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the first light. Having called up the idlers-namely—the carpenter, cook, steward, etc., and rigged the pump, we commenced washing down the decks. This operation, which is performed every morning at sea, takes nearly two hours, and I had hardly strength enough to get through it. After we had finished, swabbed down, and coiled up the rigging, I sat down on the spars, waiting for seven bells, which was the sign for breakfast. The officer, seeing my lazy posture, ordered me to slush the main-mast from the royal-mast-head down. The vessel was then rolling a little, and I had taken no sustenance for three days, so that I felt tempted to tell him, that I had rather wait till after breakfast; but I knew that I must "take the bull by the horns," and, that if I showed any sign of want of spirit, or of backwardness, I should be ruined at once. So I took my bucket of grease, and climbed up to the royal-mast-head. Here the rocking of the vessel, which increases the higher you go from the foot of the mast, which is the fulcrum of the lever, and the smell of the grease, which offended my fastidious senses, upset my stomach again; and I was not a little rejoiced, when I got upon the comparative terra firma of the deck. In a few minutes seven bells were struck, the log hove, the watch called, and we went to breakfast. Here I cannot but remember the advice of the cook, a simple-hearted African:-"Now," says he, my lad, you are well cleaned out; you hav'nt got a drop of your 'long shore swash aboard of you. You must begin on a new tackpitch all your sweetmeats overboard, and turn to upon good hearty salt beef and sea bread; and I'll promise you, you'll have your ribs well sheathed, and be as hearty as any of 'em, afore you're up to the Horn." This would be good advice to give to passengers, when they speak of the little niceties which they have laid in, in case of seasickness.

I cannot describe the change which half-a-pound of cold salt-beef, and a biscuit or two produced in me. I was a new being. We had a watch below until noon, so that I had some time to myself; and getting a huge piece of strong cold salt-beef from the cook, I kept gnawing upon it until twelve o'clock. When we went on deck, I felt somewhat like a man, and could begin to learn my sea-duty with considerable spirit. At about two o'clock, we heard the loud cry-" sail ho!" from aloft, and soon saw two vessels to windward, going directly athwart our hawse. This was the first time that I had seen a sail at sea. I thought then, and have always since, that it exceeds every other sight in interest and beauty. They passed to the leeward of us, and out of hailing distance; but the captain could read the names on their sterns, with the glass. They were, the ship Helen Mar, of New York, and the brig Mermaid, of Boston. They were both steering westward, and were bound in for our "dear native land.”

Thursday, August 21st. This day the sun rose clear; we had a fine wind, and every thing was bright and cheerful. I had now got my sea-legs on, and was beginning to enter upon the regular duties of a sea-life. About six bells, that is, three o'clock, P. M., we saw a sail on our larboard bow. I was very anxious, like every new sailor, to

speak her. She came down to us-backed her main-top-sail-and the two vessels stood "head on," bowing and curvetting at each other, like a couple of war-horses, reined in by their riders. It was the first vessel I had seen, and I was surprised to find how much she pitched and rolled in so quiet a sea. She plunged her head into the sea, and then her stern settling gradually down, her huge bows rose up, showing the bright copper, and her stern and breast hooks dripping like old Neptune's locks with the brine. Her decks were filled with passengers, who had come up at the cry of "sail ho!" and who, by their dress and features, appeared to be Swiss and French emigrants. She hailed us at first in French, but receiving no answer, she tried us in English. She was the ship La Carolina, from Havre, for New York. We desired her to report the brig Pilgrim, from Boston, for the north-west coast of America, five days out. She then filled away and left us to plough on through our waste of waters. This day ended pleasantly; we had got into regular and comfortable weather, and into that routine of sea-life, which is only broken by a storm-a sail-or the sight of land.

A CAPTAIN'S CONCERN FOR THE SALVATION OF SEAMEN.

[Captain JOHN BAZIN, to whose honour the following testimony is borne, was born in Guernsey, in the year 1780, and was the eldest of fourteen children. He went to sea with his father, who was the master of a small vessel that traded to France, at the age of nine. After several years of unsettledness both on land and sea, he was brought under the influence of religion-joined the Wesleyan methodists became the commander of a large merchant ship; and during the whole of his life, made the most strenuous exertions to benefit his brother seamen, and promote their salvation to God. In the midst of his usefulness he was suddenly called to his rest and reward, on the 12th day of February, 1836. The account here furnished of this now sainted man will be read with pleasure.-ED.]

Nothing can be more characteristic of a good man, with the exception of a deep concern for the salvation of his family, than anxious efforts to promote conversions among men pursuing the same avocations with himself. And this observation more particularly holds good in reference to a pious seaman. The form of christian philanthropy is more easily assumed ashore than at sea, excitements to it are more numerous, and its exercise is less a cross among landsmen, than it is among sailors. And a man may have great reputation for sanctity in decent and orderly society, who does not take up a cross on account of his religion once in twelve months. It is not so at sea. Unhappily,

sailors from earliest life, are abandoned to habits of immorality and intemperance; and therefore are generally sadly ignorant of the simplest elements of religion. This is not all. Their duties take them away from opportunities of public worship. In the ports they sail to, they are precluded the influence their parents, wives, and sisters might have upon them; while they are left to wallow in the haunts of shameless crime. The hazards and long voyages of a sea-faring life are unfavourable to marriage. The perpetual dangers to which seamen are exposed have a hardening effect upon the heart. And the small estimation in which their rights are held by the nation, whose maritime and commercial prosperity they advance or sustain, tends to lead them to consider themselves outcasts; and despairing of decency, comfort, and respectability among their fellow-men, they give themselves up, when they can, to the wretched indulgence of all the corruptions of their nature. These considerations are sufficient to show us, that visits to seamen, during the short time that they are in our own ports, ought to be made by persons of solid christian experience, real benevolence, and great decision of mind; and who have likewise some knowledge of the habits, sufferings, neglect, and crimes in which seamen generally live and die. And I repeat again, that a man, who, for a series of years, exerts himself under the influence of the love of God, to awaken sailors to a consideration and regard of eternal things, must be a christian. And such was Captain Bazin. pray and labour for their conversion to God. this respect, deserve very particular detail, I gence while I lengthen this article.

Day by day did he And as his efforts, in ask the reader's indul

I. Captain Bazin demonstrated his solicitude for the welfare of sailors by expending considerable sums of money in printing sermons suitable for seafaring men. For this unusual act of christian exertion he cannot be too highly commended. The press is an instrument employed more by the enemies of religion than its friends. Every impertinent scribbler, from the editor of certain works, whose names and objects cannot be mentioned, to the fashionable and powerfully fascinating productions of our Moores and Byrons, pesters the world with his irreligious lucubrations,—his indecent sallies,—his infidel sarcasms, and his vain and false reasonings;-but some professing christians feel little or no care about the power and opportunity the press gives them of opposing the kingdom of darkness, and recommending to their fellowmen the ever-admirable system of christianity. It is true every christian is not called upon to write and print books, this is not what I would recommend. But there are good books already written; some are extant, but out of print. The rich might reprint editions of these works, under the correcting superintendance of literary christians; and others less wealthy, might circulate good books of acknowledged worth, thousands of impressions of which are on sale in very cheap forms. And he who could not afford to present his neighbour or dependent with an impression of Scott's, Henry's, or Clark's Commentaries on the Bible, or Horne's Critical Introduction to the Study of

the Holy Scriptures, might make him a present of some small work well adapted to impress on the human mind the consideration of some one essential doctrine, or fact, or precept of our holy religion. This was Captain Bazin's plan. He could not write books; for he was as wanting of literary acquisition as he was full of business all his life. But he was happy in having a vivid conception, so that his want of literature was no defect in his character and did not prevent his usefulness for one hour. He found in the works of the immortal divines of the last and earlier centuries, single sermons, of strictly orthodox sentiments, and of inimitable composition; a thousand copies of which he could reprint for less than five pounds, with no other inconvenience to himself, than doubling down the leaves of the volumes which contained them, and paying the sum I have just now named: and the latter he did, at least according to his ability, as cheerfully as it was easy to do the former. For be it observed, that he did not reprint in this way once or twice, but a great number of times. He had good sense to know what was excellent in truth; and what was pertinent, forcible, and practical in argument; and especially what was likely to instruct and awaken sailors to a consideration of the awful realities of eternity; and that he very gladly republished at his own expense.

*

II. Captain Bazin laboured much to distribute among seamen the small works he thus reprinted. He did not give these books to others, to be scattered at random; nor were such impressions carelessly distributed by him. Some pertinent remark, some wise observation, some good advice, or some kind exhortation accompanied almost every copy. And it ought not to be forgotten, that his own time was taken up in the visits he made; and his own men, and his own boat, employed in pulling him from ship to ship, when he had opportunities. Could exertions so extensive, and which were conducted at, what many people would consider, so great a sacrifice, originate with any less motives than real christian benevolence towards the neglected men whose souls he sought to benefit?

III. But Captain Bazin became the instrument of the christian benevolence of others towards seamen. Auxiliary Bible Associations, the Tract Society, the Prayer Book and Homily Society, and many excellent private individuals, conferred favours on seamen, through Captain Bazin.

IV. But there is another way in which he laboured for the spiritual welfare of seamen, namely, by trying to bring them directly under the influence of the public worship of almighty God. Who will not be delighted to read of him gathering his crew together in the morning,

*During the latter years of his charitable exertions, however, Captain Bazin was greatly assisted with considerable donations from benevolent and wealthy christians, among whom were the Duchess of Beaufort, Lady E. S., and General Orde, G. Lowther, Esquire, and many other honourable and wealthy christians.

for the purpose of reading and expounding the scriptures to them, and to join them in prayer? Who will not take pleasure to read of his numerous exhortations to seamen to attend worship at the Bethel ?— And until our clergy and ministers of all denominations, shall become so alive to the instruction of poor sailors and their families, as not to call for the labours of a layman,—until THAT shall be, what christian will not rejoice, when another Bazin gathers a few sailors around him, (on a work-day evening,) in one of our much-neglected spots, and lectures them extemporaneously on the fundamental doctrines of true religion? Wise was Captain Bazin in perceiving that men cannot be religious, without habitual and devout attention to the public worship of almighty God. He was wishful for seamen, not only in all Her Majesty's ships, but in all merchantmen, packets, and trading vessels, to have regular hours for public worship, as well as landsmen, except when interrupted with very rough weather. And why might not this be? Why should our sailors, who, by the good providence of our God, glide so prosperously before so many winds, towards every known and interesting port of the world, be so utterly thoughtless in this respect? When out of sight of land, are they more away from the eye of God? Or need they less the protection of His omnipotence on the mighty world of waters, than ashore? Or, do seamen suppose themselves less in danger of hell, and more secure of heaven, sailing—

"O'er the wide waters of the dark blue sea,”

than when at home, and within the sound of our parochial church bells? Oh no! Then surely some desperate infatuation must possess them, or they would acknowledge the care the God of the ocean takes of them, while they traverse its vast and restless bosom ! Oh! my soul pities them more than I can tell! And so did Captain Bazin.

INTEMPERANCE A CURSE.

Intemperance is so debasing the character, destroying the reason, and depraving the heart of our people, that a large portion of them have come into that condition in which it is morally impossible for God to bless them. If he send them adversity, and blighted harvests, and commercial distress, they sink under his curses. If he send them prosperity, and rich harvests, and commercial success, they turn them into licentiousness and rebellion against himself; and thus, also, his blessing becomes a curse. If he frown on them, they are cursed. If he smiles on them they are cursed. For there is a transmuting power of evil resting among them, which turns even the rich beneficence of heaven into a curse. By their intemperance also, they have cast themselves almost beyond the means of recovery. They live as much without hope, or desire of future blessedness, as if no dispensation of grace had ever been revealed to our world. Yes, they live as much without any divine and healing influence, as if no remedial scheme of mercy had ever been promulgated from heaven.

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