,” is also, in respect +to the consideration of the Almighty for man and his +appointed dominion, true of men as a species. And +so it follows, that the monsters of the deep, as well as +the wild beasts of the earth, yield to this law of +creation, that man should have the dominant power!</p> + +<p class="gap2">The whale, thus adventurously subdued, proved a +large one of its kind, and a very valuable prize. Its +special dimensions and produce, though not noted, +may be very proximately gathered from the record +(always made in the whaler’s journals) which we have +of the length of the largest of the laminæ of whalebone, +viz. 11 feet 9 inches. According to the general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +averages, as given in the “Account of the Arctic +Regions,” (vol. i. pp. 449-478,) this specimen would +be about 56 feet in length, and must have yielded +about 20 tuns of oil, with about 22 cwt. of whalebone. +The value of the capture (oil being <i>very low</i> +in price at the time) was about 500<i>l.</i>; but the same +capture, in the years 1801, 1813, or 1817, when +prices were <i>high</i>, would have been worth no less than +1000<i>l.</i> to 1100<i>l.</i></p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VII.</span>—<i>Remarkable Enterprise.—The +nearest Approach to the North Pole.</i></h3> + +<p>The adventurous attempt to reach the <i>North Pole</i>, +like that of the “North-west Passage,” may be considered +as an enterprise peculiarly British. Of six +voyages expressly undertaken for this object, up to +the time, and inclusive of, Captain Buchan’s, in +1818, there was no advance beyond the 81st parallel. +The highest latitude reached was by Captain Phipps, +in 1773, who advanced to 80° 48′. Captain Buchan’s +farthest was about 80° 34′. And up to the present +day we have no account which can be fully relied +upon of any ship, discovery ship or whaler, having +approached within forty geographical miles of the +high northern latitude reached by my Father in the +year 1806.</p> + +<p>The Honourable Daines Barrington, indeed, in his +discussion of the question of the “Probability of +Reaching the North Pole,” adduces a great variety<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +of instances of the advance of whalers to far higher +positions of northern latitude; but for the reasons +stated in the “Account of the Arctic Regions,” (vol. +i. p. 42,) I consider the authorities from which Mr. +Barrington derived his information as not satisfactory. +As to the defectiveness in authority of <i>mere recollections</i>, +or even of the notes of ordinary observers, in +respect of adventures of this kind, I have a curious +example in the “Account of a Voyage to Spitzbergen,” +by a Greenland Surgeon, who sailed in the +Resolution professionally, on the very voyage on +which my Father made his greatest advance northward. +The author, in respect to this advance, thus +states from his journal:—“May 28. Latitude by +observation 81° 50′. Sea almost clear of ice, with a +great swell; weather serene. Had our object been +the making of discoveries, there was not <i>apparently</i> +anything to have prevented us from going a good +way farther to the north; at least we did not perceive +any large fields of ice in that direction.”</p> + +<p>Now this is mainly erroneous. Instead of 81° 50′, +the highest latitude <i>observed</i> was only 81° 12′ 42″, +and the statements as to the nature and position of +the ice, are equally diverse from what those circumstances +actually were.</p> + +<p class="gap2">My Father’s notable enterprise in the attainment, +probably, of the highest latitude that had ever been +reached by man was made in the ship Resolution, +in the voyage of 1806. Occupying, young as I was,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +the responsible office of chief-mate in the ship, I have +the records of the adventure preserved in my journal +in all their essential or important details.</p> + +<p>The entrance into the ordinary fishing-stations on +the western side of Spitzbergen was, on this occasion, +occupied by ice of extraordinary breadth and compactness. +We entered it on the 28th of April, in the +latitude of 76° N., and, pressing northward at every +available opening, we reached the latitude of 77° on +the 7th of May. Several ships were then in sight. +On the 10th, a gale setting in from the S.E., we were +enabled to make considerable progress through the +encumbering ice, and soon left all our associate +whalers fairly out of sight; and from that time until +the 19th of June (after we had retraced much of our +progress southward) we never saw a sail.</p> + +<p>Up to the 13th of May, indeed, there was nothing +unusual, as to the practice of my Father, in the nature +of the adventure. But on that day, being in latitude +about 78° 46′, within sight of Charles Island, on the +western coast of Spitzbergen, he entered upon a new +and apparently dangerous enterprise,—the attempt to +find, whilst the sea was apparently <i>filled</i> with ice, in +this high latitude, a navigable sea still nearer the +Pole.</p> + +<p>The ice around was singularly compact, and, to +ordinary apprehension, impenetrable. Northward of +us it consisted, as far as our view extended, of scattered +masses of heavy drift-ice, closely cemented +into a compact body by recently formed <i>bay-ice</i>. To<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +attempt a passage herein, if such were possible, must, +in any case, be a most difficult and laborious undertaking; +but if the compact body were entered, and +not successfully penetrated and passed beyond, it +might involve a risk, which a considerable fleet +actually fell into, of the loss of the fishing season by +a helpless besetment. There were indications, however, +which my Father’s experienced eye alone +discerned,—of open water to the northward. The +bright reflection of the snow-covered ices in the sky, +constituting the phenomenon of the “ice blink,” +most certainly pointed out the continuous encumbering +of the navigation for a considerable way in +advance; but, when elevated to the very top of the +mast, he could perceive a bluish grey streak <i>below</i> +the ice-blink, parallel to and skirting the horizon, +which he deemed a sure indication of “clear water,” +<i>beyond</i> the proximate “pack.” Yet this grey reflection, +or “water-sky,” might not be of any +great extent? It might arise from a transient vein +of water capable of being obliterated on the first +change of wind? Were such the nature of the +opening, it might prove, even if reached, the more +dangerous trap, as its position was more advanced +northward?</p> + +<p>These considerations, of very serious import, were +settled, happily, by another sign which the watchful +navigator got sight of. He discerned, for short +intervals, occasionally, a very slight motion, as he +conceived, of the water in contact with some of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +large lumps of ice near the ship. His careful scrutiny +of the masses, under an anxiously watchful eye, at +length assured him that there <i>was</i> a movement. +Experience then certified that the movement could +only arise from a <i>swell</i>, and that the swell must proceed +either from the main ocean, southward, or else +from some immense interglacial lake, or what is technically +called “a sea of water,” northward. That it +<i>did not</i> come from the southern ocean, the distance +to which he had penetrated, and the unmixed brightness +of the ice-blink in each of the southern quarters, +convinced him; and that it <i>did</i> come from the northward +he was able to satisfy himself, by carefully +observing the points or places on the masses of ice +where the alteration of level in the water was the +greatest; for this scrutiny sufficed to show, that the +axial position of the ice, which the motion pointed +out, was in strict parallelism with a wave coming +directly from the place of the “water-sky” to the +northward.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by these indications, he determined +on leaving a position recently attained, where the +ship had some little room, and pushing, at all risks, +into the formidable body of consolidated ices still +beyond him. This arduous and adventurous purpose +was commenced on the 13th of May, with a +moderate breeze (favourable to our advance) from +the south-west. Little progress was, indeed, then +made; but laborious perseverance, rendered effective +by a consummate application of all the means and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +resources available for our furtherance, ultimately +yielded the desired, and I might add, deserved +success. During five successive days, a series of +labours were carried on of the most energetic and +persevering description. The transit through the +intervening ice,—which consisted, as we have intimated, +of extensive sheets of bay-ice, with heavy +lumps and masses consolidated therein,—was urged +by all the variety of aids that were known to be +applicable. These aids, beyond the available force of +occasional favourable winds, consisted in the cutting +of tracks or channels with ice-saws, where the thickness +was too great to be broken, or, where thinner, in +breaking the ice under the bows by boats suspended +beneath the bowsprit, whilst their crews rolled them +violently, from side to side, as in “sallying;” in +making canals, by well-laden boats being run across +extensive planes of ice, where their weight, with that +of their crews, might be sufficient to break the resisting +surface; in “warping” through encumbered +channels, or amid lumps of more ponderous ices; +in “towing” with boats, or “tracking” by men on the +ice, during calms, along any clear channels of water +which might have been opened out a-head; and, +finally, by <i>sallying the ship</i>, in aid of any of these +resources, for widening the space in which she floated, +so as to leave her free to move, where room might +exist in advance. And here, I think it due to my +Father to notice, in regard to the sallying of the +ship,—an oscillating or rolling motion accomplished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +by the running of the crew, simultaneously, from side +to side across the deck,—that the application of this +most important auxiliary process was original with +him, and, as far as I can remember, <i>now</i> for the first +time employed. It is a process, I may add, which +has subsequently been adopted by fishermen and discoverers +in general, as a mean which may often be +made effective when, <i>under all other means</i> for the +promotion of progress, the wedged-up or ice-bound +ship has become utterly immoveable.</p> + +<p>The manner in which these various operations +were carried on was laborious in an extreme degree. +Whilst the crew were allowed but limited and distant +periods for rest, my Father’s exertions were +such as, except under the pressure of circumstances +involving the alternative of life or death, I think I +never saw equalled. Not only was he always at his +post directing, instructing, stimulating his men when +progress was being made or attempted, but often +looking out when the hands in general slept, or +continuing his superintending toils, watch after watch, +when portions of the crew had, alternately, their +intervals of rest. In that severe service, indeed, few +men could have so persevered. An extraordinary +vigour and strength of constitution enabled him to +accomplish, in labours of this kind, for which he had +so high capabilities, what most men would have +broken down in attempting.</p> + +<p>His exertions and talents, as we have indeed anticipated, +had their due recompense in the most suc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>cessful +results of the enterprise. After passing an +icy barrier of extraordinary tenaceousness and compactness, +as well as of formidable extent, we reached +a region, in the 80th parallel, of incomparably greater +openness than we could have anticipated,—“a sea of +water,”—to which we could see no bounds, but the +ice we had passed through on the south side, and the +land to the eastward.</p> + +<p>Under a brisk gale of wind and with fine clear +weather, we were enabled rapidly to explore through +a considerable portion of its extent, the immense interglacial +sea upon which we had entered. It was +found to stretch east and west, or E.N.E. and +W.S.W. more nearly, to an extraordinary extent, +and to be bounded to the northward as well as to +the southward by packed ice of undeterminable extent,—the +two bodies of ice being ten to twenty +leagues apart. And within this vast opening, though +not till after the northern and southern ices had +closed together and joined to the westward, we made +the principal part of our fishery.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of May, being in latitude 80° 8′, we +killed our first whale; and within the next fortnight, +and near the same position, sixteen others yielded +their lives to our harpoons and lances. On the 29th +of June, only two-and-thirty days from the time of +our first capture, we completed our cargo, being “a +full ship,” with the produce of twenty-four whales, +one narwal, two seals, two walruses, and two bears. +This cargo, by far the largest, I believe, of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +season, yielded 216 tuns of oil, and almost eleven +tons of whalebone. The fishery, in consequence of +the peculiar position of the ice, and the unusual inaccessibility +of the best fishing stations, proved generally +bad. Judging from the returns in my possession, +comprising the successes of twenty-four of the Greenland +whalers of that year, I should calculate the +general average at about fifty tuns of oil per ship, or +less than one-fourth of the Resolution’s cargo. The +united cargoes of nine ships, out of eighteen, from +one port (taking, of course, the worst fished ships), +exceeded only by a few tuns the single cargo which +resulted from the singular enterprise of my Father.</p> + +<p class="gap2">But we return to the grand exploration of a region +which, as far as conclusive records go, has not, before +or since, ever been <i>navigated</i>.</p> + +<p>In the first instance, after our arrival in this vast +northern opening of the ice, we proceeded to the +westward, and, finding no whales, tacked, when we +had reached the longitude of about 8° W., in the +parallel of 79° 30′ N. We then stretched to the +northward and eastward, proceeding, generally, near +to or within sight of the northern “pack,” for a distance +of above 300 miles,—a direct uninterrupted progress +in this high latitude quite unparalleled. On +the 23d-24th, at midnight, an altitude of the sun, +below the Pole, carefully taken with a fifteen-inch +sextant by Ramsden, gave the latitude 81° 12′ 42″. +We continued our progress until (early the following<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +morning) we had reached the longitude of 19° E., +when our latitude, as estimated from the recent observation, +was 81° 30′ N. This was our farthest advance +northward, in which we had gained a position +within about 510 miles of the Pole! Even then, +the navigation was still quite open to the E.N.E., +(true) and from that point round to the S.E.; so +open, that, as we could certainly gather from the +appearance of the sky, we could have easily advanced +many many leagues farther in the direction we had +so extensively pursued.</p> + +<p>Our situation, at our farthest advance, was singular +and solitary indeed. No ship, no human being, it +was believed, was within 300 or 350 miles of us. +Unquestionably, the crew of the Resolution now +occupied the most northern position of any individuals +in the world! The sea began to freeze and +threatened our detention. We had made no progress +in the fishery, nor could we find any whales. +The seamen began to be anxious, fearful, and troublesome, +so that abundant considerations urged our +return to the westward, where, as has been shown, +our commercial enterprise became so signally successful.</p> + +<p>The accuracy of the determinations for the latitude +we have stated, was variously verified during our +progress both ways. Thus, going north-eastward, +we observed, May 23d, at noon, in lat. 80° 50′ 28″; +at next midnight, as we have noted, in 81° 12′ 42″. +At the succeeding noon, after above eight hours<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +sailing on our return, we again observed in 81° 1′ 53″; +and, still running south-westerly, we sighted at 8 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> +of the same day Hackluyt’s Headland, some forty +miles still to the southward of our position.</p> + +<p>We have spoken of this adventure as reaching to +the highest latitude ever attained, as far as we have +conclusive records, <i>by sailing</i>. Captain Parry, in +his Polar attempt of 1827, indeed, went beyond my +Father’s greatest attainment a distance of seventy or +eighty miles; but this advance was wholly gained by +travelling across the ice. For with all the advantage +of a later period in the summer, and the penetration +of the loose ice by boats, the <i>travelling</i> had to be +commenced on attaining the latitude of 81° 13′.</p> + +<p>In referring to this attempt, one can hardly refrain +from expressing regret at the success of an expedition +so energetically pursued being marred by circumstances +which, under better arrangements, might +have been avoided. For had the plan as originally +suggested, about twelve years before this adventure, +been acted on, I have no hesitation in affirming, that +<i>a far greater advance</i> northward, if not complete +success, must have attended the daring enterprise. +It falls not, indeed, within the object of the present +Memorials to take up again a question which is discussed +in detail in a communication of mine to the +“Edinburgh Philosophical Journal,” and published +in the number for July 1828; but it may suffice to +say, that the opinion offered just above has now the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +sanction of the gallant conductor of the enterprise +himself, who, in a letter published by the late Sir +John Barrow, in his volume of “Arctic Voyages” (p. +313) states, that “he believes it to be an object of no +very difficult attainment, if set about in a different +manner.” And, it may be added, a plan for that +adventure is given in the letter now quoted, substantially +embodying the characteristic points of my +original scheme,<a name="FNanchor_K_11" id="FNanchor_K_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_K_11" class="fnanchor">[K]</a> and, indeed, in no essential particular, +except the suggestion for spending the previous +winter at Spitzbergen, differing from it.</p> + +<p>Under such support in the idea, from one of the +best authorities amongst those experimentally acquainted +with the difficulties of the undertaking, I +am led, not only to an increased conviction of the +practicability of the enterprise, but to the entertaining +of the belief, that the triumph is yet in store for the +daring and adventurous nation</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Whose <i>flag</i> has braved a thousand years,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The battle and the breeze;”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>when</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“The meteor flag of England”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>shall wave upon the axial point of the world at the +Northern Pole!</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section VIII.</span>—<i>Devotional Habits, at Sea and +on Shore.</i></h3> + +<p>At this period of my Father’s life, his religious +views and habits had become matter of personal +notice, and observation with myself,—so as, in certain +respects, to enable me to speak of them from distinct +recollections.</p> + +<p>He always spoke of religion with reverence, and +manifested a particular regard for the institution of +the Sabbath. He was strongly attached to the +Church, and attended its public services with most +reverential and undeviating regularity. In theological +views, he inclined to those of the Rev. John +Wesley, of whose character and principles he was a +great admirer. Holding the system of that eminent +servant of Christ as auxiliary to the Church,—he +became much attached to it, so that, for a considerable +extent of his life, whilst by profession a churchman, +he was commonly the holder of a pew in the old +Wesleyan Chapel at Whitby, and, on the Sunday +evenings (after the services of the Church had closed) +was a constant attendant, not unfrequently being +accompanied by some members of his family, at the +religious services conducted there.</p> + +<p>This feeling and habit brought him into personal +intimacy with the leading Wesleyans resident at +Whitby, and into friendly intercourse with the +officiating ministers of that body—to whom he always +evinced pleasure in showing kindness and hospitality.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was in this connection that he made the acquaintance, +and obtained the friendship, of the late talented +Mr. Drew, to whose brief memoir, published in the +“Imperial Magazine,” which he edited, I have been +indebted for several particulars in my Father’s early +life, not elsewhere to be found.</p> + +<p>His attachment to the Wesleyans, indeed, had a +further expression than that of often joining in their +devotional services, and having much friendly intercourse +with their members; for it extended to several +instances of substantial good-will in the form of +liberal contributions, as well as in loans of money in +aid of their chapels.</p> + +<p>My Father’s distinctive regard for religion, and +religious ordinances, was still further indicated by +several circumstances which I had the opportunity of +noticing as prevalent with him when at sea. Among +these stand prominently in my recollection, the habit +of having Divine service performed on the Lord’s-day, +whilst I accompanied him during his command +of the Resolution of Whitby. On these occasions, +the crew, summoned by the tolling of the ship’s bell, +were assembled in the cabin, where my Father conducted +the service according to the form comprised +in the Liturgy of the Church, and afterwards (for +some voyages at least,) read portions, such as he +deemed suitable, from some devotional book, or +latterly, with my assistance as I advanced in years +and experience, from a collection of plain, practical, +and valuable sermons, which had been presented to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +me, for the purpose, by that amiable and eminent +servant of Christ, the Rev. T. Dikes of Hull.</p> + +<p>In addition to these devotional habits, may be +noted, his habitual reliance on the guidance and protection +of Divine Providence. This was variously +indicated; not only by the use of pious expressions, +which he was heard to utter when he was about +adventuring on some perilous enterprise, or when he +had been enabled safely to wend his adventurous way +out of imminent dangers, but in respect to a habit, +which he suggested to me, as fitting to be copied, +of commencing his sea-journal with an appropriate +prayer, supplicatory of the Divine guidance and protection, +and of inserting at the conclusion of a successful +fishery, a fitting collect of thanksgiving. The +insertion of the latter, in a foregoing section, may +claim the addition here of the form, as modified out +of a collect in the Liturgy, for the former, which I +find uniformly inserted in many of my own journals:—“Assist +us mercifully, O Lord, in this our intended +voyage, and make it profitable to us, particularly by +disposing us towards the attainment of Thy everlasting +salvation; that, among all the changes and chances +of this mortal life, we may ever be defended by Thy +most gracious and ready help, through Jesus Christ +our Lord, Amen.”</p> + +<p>The journal from which this form is quoted comprises, +too, a poetic attempt by my Father,—an +acrostic on my own name,—strikingly characterised +by sentiments of devotion, humiliation, and adoration.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another practice, which he prevalently pursued +when at sea, in addition to the religious exercises +already noted, was that of devotional reading when +in bed. I refer to this particularly, not only because +it was a practice that I had constant opportunities of +observing, but because of the admirable contrivance +(applicable, I think, to the condition of many invalids,) +adopted for rendering this exercise and recreation +convenient and agreeable without the labour of holding +the book, or the prevalent exposure of the hands +to the cold and often freezing temperature of his +“state-room.”</p> + +<p>The contrivance consisted in an open deal frame, +about eighteen inches by twelve inside, like a light +flat picture-frame when empty, which, in my Father’s +case, was fixed by hinges to the bulkhead forming +the inner side of his bed, so as to be turned up, flat +against the side, when not in use. Being hung on an +oblique plane, it became, when let down for reading, +parallel to the position of the reader with his head, +face upward, lying on a pillow. The distance from +the face was adjusted to his own reading focus; but +could easily be altered by different loops on the string +or wire, by which the end opposite to that affixed by +hinges was supported from the planking of the deck, +or ceiling, overhead.</p> + +<p>The book designed to be used was laid, with the +open pages downward, upon the interior of the frame, +where it was supported by three parallel wires, the +side wires receiving the margins of the book, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +centre wire the middle. These wires for the adjustment +of distance were made to slide, by loops at their +ends, upon two other strong wires attached longitudinally +to the interior of the frame, so that the wires +could be readily adapted for a book of any size, from +a large quarto down to the smallest volume.</p> + +<p class="gap2">The condition of my Father’s mind, in reference +to this all-important subject, I find particularly indicated +in two of his letters, fortunately preserved, +which were written to me at the period embraced by +the present chapter, whilst, as a youth, I was attending +the scientific lectures of the University of Edinburgh.<a name="FNanchor_L_12" id="FNanchor_L_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_L_12" class="fnanchor">[L]</a> +I select, with slight verbal correction, two +or three passages:—</p> + +<p>“It is a great pleasure to us to learn that you +know the value of time which you have so nicely +divided to suit the lectures, etc.; but, at the same +time, beg leave to say, that we think you have made +a mistake when you say, ‘I intend, if all’s well, to go +to Mr. Wood’s on Sunday, as, on that day, I have no +lectures to attend.’ My dear son, I know it is too +much the custom to visit and take our pleasure on +the Sabbath-day, which ought to be strictly observed, +as the wise Author of all things has appointed. He +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>has appointed one day in seven to Himself, that we +may rejoice therein and serve Him, as he has commanded +us in the Holy Scriptures, desiring us therein +to search for wisdom, (as Solomon sought, and was +blessed with riches and honour,) which your Bible, +and <i>Sunday Lectures</i>, and your own prayers offered +up to God, will procure for you, and He will yield +His peace which passeth all understanding. We are +very poorly off indeed if there be no better things +in store for us than those of this world, which, compared +to spiritual things, are all vanity and vexation +of spirit.”</p> + +<p>After a very gratifying notice of my “steady conduct,” +followed by some judicious paternal counsel +and warnings, the section of the letter now quoted +thus concludes:—“Hearken to the advice of a +Father, and walk in the <i>laws</i> of the <i>Lord</i>, which +you will find the greatest comfort this life can +afford.”</p> + +<p>The other letter, after a high commendation of +diligence in the acquisition of knowledge, and the +citing, for one’s example, the names and enterprises +of many of the most distinguished scholars and +philosophers of antiquity, proceeds as follows:—“But +after a man may (like these distinguished examples) +have studied all arts and sciences, until he be as +great a proficient as Crichton, yet, <i>without religion</i>, +he will, at the latter end of his life, have, with Sir +John Mason, to exclaim,—<i>Seriousness is the greatest +wisdom, Temperance the best physician, and a Good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +Conscience the best estate.</i> Therefore, my son, with +all thy getting, get wisdom and understanding, and +never be ashamed to carry a pocket Bible about with +you, wherein you may find comfort in every state of +life, and, at the same time, you will feel a thirst for +every useful science, which, I flatter myself, you will +not relax in pursuit of.”</p> + +<p class="gap2">In conclusion of this sketch of my Father’s views +and habits, religiously considered, I may just notice, +that, although his principles sometimes failed under +special temptations, as in the case of Sabbath-day +fishing, yet the feeling of reverence for the day +appointed for rest and devotion, was seldom without +some manifestation. If whales were pursued when +incidentally seen on the sacred day, they were not +sought for, nor were boats sent out on watch, as on +other days, nor was ordinary work ordered or permitted +to be done. During his latter voyages, however, +his practice became more decided in this +respect; for the fishery itself, pressing as, in a +worldly view, its claims might seem, was suspended +during the Sabbath; and the day was generally +given to the appointed objects of the gracious and +beneficent institution.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_H_8" id="Footnote_H_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_H_8"><span class="label">[H]</span></a> The proportion of profit, it may be noted, did not equal that of the +relative produce obtained from the two fisheries, in consequence of the +additional expenses of the Davis’ Strait voyage, in respect of the time +absent, and of the higher premium required for insurance.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_I_9" id="Footnote_I_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_I_9"><span class="label">[I]</span></a> Given in substance in the “Account of the Arctic Regions,” +vol. ii. page 360.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_J_10" id="Footnote_J_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_J_10"><span class="label">[J]</span></a> It will here be proper to notice, that in the foregoing description +of this adventurous capture, we have taken occasion (in the way of +illustration generally) to fill up the picture, in regard to some particulars +of well known and prevalent experience, beyond the extent of +the leading facts and outlines, or memorial records, specially before us.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_K_11" id="Footnote_K_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_K_11"><span class="label">[K]</span></a> This plan was first communicated to the Wernerian Society of +Edinburgh, and published in the second volume of its Memoirs. It +was subsequently set forth in a revised form, in the “Account of the +Arctic Regions,” published in the year 1819.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_L_12" id="Footnote_L_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_L_12"><span class="label">[L]</span></a> From attendance on the instructive lectures and demonstrations +of several of the most eminent men of science and learning of the day, +during a considerable portion of two sessions, I feel it a matter of +grateful duty here, by the way, to say, that I obtained a larger measure +of general information and scientific knowledge than, within like period, +perhaps, any other existing instrumentality could have yielded.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></p> + +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter V.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">FURTHER ENTERPRISES: GENERAL RESULTS.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>The Greenock Whale-fishing Company.</i></h3> + +<p>In the summer of 1810, whilst I was on a recreative +tour in Scotland, and visiting at the house of a merchant +in Greenock, my adventures and experience in +the northern whale-fishery became a frequent topic +of conversation. This was the means of eliciting, +in respect to several gentlemen with whom I had +intercourse, a strong disposition to embark in this, +to them, <i>new</i> department of commercial enterprise. +My Father, at this very time, being on the point of +retiring from the command of the Resolution, was +informed of the circumstance, which speedily led to +his forming a new and satisfactory connection with +some of the first men, in character and position, in +that enterprising port.</p> + +<p>The associates, originally, were, I believe, George +Robertson and William Forsyth (of the house of +Messrs. Robertson, Forsyth, and Co.), and David +Hyde, Esquires, who, with my Father, each holding +equal, or one-fourth shares, constituted the new firm +of “The Greenock Whale-fishing Company.” Of +this association, my Father was appointed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +managing partner, with authority to purchase and +fit out one or not exceeding two ships, for the +Greenland fishery, in which he was to have the +select or principal command.</p> + +<p>Under this arrangement my Father proceeded to +London, and purchased two ships, only one of which, +however, the <i>John</i>, was ultimately appropriated to +this Arctic adventure.</p> + +<p>The John was a Batavia-built <i>teak</i> ship, 316 tons +burden. To ships built of this species of timber, +almost indestructible in respect of ordinary decay, +my Father was very partial; and, in purchasing the +John, though she proved more expensive than was +expected (having cost 12,700<i>l.</i> to sea), he was not, +as to this peculiar and important quality of her +timber, disappointed. She proved a fine ship, an +admirable “sea-boat,” and, except as to capacity, +which was rather too small, fully answered his +expectations.</p> + +<p>No time was lost in entering upon this new and +responsible enterprise. The John sailed, on her +first voyage, in 1811, the season next succeeding my +Father’s last command of the Resolution; and the +result, as to its successfulness, well satisfied the +sanguine hopes of the parties associated in the risk. +The cargo obtained was sixteen stout whales, which +yielded a produce of 200 tuns of oil.</p> + +<p>With this commencement, the residue of the adventure +of this concern amply corresponded. During +the four voyages to which the co-partnery extended,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +103 whales were captured, and a produce of 837 +tuns of oil, averaging 209 tuns a season, brought into +port. In the last voyage of the series, that of 1814, +thirty-four whales, yielding 249 tuns of oil, were +taken; being, as to quantity, the best of all my +Father’s adventures. The cargo of the preceding +year, however, was, on account of the very high +price of oil, the most remunerative. The gross +receipts of that year, on account of a cargo of 190 +tuns of oil, and about ten tons of whalebone, +amounted to the extraordinary sum of about 11,000<i>l.</i>!</p> + +<p>The entire successes of this <i>fourth</i> command of my +Father’s, as thus exhibited, not merely equalled, it is +seen, but actually exceeded any one of his former +enterprises. Though his cargoes, however, were +nearly double the general average of the fishery, +there were now competitors, in this field of enterprise, +who, <i>within this limited and particular period</i>, +equalled or even outrun him in the race. The only +accurate comparison which I am here enabled to +make, is with respect to the successes of the Hull +fishermen. And here I find two,—Captain Joseph +Sadler, of the Gilder, and Captain Harrison, of the +Walker,—whose enterprises during these four years +were highly productive; having yielded, as to the +former, something more than the John’s cargoes, +and as to the latter, just about the same amount. +But in both these cases, it may be noticed, that the +tonnage of the ships was advantageously larger than +that of the John.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before proceeding with an account of the concluding +enterprises of the subject of these memorials, +we have an incident to notice, which, however +trifling in itself, may, it is hoped, interest the reader, +because of its characteristic nature and somewhat +amusing result.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>“Cum au greim a gheibhthu.”</i></h3> + +<p>The capacity for receiving knowledge, and the +capability of applying the knowledge possessed, are +characteristics of very different qualities of mind. +The latter of these qualities is, <i>per se</i>, incomparably +the most important and valuable. For one man, with +comparatively moderate attainments, but having a +facility in applying the knowledge he has acquired, +will be a far more useful member of society, and is +capable of becoming a more distinguished character, +than another of vastly superior acquirements in +learning, who does not possess the faculty of application. +Thus one, like the skilful mechanician, may +be able out of small variety of materials to construct +apparatus of indefinite extent of usefulness, or, +like the expert and talented smith, may be able to +construct out of one material every species of instrument +(to use a sailor’s phraseology), “from a needle +to an anchor,” whilst another, though possessing +almost unlimited stores of materials, may have little +capacity for bringing them out and applying them +to purposes of usefulness. The former case is that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +of one who is of himself a practical artist in knowledge; +the latter, of one who requires others to bring +out and apply the knowledge which he has been +careful to store up.</p> + +<p>My Father, in a truly eminent degree, possessed +the first of these characteristics of mind. Whatever +knowledge he might gain he was apt in applying, +and so applying, by the powers of a vigorous intelligence, +as to make the result strikingly original.</p> + +<p>The incident which I here record, was, indeed, of +itself, rather curious and amusing, than important or +specially useful. But in it we find developed an +order of mind which, if it possess but one fact of a +particular species, will, if occasion should ever require, +or admit of its being done, turn that one fact +to account.</p> + +<p>Whilst resident for considerable intervals of time in +Scotland, during his engagement with the Greenock +Whale-fishing Company, my Father had been thrown +into intercourse with some of the Gaelic speaking +population of the district. Some of their phrases +had struck him as being curious and forcible, especially +in relation to the economics of worldly policy. +Among these, one phrase in particular had been +fixed in his memory—“Cum au greim a gheibhthu;” +which, being interpreted in Scottish idiom, he understood +to imply, “Haud,” or “Keep the grip you have +got.”</p> + +<p>The occasion on which this phrase, somewhat +felicitously, was brought into use, was the following:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>—Returning +from one of his voyages to the Greenland +seas, whilst sailing from the port of Greenock, +they had stretched, under a prevalence of south-westerly +gales, to leeward of the northern shore of +the island of Mull, forming part of the county of +Argyle. The wind not availing for convenient progress +on the destined course, they took shelter in +Tobermory, near the head of the Sound of Mull. +This port, as a site for commercial enterprise, was +brought into consideration (undue consideration as +the trial has proved) by the “Board of Trustees for +the Encouragement of the Fisheries,” a little more +than half a century ago. The place naturally attracting +my Father’s attention, he went on shore +with little delay. He proceeded to the inn first of +all, and indicated his wish to the landlord to have +dinner provided for him before he returned to his +ship. The interval he naturally employed in examining +the place and the neighbouring scenery.</p> + +<p>During the time whilst he remained at the inn, +and was in communication with its inmates, he observed,—when +ordering his dinner, and when being +waited on as he was eating, as also, subsequently, +when he asked the cost of the entertainment he had +received,—no language was spoken betwixt the landlord +and his wife (who mutually contributed to his +requirements) but the Gaelic. And on two or three +occasions, especially on a discussion, as he fancied, of +the important matter of the reckoning, there seemed +to be a considerable difference of opinion betwixt the +parties as <i>to the amount</i> to be charged. Nevertheless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +whilst by the significant action, and whispering tone, +he gathered, or supposed he gathered, so much of +the purport of the discussion, not one word of what +was said, as they had justly inferred, could he strictly +or certainly interpret.</p> + +<p>But a trifling incident, by which his acquaintance +with the maxim above spoken of was elicited, gave a +new and somewhat astounding annunciation to his +Gaelic-speaking hosts.</p> + +<p>Some little time before his departure, being in +want of some carbonate of soda, which he occasionally +took for a not unfrequent annoyance of acidity at the +stomach, a messenger, a little son of the landlord, was +sent to the apothecary, to procure what was required, +he being furnished with sixpence as payment for the +same. On his return with the article it happened +that the parents of the boy, who had just finished one +of their Gaelic discussions, were both in the room, +and were observant of his delivering the carbonate, +and, along with it, twopence, the amount of the +change. This, my Father declined receiving; but +the boy, not thoroughly assured of the intention, +turned to his parents for directions how to act, who, +participating in his perplexity about retaining it, +motioned him to return the pence again. On his +second essay to do this, he was met by the most expressive +and intelligible injunction,—“Cum au greim +a gheibhthu,”—an injunction which the lad received +with not less surprise than satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Whilst my Father, with his characteristic self-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>possession +and coolness, practised this little device, he +was greatly amused in marking the wonderful effects +of his Gaelic maxim upon the minds and feelings +of his hosts. The mere utterance of a few words +in a language supposed to be unknown to their +guest, might have sufficed, under any circumstances, +to have occasioned some surprise; but the so felicitous +an application of a national phrase in the +peculiar circumstances of the case, seemed absolutely +to overwhelm them with consternation. For +they naturally inferred that their guest must be +familiar with a language which he had thus idiomatically +employed, and therefore that he must have +understood the discussions, designed to be <i>most +private</i>, which had been held in his hearing. From +that moment there was an obvious change of manner +and conduct towards their guest by his hosts; +not that they were less respectful, but more cautiously +reserved; and it seemed not a little curious, after +so much of the native tongue had been heard, that +not another word of Gaelic was ever uttered by any +of the household in my Father’s hearing so long as +he remained among them.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>Subsequent and concluding +Enterprises.</i></h3> + +<p>On the retirement of my Father from the Greenock +Whale-fishing Company, the command of the John, +with the advantages and perquisites enjoyed by her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +original commander, was transferred to his son-in-law, +Captain Thomas Jackson. Having previously, during +a period of three years, held a command in the +transport service, besides having been associated with +my Father in his voyages of 1813 and 1814, Mr. +Jackson took up this somewhat novel service with +that spirit, talent, and enterprise, which, in their +action and results, were alike commendatory and +successful.</p> + +<p>My Father, meanwhile, whose spirit of enterprise, +if not wearied, had become somewhat less constraining +in furtherance of fresh undertakings, was content, +for the first time during a period of above thirty +years service, to remain for a season (that of the year +1815) unemployed. But, ill at ease in a condition of +entire idleness, he undertook, for a couple of voyages, +to sail out of Whitby (without engagement of property +in the adventure) in charge of the <i>Mars</i>, a new +ship of 343 tons, belonging to his old and steady +friends, Messrs. Fishburn and Brodrick. The cargoes, +in this instance obtained, did not correspond with +those which had hitherto claimed for him an unrivalled +superiority. They were still characterised, +when compared with the results of the fishery in +general, as superior; but superior only to an extent of +one-fourth or one-fifth beyond the common average.</p> + +<p>Another year of retirement from the sea-service, as +a commander, succeeded his engagement in the command +of the Mars; but the time was not spent, as +before, without any professional object; my Father,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +in the autumn of 1817, having purchased, solely on +his own account, another teak-built ship, the <i>Fame</i>, +of 370 tons burden, originally brought into England +as a prize from the French.</p> + +<p>The fitting out of the Fame was deferred until a +period very inconveniently late, under the idea, +perhaps, of her being employed by the Government +for Arctic researches,—just at this time proposed to +be renewed; and this idea he might well be supposed +to entertain, because of the knowledge of the fact,—that +it was in consequence of information communicated +by myself to the President of the Royal Society, +Sir Joseph Banks, that the attention of the Council +of the Royal Society and the Government had been +directed to the long dormant enterprise, and that that +distinguished patron of science, with whom we both +had frequent intercourse, was very desirous that I +should be employed (having requested me to be +sent for to London with this view) in the proposed +adventure.<a name="FNanchor_M_13" id="FNanchor_M_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_M_13" class="fnanchor">[M]</a></p> + +<p>Our expectations herein, however, I need hardly +add, were altogether disappointed, and, so far as +<i>expense</i>, at least, was concerned, much to the national +disadvantage, as we could have accomplished one of +those enterprises (the Polar research of 1818) at one-tenth +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>of the cost of the appointed expedition, and, at +all events, with as much effectiveness; for, on that +unfortunate occasion, <i>less</i> could not have been accomplished.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the delay by this and other +causes induced, it was not without very great efforts +that the Fame was got ready for the fishery of the +ensuing season, 1818. The requisite preparations +however, were completed, whilst there was yet time +for the adventure, and the ship, for the first attempt, +being put under my command, sailed from Liverpool +on the 2nd April. Having obtained, for the season, +which was not a prosperous one, a good cargo, we +returned, August the 18th, (as had been arranged) +to Whitby.</p> + +<p>In the following spring my Father re-assumed his +habitual occupation in command of the Fame; but +the great draught of water and somewhat sharp +build of the ship, rendering the tide-harbour, to +which, in this first instance, she had resorted, both +inconvenient and unsafe, her port was again changed +for Hull, to which, with but a moderate cargo, she +returned. The next voyage, that of 1820, was, for +the somewhat unfavourable season, a very successful +one; that of 1821 was moderately good; that of 1822 +returned only an average cargo; and the attempt +of 1823 was prematurely arrested by the unfortunate +destruction of the ship by fire.</p> + +<p>The Fame had been fitted out for this contemplated +voyage with unusual care and expense,—con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>siderable +alterations and improvements, independent +of repairs, having been made; she had proceeded +northward as far as the Orkneys, where she had +taken up an anchorage for the completion of her +crew with boatmen, when the catastrophe, which +summarily frustrated the undertaking, brought my +Father’s Arctic adventures at the same time to a +sudden termination; for after so long a pursuance +of his arduous enterprises, and the acquisition of a +handsome and ample competency, there were much +stronger motives for inducing him now to remain +on shore, “for the enjoyment of the fruits of his +labours,” than to stimulate to further efforts in any +new undertaking.</p> + +<p>The summary of these two latter enterprises, it +will naturally have been anticipated, does not correspond +with that of the three-and-twenty years of all +but continuous successes. For though the cargoes +obtained in his six last voyages were, on the whole, +considerably above the ordinary average, yet they by +no means maintained the claim to superiority.</p> + +<p>This change, however, in my Father’s position as +a fisherman, admits of a satisfactory explanation. The +circumstances on which success was now dependent +had, in some most essential particulars, changed. +Superior knowledge of the Arctic ices, and consummate +skill in penetrating and navigating the compact +or tortuous interruptions to the usual retreats of the +whales, which with <i>him</i> were so characteristic, were +now no longer available. So greatly had the whales<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +been reduced in number, apparently, by the enormous +slaughter of their species during the last quarter +of a century; and so much scattered had the residue +been by the perpetual harass and attacks to which +they had been subjected, that the positions, wherein +the <i>opportunity</i> for making a successful voyage used +to be constantly afforded, were now almost entirely +deserted. Hence the enterprise and skill, enabling +the fisherman to take the lead in penetrating the ice, +which had been wont to be eminently rewarded, had +now become of little avail. No one could calculate +on the positions in which fish might be found. In +places apparently most likely, not a fish, perhaps, +was to be seen; whilst in circumstances least expected +success might be met with. And although a +few active, enterprising, and clever men, were now +and then found taking a lead in respect to proportionate +success, yet the fishery altogether had become +very precarious; so increasingly precarious, indeed, +that within about half-a-dozen years of this time the +whale-fishery of the Greenland seas proved so utterly +unremunerative, as to be all but abandoned as a +distinct commercial enterprise. The port of Hull, +for example, which during the whole period of my +Father’s command of a whaler had, on an average, +sent out twenty-two ships annually to the Greenland +fishery,—in 1828, only five years after he discontinued +the pursuit, had only one Greenlandman, and +the year following none.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>His retirement from so active and enterprising a +pursuit as had engaged the subject of these records +during a period, altogether, of six-and-thirty years +of his life, was by no means an event of unmixed +benefit. It was far otherwise. For the effect of +wear and tear on the constitution, whilst for this +long period subjected to circumstances of peculiar +anxiety and excitement of adventure, soon became +apparent under the trial of absolute leisure and the +deprivation of ordinary stimulus. It is, indeed, a +well-ascertained characteristic of the human system, +strikingly indicative of the wisdom and goodness of +the Creator, to derive temporary energy from the +very stimulus of the demands for energy. Thus +strength, beyond all previous imagination, is often +yielded for special occasions, whilst the capability +of action is wonderfully maintained for the period +of protracted necessity or duty. But the trial comes +when the tension of the mysterious fabric of the +human system has to be relaxed. The strength, for +the occasion, being beyond the ordinary powers of +renovation, is maintained by the nervous stimulant +at the expense of a wear and tear which not only +becomes apparent on the cessation of the undue +exercise, but in aggravated proportion by reason of +the natural reaction.</p> + +<p>How far these operations in a too long continued +stretch of the natural powers might have induced +the inferior state of my Father’s health, during the +six years of his life succeeding the time of his retire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>ment +from the sea, it is impossible to say; though the +fact of this deterioration of health, in the interval of +leisure, was abundantly apparent.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>General Results of his entire Whale-fishing +Adventures.</i></h3> + +<p>In conclusion of these records of my Father’s +Arctic enterprises, commercially, there remain yet to +be given the <i>general</i> comparisons and results, in which +we shall again find them to be great and pre-eminent. +The materials for these comparisons, on my Father’s +part, are compendiously exhibited in the following +summary of his various voyages:—</p> + +<p class="center">TABULAR VIEW OF THE SUCCESSES OF THE LATE +W. SCORESBY, ESQ., IN HIS ADVENTURES IN +THE GREENLAND WHALE-FISHERY.</p> + +<table class="simpletable" summary="Catches by William by Year"> +<tr> +<td class="bt br bb center pad5lr" rowspan="2">No. of Voyage.</td> +<td class="bt br bb center pad5lr" rowspan="2">Year.</td> +<td class="bt br bb center pad5lr" rowspan="2">Ship commanded.</td> +<td class="bt bb center pad5lr" colspan="2">Cargo obtained.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br bb center pad5lr">Whales.</td> +<td class="bb center pad5lr">Tuns of Oil.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="pad3r br ralign">1</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1791</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">Henrietta.</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">clean.</td> +<td class="pad5lr center">nil.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">2</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1792</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">18</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">112</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">3</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1793</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">6</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">90</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">4</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1794</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">6</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">120</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">5</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1795</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">25</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">143</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">6</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1796</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">9</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">112</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">7</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1797</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">16</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">152</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">8</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1798</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">Dundee.</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">36</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">9</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1799</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">12</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">144</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">10</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1800</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">3</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">45</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">11</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1801</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">23</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">225</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">12</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1802</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">20</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">200</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>13</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1803</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">Resolution.</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">13</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">164</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">14</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1804</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">33</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">188</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">15</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1805</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">30</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">196</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">16</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1806</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">24</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">216</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">17</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1807</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">13</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">213</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">18</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1808</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">27</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">210</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">19</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1809</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">26</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">216</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">20</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1810</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">28</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">214</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">21</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1811</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">John.</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">16</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">200</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">22</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1812</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">25</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">23</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1813</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">28</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">190</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">24</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1814</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">35</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">249</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">—</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1815</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">[on shore.]</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">—</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">25</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1816</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">Mars.</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">20</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">170</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">26</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1817</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">6</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">82</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">—</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1818</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">[on shore.]</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">—</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">27</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1819</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">Fame.</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">10</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">120</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">28</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1820</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">10</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">184</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br pad3r ralign">29</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">1821</td> +<td class="br pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br pad2r ralign">9</td> +<td class="pad2r ralign">143</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="br bb pad3r ralign">30</td> +<td class="br bb pad5lr center">1822</td> +<td class="br bb pad5lr center">"</td> +<td class="br bb pad2r ralign">6</td> +<td class="bb pad2r ralign">70</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The total number of voyages in which he held the +command in the fishery, from first to last, was just +thirty. The entire cargoes obtained, under this personal +guidance, comprised the produce of 533 whales,—“a +greater number,” says his friend Mr. Drew, +“than has fallen to the share of any other individual +in Europe,”—with that of many thousands of +seals, some hundreds of walruses, very many narwals, +and probably not less than sixty bears. The +quantity of oil yielded by this produce was 4664 +tuns, of whalebone about 240 tons weight, besides +the skins of the seals, bears, and walruses taken.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + +<p>From hence we derive a general average, during +the thirty voyages, of eighteen whales, yielding 155·5 +tuns of oil per voyage; or, omitting the first voyage, +which, for reasons stated in Chapter II., ought fairly +to be excluded, the average would be 18·4 whales, +yielding 160 tuns of oil for each voyage.</p> + +<p>In comparison of the general average of the British +whale-fishery, this, no doubt, stands singularly high. +But not having the materials for the exact determination +of this general comparison, we may take +the Hull whale-fishery for our guidance, which, from +the large number of ships regularly engaged therein, +will, it is believed, afford a fair estimate. And this +section of the fishery, we find, comprised, betwixt +the years 1791 and 1822 inclusive, an average of +twenty-two ships annually, the cargoes of which, +during that period, averaged 84·5 tuns of oil a +voyage per ship. Compared with this, it is seen, +that my Father’s yearly average was almost double +the quantity!</p> + +<p>It is not possible, because of the lack of accounts +as to several of my Father’s ships, to ascertain, except +proximately, the actual value of the produce now +determined; but, from the variety of information +now before me, as to the marketable value of Greenland +produce during a considerable majority of the +years corresponding with these voyages, I have been +enabled to calculate the gross proceeds of the whole +thirty years adventures, in money, at 196,591<i>l.</i>, or +possibly a full 200,000<i>l.</i>!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>The proportion of expenses due to these enterprises +and results may, in like manner, be proximately +calculated. For, if the Hull fishery, with little more +than half of my Father’s success, were fairly remunerative,—as +it obviously must have been to induce +perseverance therein,—then, the residue of his catch +above that average may, mainly, be considered as +clear profit; for, in such estimate, we set off the +<i>additional</i> expenses incurred where there is superior +success against the actual remunerating profits in +the inferior success. On this estimate we should +have the value of, say, seventy-five tuns of oil and +four tons of whalebone for the clear profit; or, out of +a gross annual produce of the value of 6600<i>l.</i>, a residue +calculated to yield about 3000<i>l.</i> a voyage profit.<a name="FNanchor_N_14" id="FNanchor_N_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_N_14" class="fnanchor">[N]</a></p> + +<p>This estimate would give the sum of 90,000<i>l.</i>, or, +omitting the first voyage, 87,000<i>l.</i> for the amount of +this individual skill and enterprise, divided, in the +shape of profits, among the owners embarked in the +general enterprise! On another ground of calculation, +guided by the proportion of expenses in certain +known cases, the expenses were taken at two-fifths +the produce, which would reduce the profits (probably +too low) to about 80,000<i>l.</i></p> + +<p>In setting forth this result as very remarkable, it is +with reference, it should be observed, to the instrumentality +and <i>capital</i> employed. It is no uncommon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>thing for a sum like this, or much greater than this, +to be realized in commercial enterprises; but, in such +cases, there are generally many instruments and a +large capital employed in the business. But here, +under the one individual direction, there was but one +ship employed, involving an investment of capital of +from 6000<i>l.</i> to 12,700<i>l.</i>, or, on an average, not exceeding +9000<i>l.</i>, and this small investment yielding, through +a series of about thirty years, no less a sum than +3000<i>l.</i> a year, being at the rate of 33⅓ per cent per +annum on the capital employed.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section V.</span>—<i>Unusual Capture of Walruses.</i></h3> + +<p>This incident, which belongs to the period of the +Fame’s voyages, is here introduced, in conclusion of +the general series of my Father’s Northern adventures, +as presenting something of novelty in the +modern whale-fishery.</p> + +<p>The <i>walrus</i> or <i>sea-horse</i>, as the whalers designate +it, is one of those extraordinary animals so prevalent +in the Arctic regions, in which, like the whale, +are comprised the mixed characteristics of the inhabitants +of sea and land. The body, generally, from +its extensive conformity, might be supposed to be +that of a huge seal; but the head is peculiar, approaching +the nearest, but only in rude and diminutive +resemblance, to that of the elephant, as being +somewhat square-faced, with a hard and massive +skull, scarcely pervious to a musket-ball, and with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +two large external tusks pointing downward. The +fore paws may be compared to webbed hands; the +hind feet, in their ordinary position when at rest, +form an expansive tail. The skin, covered with +short hair, is of remarkable substance, so as to produce +a strong, but rather porous leather, of about +an inch in thickness. A thin layer of fat lies beneath +the skin.</p> + +<p>As met with on the coast of Spitzbergen, this +animal is found of the length, ordinarily, of twelve +to fifteen feet, and eight to ten feet in circumference. +But specimens elsewhere found on the coasts of some +Arctic countries, are represented as extending to +twenty feet in length. The Spitzbergen animal, full +grown, is about the bulk of an ox; its weight, as +I have estimated it, being from fifteen to twenty-four +hundredweight. But a twenty-feet walrus could +hardly weigh less than three tons.</p> + +<p>Though the tusks, the fat, and the skins, have a +fair commercial value, the animal is never sought +after as a special object of enterprise by the whalers, +except incidentally, and very few are taken. Large +captures, indeed, were occasionally made of sea-horses, +in the early periods of adventure after the +discovery of Spitzbergen; but these animals have +seldom been met with by our modern whalers +in any considerable number together, and their +capture, consequently, has very rarely exceeded +half-a-dozen in a voyage. No summary mode of +killing them, indeed, had been prevalent or under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>stood +by which due advantage might be taken +of any extraordinary opportunity. If met with +in the water, where they might be attacked with +muskets or lances, the chance of capture was but +small, as the wounded animal would generally +dive and escape. Formerly, I remember, harpoons +of a <i>small</i> kind were provided expressly for the sea-horse; +but with the whale harpoon, now only used, +the tough skin of the creature is hard to be penetrated. +If met with on shore or on ice, lances and +muskets were more available, and in such positions +the principal, though scanty, captures of modern +times were wont to be made.</p> + +<p>My Father’s enterprise, therefore, in the case +now referred to, was the more remarkable, not only +because of the unusual number captured, but because +of the novelty adopted in the mode of attack, by +which mainly the success was gained.</p> + +<p>Being on the coast of Spitzbergen, in the Fame, +in the summer of 1819, when no incumbrance was +met with from ice, my Father was induced to stretch +into one of the fine picturesque inlets with which +this remarkable region abounds, Magdalena Bay, +where an extraordinary sight on the beach attracted +his attention. Hundreds, if not thousands, of animals, +which on their near approach proved to be sea-horses, +were seen congregated on the sloping shore, +thickly huddled together, basking in the bright sunshine +and genial warmth of the sheltered position.</p> + +<p>No one on board having ever seen anything of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +the kind before, all were in a state of excitement, +which soon became naturally diverted into ardour +for conflict and capture. Measures were speedily +concerted by which a due harvest might, if possible, +be reaped out of this wonderfully stocked field. +Muskets, evidently, could do little, as the vast herd, +on being alarmed, would doubtless hurry into the +sea, before the discharged arms could be reloaded, +and harpoons could be of no avail. Lances and +whale-knives, however, promised a better instrumentality, +and especially one kind of the latter, the +<i>tail-knife</i>, which in reality proved the most effective +of all. This instrument, designed for making perforations +in the tail and fins of the captured whale, +when preparing to be towed to the ship, constitutes +a portion of the furniture of every whale-boat, and +consists of a nearly three-feet straight sharp-pointed +blade, with a wooden handle of like measure. It +resembles the blade of a cutlass, out of which weapon, +indeed, this kind of knife is frequently constructed.</p> + +<p>From accounts which at different times I have +received from individuals participating in the affair, +I am enabled to offer such description of the plan +and proceedings as may serve, I hope, to give a +tolerably correct notion of this curious and novel +kind of exploit.</p> + +<p>Well furnished with what appeared to be the best +weapons for the attack, the boats set out on the +adventure, spreading themselves, whilst at a distance, +so as to make a simultaneous and warlike descent +upon the beach.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>As this animal is but imperfectly adapted for +locomotion on land, and its progress, usually, +sluggish and slow, there was a chance with the +individuals which had adventured highest up the +slope of doing some considerable execution among +them. Though the walrus, ordinarily, appears +singularly fearless,—it might be said, stupidly fearless,—yet +the whole herd, in this case, was soon put +into a state of commotion and alarm. The principal +attack on the flanks having arrested several of the +number, the general mass began a scrambling retreat, +assuming a strangely formidable, yet otherwise grotesque +appearance, whilst, in their haste, the huge +carcasses were seen, in their mutual interferences, +rolling one over another down the beach.</p> + +<p>Two or three of the leaders of the attacking +party,—the foremost among whom was, I believe, +Mr. William Jackson, afterwards a successful commander,—perceiving +the risk of the vast herd +escaping before they should have time for any considerable +success in captures, boldly threw themselves +betwixt the affrighted walruses and the sea, so as, +to the extent their means of destruction might enable +them, to cut off their retreat. And now it was that +the <i>tail-knife</i> was found to be a most admirable +weapon for the occasion, its sharpness of point, and +length of blade, yielding mortal results at almost +every stroke, and its length of handle enabling its +wielder to avoid the formidable tusks of the creature +whilst attacking it close to hand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>The result exceeded the most sanguine expectations +of the assailants. Many wounded ones, I believe, +escaped into the sea, but a famous slaughter +and advantageous spoil rewarded the adventure. +One hundred and thirty of these animals remained +as trophies of the sailors’ victory, yielding, besides +the corresponding quantity of hides, a large weight +of tusks and teeth, adapted for dental purposes, and +a quantity of oil, which, perhaps, we may roughly +estimate at 1500 to 2000 gallons.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_M_13" id="Footnote_M_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_M_13"><span class="label">[M]</span></a> This fact having been differently reported and understood, the +reader who feels any interest in the subject may satisfy himself, I +believe, of the reality by reference to an article in the “Edinburgh +Philosophical Journal,” vol. xx. 1835-6, “On some Circumstances +connected with the Original Suggestion of the Modern Arctic Expeditions.”</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_N_14" id="Footnote_N_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_N_14"><span class="label">[N]</span></a> This estimate of profits, though exceeding those of the Resolution, +already given, may be still maintained, on the ground of the price of +provisions and the high rates of seamen’s wages and insurance, pertaining +to a period, except as to one year, of continuous war.</p></div> +</div> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></p> +<h2 class="gap4"><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI"></a><span class="smcap">Chapter VI.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smaller">GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.</span></h2> + +<hr class="width35" /> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Section I.</span>—<i>Superiority as an Arctic Navigator.</i></h3> + +<p>My Father’s superiority as a fisherman, as exhibited +in the foregoing pages, had an essential relation to +his talents as a seaman and a navigator. The former, +indeed, was in no inconsiderable degree a fruit of the +latter; for it was his superiority as a navigator of ice-encumbered +seas particularly, which, for a considerable +series of years, enabled him generally to obtain +a position in advance of his competitors, and thus +yielded to him the best opportunities, whilst the +ground was undisturbed, for making his fishery.</p> + +<p>Not only, indeed, was he thus unrivalled among +his associates in Arctic enterprise, but to him was +due the introduction of a truly scientific system of +arrangements, which, with their masterly application +in practice, enabled him at all times, when “beating +to windward” among crowded ices, or contending +under the greatest obstructions and difficulties for +a passage “to the northward,” to take the lead.</p> + +<p>The penetration of the Greenland ices, whilst in +search of whales, being very prevalently pursued by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +beating to windward, or by sailing “on a wind,”—so +prevalently, indeed, that, during a quarter of a +century from my Father’s commencement in command, +nine days out of ten, or more, were spent in +this description of navigation,—it became a matter +of grand importance to have the ship, as “to trim,” +“cut of the sails,” ballasting, etc., specially prepared +for sailing “close-hauled.”</p> + +<p>For this style of navigation, the arrangements prevalent +in the merchant service, at the time, were +most ill adapted. When without cargo, the ships +usually went in light “ballast-trim,” and had their +sails cut so as to “bag” into a deep concave on the +side acted on by the wind,—conditions most unfavourable +for “holding a good wind” or “working +close.”</p> + +<p>The whalers were thus universally circumstanced +at my Father’s commencement. They went ordinarily +ballasted, or, sometimes, “flying-light,” not +only because of this being accordant with the general +practice with merchantmen, but with the view of +lessening the concussions against the ice when +coming into violent contact with it. My Father, +on the contrary, adopted a totally different system. +He caused such a large quantity of the lower and +second tiers of casks to be filled with water (to which +he subsequently added ballast of shingle or iron in the +interstices of the casks of the “ground tier”), that +the ship became as deep as with the third part of a +cargo; his sails he had made to stand as flat, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +the force of the wind, as possible; he had his ship +denuded of all useless spars aloft, as well as of sails +of little adaptation for sailing on a wind; and, finally, +the braces of the yards, and other running geer, he +had so adapted as to run free, and as light as consistent +with safety.</p> + +<p>His ship thus presenting the least possible quantity +of surface to the leeward-tending action of the wind, +being so fully ballasted, and having her sails, so far +as he had the adjusting of them, adapted for standing +flat and “near the wind,” he was enabled to make +a progress, in “windward sailing” among ice, which, +during a long period of years, defied all competition.</p> + +<p>But the adaptation of the ship, it was apparent, +was not all. For the ships which he had himself +prepared for sailing on this effective system, retained +their advantage but very partially when they came +under other management. The Henrietta, which for +several years had taken the undisputed lead, was, +after my Father left her, beaten by the Dundee, and +the Dundee, in like manner, by the Resolution; and +not by the ship, only, which he now commanded, +was his former ship beaten, but by many competitors +besides. The loss of character in the ship he had +retired from, indeed, became a matter of much observation +and remark both at sea and on shore; and the +circumstance was justly enough accounted for under +the quaint expression,—“she has lost her jockey.”</p> + +<p>It was, in fact, strictly so. The succeeding commander—clever +as he might be in other respects, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +successful as one, especially, of my Father’s training +was—had not the superiority in seamanship with +which the ship had formerly been managed. The +special adaptations, therefore, which my Father had +turned to such good account, were now only partially +available. Under considerable difficulties in the +navigation, or against hard competitors in the navigators, +the once leading ship was liable to fail, and +very often did fail. The advantages provided in the +adaptation of the ship were, in such cases, lost in the +management. But where the navigator, as in my +Father’s case, was pre-eminently skilful, the adaptations +for windward and ice-encumbered sailing +became in the highest degree efficient, and resulted, +as has been shown, in an unrivalled superiority.</p> + +<p>A commander may sometimes become distinguished +in war by successes acquired at an unusual sacrifice +of life. His resulting superiority may, in certain +cases, be dearly purchased. But there was no such +counteracting element in the pre-eminence, as an +Arctic navigator, gained by my Father. His deeply +ballasted ship might have struck heavier against the +ice than others, but she rarely was <i>allowed</i> to strike +heavily. Concussions not unfrequently fell to the lot +of other ships, light enough, and free to rebound as +they might be, by which, nevertheless, bows or sides +were stove in, and heavy expenses in damages consequently +incurred; but no such disasters were encountered +by him. His ship was wont to be a-head +in adventure, navigating the most difficult positions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +braving most alarming threatenings of the ices and the +wind. But his ship went gallantly amid, and passed +safely through, all these dangers. He knew precisely +what his ship, in difficulties or dangers, <i>might</i> do; +and that, under his commanding management, was +done, and safely done. If, by the hundred chances +which might thwart a difficult operation,—in the +perpetual movements of the ice, the varying winds, +the mistakes or defects of his helmsman, or the +unpromptness of the men in management of the +yards and sails,—his intended object or manœuvre +should happen to be defeated, he was always ready, +in his inexhaustible and well-considered resources, +to save his ship from the imminent danger which a +failure or blunder, in such cases, frequently involved. +His quick apprehension of almost every possible contingency, +served at once to develop and to bring into +timely operation the resources which his fertile talent +supplied; whilst his keen discernment of the quality +and measure of the various movements of detached +pieces or bodies of ice, as unequally acted upon by +wind or currents, enabled him so to anticipate any +probable risks, as to be prepared, however he might +be baulked in his principal design, for some other +furthering project, or, at all events, for a safe retreat.</p> + +<p>The reality of my Father’s superiority, as a navigator, +now being described, admits, as to me it seems, +of conclusive evidence in these two remarkable facts,—that, +for the long series of voyages in which he +held his first three or four commands, his ship, <i>in all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +difficulties where talent could be availing</i>, always took +the lead; and that, for the whole time of his command, +wherein he was wont to take the lead, equally in +danger as in advanced position, he was always enabled, +under the constantly recognised and sought-for blessing +of Providence, to pursue his adventurous object +safely, or without damage of any essential consideration, +to his ship!</p> + +<p>Within my own experience, whilst I accompanied +him during nine voyages, from a mere child to adult +age, I had perpetual opportunities of discerning his +superiority over all the competitors we met with; +and, during the same experience, I had repeated +occasions for noticing with proud admiration, his +wonderful skill in beating to windward amongst +intricate ices, so as to leave every ship that we found +near us in succession behind. In the morning, +perhaps, at the commencement of a progress amid +encumbering ices, I have seen around the Resolution, +in various positions, to windward as well as to leeward, +a considerable fleet of companion-whalers; and +in the evening of the same day, after twelve or fourteen +hours efforts in getting to windward, I have +been able to see <i>no</i> ship whatever within the limits +of vision from the level of the deck. On ascending +then to the top-mast head, where the extent of vision +became vastly increased; I have generally found the +pursuing fleet, bent on the same course, to be far +away from us; some ships being left so much behind, +perhaps, as to have disappeared, not from fog, or +darkness, but from mere distance to leeward!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p>This striking feat of skill—differing in degree of +course, according to the nature and extent of the +navigable interstices of the ice, and the force and +direction of the wind, with the sailing qualities of the +competing ships likewise, as well as the seamanship +of their commanders—was, as I have intimated, +repeatedly performed under my own observation. +But the like triumph of superiority was also gained, +and that on different occasions within my personal +observation, when the competing progress was being +made through a compact body of ice into the northern +fishing stations, and where the penetration, in anticipation +of the general fleet, gained its due reward in +an early and superior success.</p> + +<p>The voyage of 1806, described in Chapter IV. +Section VII., exhibited a striking example of the +successful application of this talent; and in that of +1809, the same result was interestingly realized.</p> + +<p>We had taken the ice, in the latter case, with the +view of penetrating the barrier betwixt the free +northern ocean and the fishing stations in the seventy-ninth +and eightieth degree of latitude, along with a +large fleet of other whalers. For some days, whilst +no material progress could be made, we remained +in varying relative positions presenting but little +decided advantage. At length, when circumstances +gave room for the due exercise of talent and perseverance, +we made a progress so much beyond that of +our associates, that we gradually left them, farther +and farther, behind us, until the whole of the fleet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +were out of sight. We thus gained the “northern +water” considerably before the others, and, falling +in with whales in abundance, soon commenced a +most encouraging fishery. By and by, others of the +fleet began to make their appearance; and I well +remember the astonishment of the captains and men +of three ships which came close up to us on the 5th of +June, just as we had taken in our <i>fourteenth</i> whale, +whilst they had only obtained six amongst them. +One of these ships had been near us, or in company +with us, on the 27th of May, the day on which we +succeeded in surmounting the icy-barrier. She, however, +had only made the same passage the day before +this, and had made but trifling progress in the fishery.</p> + +<p>As there is no portion of the navigable ocean +throughout the globe, at all comparable, as a field for +the exercise of superior talent in seamanship, with +the ice-encumbered regions around the poles; so my +Father’s capabilities in this beautiful practical science, +had, at once, the requisite scope for their abundant +exercises, and their admirable triumphs. No matter +what the species of manœuvre or operation might be, +he was equally superior in all. In “making fast” to +the ice in gales of wind—an operation of singular difficulty +and ofttimes of no small risk,—the manner in +which he brought up his ship to the nearest possible +proximity with the place of the ice-anchor, afforded +time and opportunity for getting out and attaching +the mooring hawser, and then, with progressively +reduced sails, eased the ship’s action on the rope till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +fairly brought up, head to wind,—was in the highest +degree masterly and beautiful. Repetitions of trial, +and failure on failure, with much useless toil and +re-setting of sails, and, not unfrequently, with very +hard blows against the ice, were matters of such +perpetual experience among the inferior navigators +engaged in the service, as to render the operations +we have just attempted to illustrate, the more conspicuously +admirable.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section II.</span>—<i>Natural Science.</i></h3> + +<p>To my Father’s <i>natural science</i>, or original, almost +intuitive, perception and application of scientific +principles, I have already made repeated allusion. +But this characteristic of originality, as well as superiority +of mind, deserves, I think, more special consideration.</p> + +<p>Having to deal with circumstances perpetually +varying, and frequently presenting features entirely +new, the profession to which he had devoted himself +afforded almost the best possible opportunities for +the development and application of this quality of +mind. And, in a greater or less degree, every +voyage he undertook as commander served to elicit +this admirable characteristic. Those who understood +him not, very naturally ascribed many of his novel +proceedings to eccentricity, and these might be liable +to run into this very usual extreme; but, for the +most part, the apparent eccentricity was, in reality, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +sound result of reflective, philosophical consideration. +I might adduce some incidents, perhaps, in which the +originality of conception was pushed into an extreme: +yet I could recal, possibly, hundreds of others in +which such conceptions resulted in proceedings at +once admirable, in their fitness, and, as such, worthy +of imitation.</p> + +<p class="gap2">1. Take, for example, the process of <i>sallying</i> the +ice-bound ship for relieving her of any remediable +pressure, and giving free action to the power of wind +or “warps” for promoting her progress. And in this +we have an adaptation of a previously unapprehended +mean and provision, always at hand, possessing extraordinary +capabilities as a mechanical force. It may +not be uninteresting to elucidate this fact.</p> + +<p>Suppose a ship, navigating the Arctic seas, to be +held firmly on the sides by the contact of two +large sheets, or numerous compacted pieces, of ice. +The ice just a-head may be less compact, or there +may be a proximate channel, available for “boring” +or sailing, if the existing pressure could be relieved +so that the ship might be free to move. For the +relief of this <i>lateral</i> pressure, no mechanical force, +except the action of the wind on the sails when +coming somewhat in the direction of “the beam,” +had heretofore been considered as available, or had +been applied. But my Father’s device afforded a +novel, as well as a powerfully available, agency. In +what degree powerful is easily estimated. The ship,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +in the case referred to, we will suppose is tolerably +flat-sided (like the Resolution), and floats, ordinarily, +at the depth of the greatest width. Now the power +yielded by sallying may be considered as corresponding +with that obtained by a wedge acted on by a +heavy weight; the <i>wedge</i>, in this case, being the +portion of the ship’s side that becomes depressed, +operating by virtue of the expansion of the ship’s +<i>width</i> when heeling, and the <i>force</i> acting on the +wedge being the weight transferred from an even +distribution with an upright position of the ship, to +an accumulation of weight on one side, inducing a +heeling position. Let the extent of heeling be considered +as a “streak” of nine inches, in which case, +as the opposite side will be proportionally and equally +raised, the width of the line of flotation will be increased, +altogether (in a main breadth of 26 feet), +about half an inch, or a quarter inch on either side. +The depressed side, then, in its progress under water, +as far as nine inches, will have expanded a quarter +of an inch in width, and the raised side an equal +quantity; and both sides will act on the contiguous +ices with the mechanical force of a wedge of nine +inches long and a quarter-inch at the thick end,—exhibiting, +on the ordinary mode of calculating the +power of the wedge, a gain of power for either side +in the proportion of twice the length of the wedge,<a name="FNanchor_O_15" id="FNanchor_O_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_O_15" class="fnanchor">[O]</a> +or 18 inches, to a quarter inch, or as 72 to 1.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> +<p>The force acting on these wedges is that of the +<i>weight</i> of the men employed in sallying, when all +are placed on one side of the deck right over the +head or back of one of the wedges. In a whaler +carrying fifty men, the weight available for this purpose, +say that of forty-six or forty-eight of the crew, +may be estimated at about three tons, one half of +which only would act downward, the other half being +expended in the resistance upward, of the opposite +side.</p> + +<p>Hence the mechanical force hereby derived, as +represented by these data, would appear to be that of +two wedges of a power of seventy-two to one, each +acted on by a weight of a ton and a half, that is, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +force of the weight of 108 tons acting towards the +separation of the ice and ship on each side. But +only half the amount of these two forces, it will be +obvious, comes effectively into operation; for the +wedges, being on <i>opposite</i> sides of the ship, act antagonistically, +thus spending one-half of their power +against each other, in the compressing of the opposite +sides of the ship together. The force really in +operation, then, serving to push off the ice from each +side, or tending to separate the compressing masses +of ice, will be equivalent to two weights of fifty-four +or altogether to a weight of 108 tons.</p> + +<p>If there were no resistance either from the <i>friction</i> +of the ice on the ship’s sides, or from the <i>stability</i> of +the ship, the estimated mechanical force, for the case +assumed, would no doubt take effect. The resistance +from friction cannot, it is evident, be determined; +but that of the ship’s stability might be easily represented. +At the <i>commencement</i> of the heeling position, +however, the resistance from this source would be +but trifling. In its actual influence, in ordinary +cases, the stability might abstract, perhaps, a quarter +or a third part from the entire force exerted, but +still leaving a free action equivalent to the weight of +seventy or eighty tons towards the separation of the +ices, right and left.</p> + +<p>But the force ultimately brought into operation, +after a sallying motion is once obtained, becomes still +greater and more effective,—acting now and then, +in the nature of concussion from the momentum of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +portion of the ship’s weight, as thus may be illustrated:—</p> + +<p>The weight of the crew, in the outset of the operation, +being placed all on one side of the deck, and +then suddenly transferred to the other, will, after the +overcoming of the friction originally induced by the +ice, cause the ship to heel, and, on the reversing of +the action (by the men running back again across the +deck) the direction of the heeling will be also reversed. +The process being carried on with a strict attention +to the adjustment of the moment of the running of +the men (indicated by the word of command, “over”) +to the time of change in the natural oscillations of +the ship,—these oscillations (supposing the ice to +be gradually receding) will increase to a maximum, +whilst the incidental concussions of the ship’s sides +against the contiguous ices will act as a “ram” on +the wedge-like expansion of the width of her two +broadsides. The additional force thus incidentally +applied, it is evident, may be enormous. Hence the +wonderful effects sometimes produced by my Father’s +ingenious device of sallying,—effects not less important +and striking when “clawing” to windward +of masses of ice in boring, when, by the mere action +of the wind on the sails the ship may have come to a +stand, as when stuck fast betwixt equally compressing +ices on both broadsides at once. The moment the +sallying is perceived, the ship realises such relief +from both pressure and friction, as to start a-head as +if acted on by a magical power!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>It hardly requires, perhaps, to be explained, that +our investigations of the operation of sallying in +urging a path through encumbering ices, are, strictly, +only illustrative. For the action of the ship’s side +which we have considered as that of a regular +straight wedge is, in reality, curvilinear, and, ordinarily, +would be unusually thin at the apex, thus +giving, at the commencement of the heeling movement, +a much higher degree of mechanical power. +The <i>extent</i> of the compression on the ship’s sides, +too, we could only consider in a particular case, such +as one of thin ice, or ice touching the sides to no +great depth. In case of compression from thick ice, +having contact with the ship’s sides to a considerable +depth, the resistance to the sallying would, of course, +be much increased, and, by consequence, the operation +less effective.</p> + +<p>It may just be added that the principle of sallying +is evidently capable of still more powerful application +by aiding the <i>weight</i> of the men, in the first instance +of movement, by auxiliary loads of guns, chains, +casks, or other heavy bodies transferred to one side +of the deck; or, in a still higher degree, by an auxiliary +mechanical force derived from a “purchase” +from the ship’s lowermast, or top-mast head, to an +anchor fixed in a distant part of the ice on either +side. An enormous power, it is evident, might be +derived from a leverage of this kind, sufficient almost +to compress or squeeze in the very timbers of the +hull.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p class="gap2">2. Another example of the application of the principles +of natural science, may be adduced with respect +to my Father’s practice in the capture of certain harpooned +whales. In the most usual habits of the +mysticetus, when struck in the Greenland seas, it +descends to a considerable depth, generally 600 or +700 fathoms, and, after an interval of about half an +hour, or so, returns spontaneously to the surface for +respiration. But sometimes, especially when a taught +strain has been held on the line, the whale continues +to press so determinately into the depths of the ocean +that it dies by a process similar to drowning. In +that case the heaving up of the capture becomes a +matter of great labour and difficulty, and, because of +the liability of the harpoon to draw, or of the lines +to part, of much uncertainty as to the result. It is a +matter, therefore, of much importance to avoid the +possible contingency of a harpooned whale “dying +down.” The process ordinarily adopted for inducing +the return of the fish to the surface, after the downward +course is suspended, is to haul on the lines +as soon as any impression can be produced, so as to +stimulate to action and urge an ascending motion. +In very many cases this process is effective, but by +no means in all. For sometimes so desperate and +continuous is the effort to get down that, when necessity +might urge a return to the surface for respiration, +the power to return no longer remains, and the +helpless monster dies at its utmost depression.</p> + +<p>My Father, with his peculiar felicity of consider<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>ation +and device, assumed a measure of proceeding +as <i>apparently</i> unfitting as it was novel in its character. +When the usual processes for the obtaining of the +fish’s return to the surface had failed, and no prospect +remained but that it must die where it was, he +would throw off the turns of his line round the stem +or “loggerhead” of the boat, and allow an extent of +fifty or a hundred fathoms more to run freely out +and sink in the water.</p> + +<p>The meaning of the device was this:—The entangled +whale had no doubt descended deep in the +water, as its ordinary mode of escaping from its +natural enemies; but the attachment and restraint +of the line it could not escape from. It was an +instinct with it, therefore, as he conceived,—as in +the case of some well-known quadrupeds, which may +be driven but will not be led,—to resist the restraining +force, and to struggle to distance the point from which +the restraint proceeds. The untoward effect of this +instinct, my Father supposed, might be diverted by +rapidly slacking out a large extent of the entangling +line, so that it might sink <i>below</i> the place of the fish, +and so <i>draw downward</i>; for the same instinct which +had incited it so perseveringly to dive, might naturally +be expected to urge it, under this change of +circumstances, to an upward course.</p> + +<p>The experiment on being tried proved, in different +cases, successful. The whale, stimulated to a new +course by a new direction being given to the restraining +line, returned to the surface, where it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +received by its waiting assailants, and, when deprived +of its life, became a prompt and easy prize, instead +of an uncertain, hard-earned object of pursuit!</p> + +<p class="gap2">3. Besides the cases just recited of aptness in natural +science, another occasion is before my recollection in +which, during his varied adventures in the whale-fishery, +this characteristic of mind, with my Father, +was strikingly developed. A large whale had been +“struck” on the borders of a vast sheet of ice, +denominated a “field,” which took refuge beneath +the frozen surface, and, after suffering the deprivation +of air for a period too considerable for its capabilities +of endurance, died there.</p> + +<p>After a long interval of patient waiting, on the part +of the whalers, for the turning out of the expected +capture (for the compactness of a firm field of ice +generally obliges the whale to return to the outside +for the purpose of respiration), they proceeded to +haul on the line to try to facilitate their expectation. +But when as much force had been applied as the +line might safely bear, their efforts came to a stand. +There was no reactive motion indicative of life in +the whale, nor any progress towards its withdrawal, +if dead.</p> + +<p>Various repetitions of a similar effort, after slacking +out a quantity of line to give some change to the +direction of the tension, ended in the same discouraging +manner; so that a doubt arose whether +the harpoon were yet attached to the line, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +whether it might have got entangled on some submerged +irregularity of the ice.</p> + +<p>My Father at length left the ship to give his personal +attention to this difficult business. His first +care was to examine the line at its fullest tension; +but the exact direction was not discoverable because +of the thickness of the verge of the ice. Slacking +out, therefore, a considerable quantity of the line, he +caused the boat to be backed off to a little distance, +and, whilst it was kept off as much as possible by the +oars of several boats attached, the line was hauled in, +till, becoming nearly horizontal by tension, its direction +beneath the ice could be clearly determined. +By this direction he traced, by the eye, an imaginary +corresponding line on the surface of the ice-field, +which, by means of numerous irregularities and +hummocks, he was enabled to do satisfactorily,—noticing +particularly a very high and conspicuous +hummock in this exact direction, and at about the +distance to which the quantity of line run out might +be supposed to reach. His next step, and that a +truly scientific one, was to try to vary the line of +direction, so that he might determine, by the intersection +of lines, the position of the harpoon. This +he effected by again slacking out the line, but to a +much greater extent, and then causing the position +of the boat to be changed by rowing slowly in a +direction parallel to, and at some distance from, the +edge of the ice, until the new direction might make +a large angle with that previously determined. Time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +being allowed for the rope to subside into its position +of rest, tension was given to it, as before, and another +imaginary line traced by the eye on the ice. My +Father now perceived that the point of intersection +corresponded very nearly with the position of the +remarkable hummock, almost a mile distant, before +noticed, and that it must be immediately beyond it.</p> + +<p>Taking a whale-lance in his hand he walked over +the ice to the place, and <i>just beyond</i> the hummock +he found a thin flat surface of much younger ice. +Striking his lance repeatedly into this, he gradually +effected its perforation; when, to his no small delight +and to the amazement of the men who had followed +his steps, his lance struck against a soft and elastic +substance beneath:—it was the back of the dead +whale!</p> + +<p>Aid of hands and instruments being now obtained, +the thin sheet of ice was partly cut out and the fragments +removed till the attached line could be got at. +When effected, it was again slacked out of the boat, +and the end firmly secured to the slender part of the +body of the fish adjoining the tail. The two lobes of +the tail were then partly cut off, so as to hang down +in the water as sustained by a slight attachment, and +thus by their gravity to help to sink the carcass +whilst they no longer were calculated to catch the +irregularities of the submerged surface of the ice, as +the tail, when perfect in structure and position, had +previously done. A considerable weight, I believe, +in sand-bags, was also hung upon the “bight” of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +line for helping to sink the fish clear of obstructions +above, and, finally, the line being hauled on in the +boat from whence the fish had been originally harpooned, +it progressively yielded to the force applied, +and in due time the loud and cheerful huzzas of the +sailors announced the completion of the capture in +its appearance outside!</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section III.</span>—<i>Improvements and Inventions.</i></h3> + +<p>We have had occasion, in the course of our memorial +records, to describe several important inventions +or improvements of my Father’s in connection +with his professional occupations. There remain yet +to be mentioned a variety of other contributions, of +a like order, to Greenland apparatus or operations +pertaining to the fishery, and also to objects of public +consideration generally.</p> + +<p>As to whale-fishing apparatus and operations, his +contributions in the form of new contrivances and +improvements were numerous, and, many of them, +of considerable importance. These, we shall not +attempt to describe in any measure of detail, but +chiefly in the manner of notices.</p> + +<p>In the stowage of his ship, for the economising of +space and facilitating the depositing of cargo, his +improvements were valuable.</p> + +<p>His <i>casks</i> he had built on a plan adapted for the +accurate filling of the space in the “hold,” comprising +special deviations from the general size and form in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +the introduction of large “leagers” for the midships +(on the kelson), adjusted, in length, to the exact spaces +of the stantions of the hold beams, as also of narrow, +short, or irregularly formed casks for the extremities +of the hold, fore and aft.</p> + +<p>The <i>deck</i> on the hold beams, instead of being laid, +as usual, in a continuous series of planks, was cut up +into hatches, and laid level betwixt the beams, so as, +whilst forming a flat and even platform when laid +down, to open out the hold, on the removal of the +hatch-like planking, without other incumbrance +against the stowing and filling of the casks beneath, +except the naked beams and their essential fastenings.</p> + +<p>In the suspension of the <i>boats</i>, with regard to +facility in lowering or hoisting, as well as for safety, +his improvements were of great importance.</p> + +<p>It had been the practice in whale ships’ equipments, +to suspend the boats, usually seven in number, +in double tiers at both <i>quarters</i>, one at the “waist,” +on each side, and one over the stern. The arrangements +for these objects were at once clumsy and +incommodious. In place of the huge lofty beams +across the quarter-deck, from the extremities of +which were suspended the four “quarter boats,” my +Father substituted compact, but lofty oak “davits,” +which, with their associate “skids” (upright timbers +against which the sides of the boats press and slide), +were removable when not required. For the double +tier at the quarters, he substituted an additional +length of boats over the main chains, thus consti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>tuting +an even running series of three lengths of +boats, having the advantage of great facility in being +lowered or hoisted, as well as a much improved +security against accidents in the passing of hummocks +of ice, or from the sea in gales of wind, to which the +<i>lower</i> quarter-boats, on the old plan of suspension, +were frequently exposed.</p> + +<p>In <i>fishing</i> and other <i>apparatus</i>, my Father made +various improvements. In the harpoon, the improvement +consisted mainly in the mode of keeping it in +condition for use,—<i>bright</i> and <i>clean</i> as well as sharp; +but in the lance he altered the form of the blade, +which had usually been sharp-pointed and only +moderately hardened, for a somewhat rounded point +and a better quality of steel with greater hardness,—the +advantage of which was, that if striking against a +bone, the point was not liable to be fixed by its deep +penetration, nor to be turned up or broken, as often +happened, by the collision.</p> + +<p>Some of the “flensing” apparatus, and one or two +of the instruments used in “making-off” the blubber, +he variously modified and improved, substituting for +some very clumsy contrivances employed in the latter +operation, compact and well-adapted instruments.</p> + +<p>The <i>ice-drill</i>, a handy and very effective instrument +for setting an <i>ice-anchor</i>, was his contrivance, being +a great improvement upon the old <i>ice-axe</i>.</p> + +<p class="gap2">The talent for contrivance and improvement, as +thus practically evinced, was by no means limited in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +its exercises to subjects of a mere professional nature. +The town and harbour of Whitby, with regard to +some important modern improvements, have reaped +conspicuous benefits from my Father’s suggestions.</p> + +<p>His views on various matters of improvement in +the town and harbour, with their respective approaches, +were first put forward in a pamphlet which +he published in the winter of 1816-17; and in 1826, +about three years after his retirement from the sea, +the substance of the original pamphlet, revised, extended, +and illustrated by engraved plans, was again +brought out under the title of “An Essay on the +Improvement of the Town and Harbour of Whitby, +with its Streets and neighbouring Highways; designed +also for the Maintenance of the labouring Classes +who are out of Employment.”</p> + +<p>The improvements herein suggested, appear so far +to have commended themselves to the local executive +authorities, that, in certain important particulars, corresponding +improvements have already been carried +into effect.</p> + +<p>Of these various suggestions, the one by far the +most important of all is evidently that designed for +deepening the harbour-channel, and rendering the +entrance more safe and accessible.</p> + +<p>For a long period the harbour of Whitby had been +protected, seaward, by two principal piers,—one running +from the eastern cliff about 215 yards, in a north-westerly +direction, and the other (a fine specimen of +massive and substantial architecture) running north-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>north-easterly, +along the western side of the harbour, +and extending beyond the line of the west cliff, a distance +of about 940 feet into the sea. This longer pier, +at the time my Father wrote, stretched out a distance +of about 100 yards (reckoned from the general direction +of the coast) farther than the head of the other, +leaving, however, a clear width, for the entrance of +the harbour, of about ninety-two yards.</p> + +<p>The effect of this arrangement, as to the extension +of the western pier so far beyond the other, was, as +my Father well observed, extremely injurious; for a +deep bed of sand was constantly found encumbering +the entrance by the formation of a “bar,” which not +only rendered the channel tortuous and incommodious, +but not unfrequently diminished the otherwise +available depth on the firmer bed of the river to an +extent of several feet. And besides this mischief to +a harbour almost drying at low water,—the access, +with <i>scant</i> winds from the westward, was rendered +at once difficult and dangerous because of the flood-tide +sweeping strongly across the harbour-mouth to +the eastward, and tending, by its leeward set, to carry +the ship attempting to enter, against, or beyond, the +left-hand pier, and thus to risk her total destruction +by stranding on the contiguous dangerous scar.</p> + +<p>For the correction of the evil and danger thus, +apparently, induced, my Father proposed the extension +of the east-pier by a bend in a more northerly +direction, so that, whilst the reflux of the harbour +water, and the natural stream of the <i>Esk</i>, might,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +within the narrowed and extended channel, carry +out the loose sand of the bar into the sea, and thus +deepen the entrance,—the projection of the east pier +might serve at once to guide the tidal coast-stream of +flood with more force into the harbour, and to render +the access more easy and safe by such a protection +immediately under the lee of any ship coming in +with a scant wind from the westward.</p> + +<p>This plan, with some little deviation, has already +been carried into effect. The pier has been lengthened +in a N. by W. (westerly) direction, by sections +of fifty feet at a time, in the proposed direction; at +each section, now increased altogether to about 300 +feet, the channel has been found to be deepened and +rendered less tortuous, and the entrance has become +more safe,—exactly as the projector of the improvement +had anticipated.<a name="FNanchor_P_16" id="FNanchor_P_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_P_16" class="fnanchor">[P]</a></p> + +<p>A grand improvement, as to the change of aspect +and accommodation, to the inner harbour, was also +suggested by my Father, but has not yet been carried +into effect. The improvement suggested was for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>formation of the large space, above bridge, which is +filled at spring tides from the sea, into a permanent +floating-dock,—a scheme which he conceived could +be easily effected by a wall, with gates, across the +harbour, at, or near, the place of the present bridge.</p> + +<p>The effect of such an arrangement, indeed, is not +easy to be anticipated. How far the overflow of +water would suffice to keep the channel clear of +sandy deposits? or to what extent the body of +debris and shale from the mines above might, in +such case, make lodgment in the bed of the inner +harbour? cannot be certainly determined. Yet as +there are existing wears at some distance from the +town across the river bed, and no permanent deposits, +except in their immediate contiguity, I believe, induced, +it seems not improbable but that with a +sufficient number of escape sluices in the seaward +bounding-wall, the efflux, whilst carrying off the +considerable supply of water yielded by the river, +might suffice, at the same time, to urge outward the +descending debris, and keep the channel free.</p> + +<p class="gap2">In conclusion of these notices respecting my +Father’s inventions and suggestions for improvements, +it will not be out of place to add the substance +of an interesting and curious autograph document +(which fell into my hands after his decease) referring +to other speculations, contemplated evidently as +practicable, though neither explained, as to principle +or process, nor attempted to be carried out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>The document, which as to its manner reminds one +of the Marquis of Worcester’s “Century of Inventions,” +bears the date of London, 23d December, +1824, and is aptly entitled—“Hints; or Outlines of +Improvements conceived by W. Scoresby.” These +outlines, of which the following are pretty nearly +literal and verbal extracts, are, in the original, thus +introduced:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“How swift is a glimpse of the mind!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Compared with the speed of <i>its</i> flight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tempest itself lags behind,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And the swift-winged arrows of light!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>“During forty years occupation at sea, (the document +then proceeds to set forth,) when duty called +me to watch, my mind was, at intervals, employed +about many things which might have been made +useful to the public, had they been brought forward +in due time.</p> + +<p>Amongst these conceptions may be particularised +the following:—</p> + +<p>1. An improved method of ship-building, both as +to ships-of-war and merchantmen, by adding to their +strength in framing, and promoting velocity by +placing the masts and rigging, and also adding to +their durability by preventing in a great measure the +attack of dry-rot.</p> + +<p>2. Seasoning timber to prevent the dry-rot in +ships, churches, and other buildings.</p> + +<p>3. To deepen the water on bar-harbours, and in +navigable rivers, so as to give easy access to all +friends, and to shut out, when necessary, the enemies +of our highly favoured land!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>4. To build <i>breakwaters</i> in any depth, not +exceeding twelve or fourteen fathoms water, of +materials that will not yield to the surge of the sea, +and, when immersed in the briny flood, will become +tenacious and durable as <i>terra-firma</i>, even as the +granite rock.</p> + +<p>5. To secure the banks of rivers, [subject to encroachments,] +and to support [endangered] buildings +of any magnitude.</p> + +<p>6. To improve low, wet, barren lands, near tide-flowing +rivers, that bear up only mire and dirt, by +draining on the ebb and warping on the flood-tide.</p> + +<p>7. To draw off the foul and inflammable air from +coal-pits and other mines liable to explosion.</p> + +<p>8. To lay out new streets, nearly level, over uneven +ground, with vaults under them for containing +fuel, etc. for the inhabitants, and so arranged as to +admit of pipes for gas, water, etc., being laid or +altered without molesting the pavements.</p> + +<p>9. To improve the hanging of venetian blinds in +windows, [and to render them more manageable and +useful] for keeping out the sun.</p> + +<p>10. To prepare oatmeal for the table by a new +method of drying and shelling the corn.</p> + +<p>11. “To keep in health” by regimen.</p> + +<p>12. To improve the making of <i>lasts</i>, so that the +boot or shoe may comfortably fit the foot of the +wearer.</p> + +<p>13. An improved method of pulling down decayed +buildings in towns, in order to rebuilding, as also of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +making new roads, to the honour of the British +nation, the accommodation of trade, commerce, and +of the public.</p> + +<p>14. Lastly, To beautify the Church and draw man +unto it, [not by mere outward architecture and +adorning, however admirable,] but by appointing and +supporting <i>faithful pastors</i> now when the current of +prejudice is setting in so strongly against it!”</p> + +<p class="gap2">Some few of my Father’s original ideas, on such +topics as these, were occasionally elicited in conversation, +but, unfortunately, no record was made of +them by those immediately in intercourse with him, +nor were any papers, generally expository of his +views, met with among those amid which this curious +and interesting document was found.</p> + + +<h3 class="gap2"><span class="smcap">Section IV.</span>—<i>Miscellaneous and concluding Notices.</i></h3> + +<p>The originality of mind, superiority of intelligence +and peculiar abilities of the subject of these records, +were characteristics yielding much variety of illustration +in the foregoing pages.</p> + +<p>His peculiar abilities as a whale-fisher, as may +have been already inferred, were conspicuous in +every department, and in every practical operation +connected with the adventurous pursuit. If he could +successfully attack, and safely subdue, a vicious and +dangerous whale which was working destruction +upon others who had assailed it; so he could har<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>poon +a whale, under circumstances of difficulty or +<i>distance</i>, when no less powerful and expert an arm +could reach it. In the primary attack, the aim of +the harponeer is to get the boat fairly on the <i>back</i> of +the whale, that he may the more effectually bury his +barbed weapon deep in its body; but, as ofttimes +happens, the whale retires from the surface before +the boat can come up to it, and must then be +assailed, if the distance will permit, by the projecting +of the harpoon with an energetic <i>heave</i>. To strike +the retiring or affrighted fish in this manner, with a +weapon, which, with its immediately attached line, +is of the weight of eleven or twelve pounds, is an +operation requiring both strength and skill. Comparatively +few harponeers are able to perform this +important object, effectually, beyond a distance of +twenty to twenty-two feet; and the distance of four +fathoms, or twenty-four feet, requires superior expertness. +This, however, was an easy range with my +Father; whilst he has been known to heave his harpoon +with precision and success even as far as twenty-six +or twenty-eight feet.</p> + +<p>His management in the urging and furthering of +the general operations of the fishery was sometimes +attended with extraordinary results. Thus, on one +occasion, during his command of the John of Greenock, +he captured thirteen whales in thirty hours, +and flensed five of them, comprising a produce of +about eighty tuns of oil, of the commercial value +(inclusive of the whalebone) of about 3500<i>l.</i>! The ice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +in this case, closing and threatening besetment, +other ships in company urgently made their escape; +my Father, judiciously weighing the risks and probable +advantages, determined to abide the issue. He +did so, his ship got beset, but, as he had anticipated, +was soon released, and on the relaxation of the +pressure, just as the ice was opening, whales again +appeared, and he made further important progress +in the fishery!</p> + +<p class="gap2">The originality of talent and tact so observable in +the various records heretofore given, became equally +conspicuous, as occasions offered, in an enlarged and +general scope of application. The following case, +though I do not remember how I learnt it, is so +characteristic of my Father, that I cannot hesitate in +offering it for illustration.</p> + +<p>He had a remarkable keenness and power in the +eye, which, in the case referred to, he turned to account +with a curious and surprising result. Having +occasion to visit a ship lying in a <i>tier</i> in a dock, +he encountered, in his transit across from vessel to +vessel, a fierce and dangerous dog. Though warned +against venturing to cross the deck on which this +formidable looking animal was placed as guardian, +he, relying on the power of the human eye, which +he believed no animal, if its gaze were once fixed, +could bear, determined to venture on the experiment. +Immediately on the dog observing the approach of +an intruder on its domain, it exhibited the most ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>pressive +tokens of the intention to resist; and when +my Father put his leg over the bulwark of the contiguous +vessel it flew fiercely towards him. Pausing +in this position, he strove to catch the eye of the dog, +an attempt which for some time it contrived to evade. +But at length succeeding so that whenever it glanced +towards his face it met his steady, stern, and penetrative +gaze, an effect, in the discomposed expression +of the creature, became soon observable. Whilst +thus obtaining and holding its unwilling look, my +Father moved his other leg over and slowly advanced +with one foot upon the rail of the guarded vessel,—a +movement which was resisted by fierce barking and +sundry traverse-like springs, but, withal, an obvious +indisposition to attack the being whose eye was so +over-awing. Another step forward renewed the +display of noise and action, but the stern, fixed look, +now perpetually watched, repelled the assailant. He +next stood firm on the forbidden deck, and yet was +free from attack; he advanced a step, and the dog +still bounding from side to side, or forward and +backward in front, came no nearer. Another and +another step was deliberately, but determinately +pushed forward, whilst the dog, repelled by the +immovable gaze, yielded the ground. The result, as +I have understood, was, that when the dog had been +driven entirely across the deck where there happened +to be no defence as bulwark, betwixt the rail and the +ship’s side, my Father sprung a step or two suddenly +forward, as if designing, in turn, to become the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +assailant, when the panic-stricken brute, as suddenly +backing, unconsciously passed beneath the railing +and fell overboard!</p> + +<p class="gap2">As it has not been our plan in these memorial +records to give a regular and general biography, few +circumstances in respect to habits on shore, domestic +relations, and private life, have been introduced. We +may here, however, supply some incidental matters +in brief notices.</p> + +<p>His habits of life were, in respect to matters of +self-indulgence, generally moderate and temperate. +At sea, his favourite beverage was tea; and though +not connected with any Temperance Society, nor +practising total abstinence from stimulating drinks, +he was a great tea-drinker. On occasions of long +exposure at the mast-head, or after irritation of the +throat by much exertion with the speaking-trumpet +in giving directions to the men at a distance, when +on ice or in boats, he was wont to take what was +called an “egg-dram,” consisting of a raw egg beat +up with a spoonful or two of ardent spirits. This +was not unfrequently carried up to him by the +steward, and taken in the crow’s-nest; but he almost +regularly, except at the dinner hour, resorted to tea +on each succeeding occasion when refreshment was +needed. Under hard and prolonged engagements in +fishing, or penetrating the ice, when from twelve to +eighteen hours (with but very brief intervals below) +might be spent aloft, his call to the steward, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +anticipated a few minutes of respite, was often heard +to prepare tea. And “tea,” “tea,” some four or five +or even six times, betwixt rising from and retiring to +his bed, has been the chief orders for refreshment in +his hard and protracted exertions.</p> + +<p class="gap2">In character, my Father was patriotic, benevolent, +and philanthropic; in temper, quick and passionate, +but soon composed, and singularly free from animosity +against those with whom he had been at variance, +and <i>most forgiving</i> to those who had injured him.</p> + +<p>He was an enthusiastic admirer of the British +Constitution, in Church and State; an ardent loyalist, +and a sincere respecter of magisterial authority. He +loved his country, and made neither few nor unexpensive +efforts for the public benefit. On the last +renewal of the Whitby Pier Act, when difficulty and +opposition were expected, he spent a considerable +sum in the engaging of professional assistance with +the view to the renewal and improvement of an Act +so important to Whitby and the coasting navigation.</p> + +<p>His course through life, though of almost uninterrupted +prosperity, was not of unmixed quietude. +Jealousies and envyings on the part of some; opposition, +arising from misconceptions as to what they +could not understand, prevailed with others. But with +those amongst whom he was cast, of superior intelligence, +he not unfrequently made his way satisfactorily +and agreeably. His personal superior intelligence +and originality of conception commended him to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +favourable consideration of many of our most eminent +engineers and naval architects, and others professionally +engaged in public works. He was well +known to the late Sir John Barrow, and was a rather +frequent visitor at the scientific assemblages at the +house of Sir Joseph Banks, as also many times a +guest at the hospitable table of that distinguished +patron of science.</p> + +<p>At all periods of his life, he was well estimated by +many of those whose judgment and superiority were +publicly recognised; and, after his decease, most of +those who had not understood him, received new and +favourable impressions concerning him.</p> + +<p class="gap2">In his regard to religion, there was no special +profession. There was as much freedom from ostentation +as there was from hypocrisy, which he despised. +As to those things which mankind are prone to fail +in, and as to results in life in which it is found “that +by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot +always stand upright,”—I never recollect, in his own +case, his excusing them, or expressing views derogatory +to Divine Grace, or tending to the <i>abuse</i> of its +consoling doctrines. It was most manifest, that his +simple and entire reliance for justification before +God, was in Christ, and Christ alone; and it was +equally manifest that he recognised and held the +duties of Christianity in their broad and practical +bearing, as of grand and indispensable importance +for life and godliness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p> + +<p>But not to anticipate further another opinion, +which may serve for a conclusion of these records, +I proceed again to quote from Mr. Drew, who, after +speaking, in summary, of his life as a seaman and +a whale-fisher, noticing very approvingly his improvements +in the whale-fishery, and the benefits +conferred by his experience and observations on +navigation and commerce, proceeds (writing, it will +be observed, whilst the subject of his memoir was +yet living,) in these commendatory terms:—</p> + +<p>“In the career of this man we behold the progress +of natural genius and superior talents, surmounting +every impediment, and conducting him from a team +of oxen and the plough to wealth and reputation, +and to the highest honours that the whale-fishery +can bestow.</p> + +<p>“To this it is pleasing to add, that, instead of +imitating the conduct of too many engaged in his +profession, ascribing success to <i>luck</i> or <i>fortune</i>,—Mr. +Scoresby, throughout the whole of his dangerous +course, acknowledges the overruling Providence of +God, and does not forget, though an inhabitant of +time, that he has an interest in eternity.</p> + +<p>“Of benevolent institutions he is the patron and +friend, and the poor of Whitby have experienced his +bounty. The diffusion of the truths of Revelation +throughout the world has his best wishes and his +[most liberal] support. He views Christianity, not +merely as a system of ethics, but as possessing a +soul-transforming power, which renovates the heart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +and regulates the life, and as that alone which can +make men wise unto salvation.”</p> + +<p class="gap2">Reader! If <i>very</i> much has been said, in the foregoing +pages, in respect of superiority of talent, and +energy and originality of mind in the individual +whose acts and adventures it has been my object to +describe, the statements and facts adduced will, I +trust, be found to justify the terms made use of; but +if commendations beyond what some might be disposed +to yield, have, in any case, been bestowed, or +if admiration extending to partiality may have appeared +to characterise any of my comments, I would +confidently ground my claim on your indulgence in +consideration of the circumstance, that the revered +subject of these records was</p> + +<p class="center large">MY FATHER!</p> + +<p class="center small gap4">Printed by <span class="smcap">M. Mason</span>, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="pseudoh3">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_O_15" id="Footnote_O_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_O_15"><span class="label">[O]</span></a> The inexperienced mechanic is liable to be puzzled with the action +of the <i>wedge</i>, because of its being estimated, in some modes of its application, +in the <i>double</i> proportion of its length to that of once its thickness, +giving to it, <i>apparently</i>, twice the force of the other mechanical powers. +It may not be unfitting, for the sake of our young readers, to explain +the little difficulty. The wedge when acting against one fixed and +immoveable body for the removal of another body, has then, only, the +like force as the lever,—a force proportionate to the extent of space +passed over, in driving, by the length, with respect to the increase in +the thickness, of the wedge; but when acting for the separation of two +bodies, both moveable, both sides then become effective, and it necessarily +exerts double that power. And so does the lever. For if the +lever be employed in like manner, the action in separating two moveable +bodies will be just double that of its ordinary action where the fulcrum +is absolutely fixed. This, indeed, is obviously the same with all the +mechanical powers. Action and reaction being equal, the power +exerted in raising or moving one heavy body must be exerted reversely +against the earth, or other fixed body serving as a fulcrum to the lever, +or for the attachment of one extremity of a tackle or series of pullies, +or for the securing of the capstan spindle. Let the attachments of the +machine and its object, however, be both afloat, and then any of the +mechanical powers, like that of the wedge, will have an efficiency of +double that of its ordinary operation where one part is a fixture.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_P_16" id="Footnote_P_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_P_16"><span class="label">[P]</span></a> This important work not being yet brought to a completion,—the +ultimate and abiding influence of the alterations cannot be accurately +predicted. The entrance of the harbour, by the new extension of the +east pier, having been narrowed, perhaps too considerably, a temptation +is offered to cast the terminal length, or head, in a bell-mouthed fashion +more easterly. If such an arrangement were made (as my intelligent +connection, Mr. Jackson of Whitby, suggests) it <i>might</i> produce a very +mischievous effect by giving a broad fan-tail exit to the escaping ebb-tide +waters, and so diminishing their force at the very point where concentration +and compactness of efflux are of the greatest importance in +scouring the entrance and keeping it clear of sandy deposits.</p></div> + +</div> + +<p class="pseudoh3 gap4">PUBLICATIONS BY THE REV. W. SCORESBY, D.D.</p> + +<p class="center smaller">F.R.S.S., LOND. AND EDIN., MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, +OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA, ETC.</p> + +<p class="pseudoh4">BY LONGMAN & CO.</p> + +<p class="center">MEMORIALS OF THE SEA:</p> + +<p class="center blackletter mb0">1. Sabbaths in the Arctic Regions:</p> +<p class="center small mt0">Second Edition. <i>Post 8vo.</i>, cloth boards, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p class="center blackletter mb0">2. The Mary Russell:</p> +<p class="center small mt0">Second Edition. <i>Post 8vo.</i>, cloth boards, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p class="center blackletter mb0">3. My Father:</p> +<p class="center small mt0">Being <span class="smcap">Records</span> of the adventurous Life of the late <span class="smcap">William +Scoresby</span>, Esq. of <span class="smcap">Whitby.</span></p> + +<p class="center mb0">THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION:</p> +<p class="center small mt0"><i>8vo. cloth boards, with two large Charts, 6s.</i></p> + +<p class="small">Remarks on Researches for North-west Passage: the Public Duty concerning +our gallant Countrymen—Historical Sketch of the Plans and +Outset of the Missing Expedition, and of Researches made for its Relief—Suggestion +of a Plan for present Measures of Search—the Passage +of the Middle Ice of Baffin Bay, with illustrative Incidents—on Aids to +the furtherance of Research—with an Appendix.</p> + + +<p class="center mb0">MAGNETICAL INVESTIGATIONS:</p> +<p class="center small mt0"><i>8vo., with Plates. Part I., 5s.: Part II., 10s. 6d.</i></p> + +<p class="small">Comprising original Researches on,—the Magnetic Capabilities of various +descriptions of Steel and Iron—the Ratios of Increase of Power by +Combinations of Bars and Plates—the Effects of Hardness, Quality, +Form, and Mass on the resulting Magnetic Power—the Determination +of the Quality and Temper of Steel best adapted for Compasses, with +original Modes of testing the Quality of Iron and Steel, and greatly +improving Magnetical Instruments in general.</p> + + +<p class="center">ZOISTIC MAGNETISM: <i>8vo. 6s.</i></p> + +<p class="small">Consisting of original Researches in Mesmeric Phenomena, with the +view of eliciting the Scientific Principles of this mysterious Agency—and +in which Experiments are described eliciting strong Electric +or Magneto-electric Conditions, with the intercepting of the Mesmeric +Influence by Electrics, and the neutralizing of the Effects of Substances, +having an ungenial Influence on the Subject, by the same Process as +was found to neutralize the Electricity of Sealing-wax, etc., as acting on +the Electroscope.</p> + + +<p class="center">JEHOVAH GLORIFIED IN HIS WORKS:</p> + +<p class="small">A Sermon preached in St. James’ Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh, +August 4, 1850, on occasion of the Meeting of the British Association +for the Advancement of Science.—1<i>s.</i></p> + + +<p class="center">ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS:</p> + +<p class="small center"><i>2 vols. 8vo.—Out of print.</i></p> + + +<p class="center">VOYAGE TO THE NORTHERN WHALE FISHERY:</p> + +<p class="small center">Including Researches and Discoveries on the Eastern Coast of Greenland +in 1822.—<i>1 vol. 8vo.—Out of print.</i></p> + + +<p class="center blackletter">“William Scoresby’s des Jüngern Tagebuch einer Riese +auf den Wallfischfang:”</p> + +<p class="small center">A German Translation by Professor <span class="smcap">Frederick Kries</span>, +published in Hamburgh 1825.</p> + +<hr class="width75" /> +<p class="center"><b>BY NISBET & CO.</b></p> + + +<p class="center">MEMORIAL OF AN AFFECTIONATE AND +DUTIFUL SON:</p> + +<p class="small center">Frederick R. H. S., who fell asleep in Jesus, Dec. 31, 1834; aged 16 +years:—<i>12mo. 4s.</i></p> + +<p class="center">DISCOURSES TO SEAMEN:</p> + +<p class="small">Consisting of Fifteen Sermons, preached in the Mariners’ Church, +Liverpool, treated, for the most part <i>generally</i>, on subjects of Christian +Practice and Doctrine: <i>12mo. 4s.</i></p> + +<hr class="width75" /> + +<p class="center"><b>BY SAMPSON LOW & D. BOGUE.</b></p> + + +<p class="center">THE WHALEMAN’S ADVENTURES IN THE +SOUTHERN OCEAN:</p> + +<p class="small">As gathered by the Rev. <span class="smcap">H. Cheever</span>, on a Voyage undertaken for his +Health, and Edited and Revised by the Rev. <span class="smcap">W. Scoresby</span>, D.D.</p> + + +<p class="center small gap2">London; Printed by <span class="smcap">M. Mason</span>, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row.</p> + +<div class="bbox pad1"> +<p class="pseudoh3">TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES</p> + +<p class="hangindent">Page 17: villany as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 28, Footnote F: incidently as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 34, 210: taught as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 42: sea-faring standardised to the more common seafaring</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 43: seaman-like standardised to the more common seamanlike</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 44, 101, 109, 113, 225: harponeers as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 71: Section VI corrected to Section V</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 81: teazing as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 82: reconnoissance as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 93: thermometic as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 94: hybernating as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 103, 183: inconsistent hyphenation of Greenlandman/Greenland-man as in + the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 105: stratagy as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 106, 118: inconsistent hyphenation of leeside/lee-side as in the + original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 112: correspondently as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 127, 146, 225: harponeer as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 132: cabouse as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 141, 190: inconsistent hyphenation of hundredweight/hundred-weight as + in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 143, 165: inconsistent hyphenation of goodwill/good-will as in the + original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 144: masthead standardised to the more common mast-head</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 159: tenaceousness as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 174: mechanician as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 197: geer as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Pages 200, 209: topmast standardised to the more common top-mast</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 204: recal as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Page 216: kelson, stantions as in the original</p> +<p class="hangindent">Advertisements: Rries corrected to Kries</p> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Memorials of the Sea, by William Scoresby + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMORIALS OF THE SEA *** + +***** This file should be named 35183-h.htm or 35183-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/1/8/35183/ + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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