A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

left, they would persist to keep Christmas "like Christians," though the elements had combinedtogether for their destruction. Their long acquaintance with a sea-faring life had inured them to allkinds of perils, and their heavy labour, with the inclemencies of weather, and other hardships,making their muscles rigid and their nerves obtuse, had communicated insensibility to the mind. Itwill easily be conceived, that as they do not feel for themselves sufficiently to provide for their ownsafety, they must be incapable of feeling for others. Subjected to a very strict command, they alsoexercise a tyrannical sway over those whom fortune places in their power. Accustomed to face anenemy, they breathe nothing but war. By force of habit, even killing is become so much theirpassion, that we have seen many instances during our voyage, where they have expressed a horrideagerness to fire upon the natives on the slightest pretences. Their way of life in general, preventstheir enjoying domestic comforts; and gross animal appetites fill the place of purer affections.At last, extinct each social feeling, fellAnd joyless inhumanity pervadesAnd petrifies the heart.--THOMSON.Though they are members of a civilized society, they may, in some measure, be looked on as a bodyof uncivilized men, rough, passionate, revengeful, but likewise brave, sincere, and true to eachother."In place of inveighing against the illiberality of this statement, or attempting to dispute its truth, asmany persons, from an affectation of enthusiastic regard for the honour of our tars, or positiveignorance or contempt of the most incontrovertible obligations of morality and religion, wouldincline, it will be vastly more philosophical to investigate what are the principles of human natureand the circumstances in their situation, which give rise to such a character, that if possible someadequate remedy, or check at least, may be discovered. This is certainly not the place for such adiscussion, as the importance of the subject demands; and the writer can by no means imaginehimself called on to enter upon it. But he hazards a remark. He would consider British sailors asmade up of precisely the same elements as the rest of men, and that the obvious peculiarities inwhich they differ from others, are the result of the circumstances of their professional situation. Itfollows, that his censure falls on the profession itself, rather than on those who are members of it.But in fact, he conceives that there has been a culpable neglect on the part of those who at differentperiods acquire authority, to the moral condition of this class of men. It is obvious indeed, thatgovernments in general are little careful about the characters of their subordinate agents, unless in sofar as is essential to the purposes for which they are employed; and accordingly, where the base andsavage principles of mankind can be converted into so powerful an instrument, as we know they arein the present case, we shall find, that scarcely any pains have been taken to superinduce refinement,or even to favour the salutary operation of those causes, by which, in the ordinary course of things,society is gradually emancipated from barbarism. The rough virtues of the seaman are in theirestimation of sufficient excellence, without the enhancement of moral attainments; and it isquestionable, indeed, if a sort of prejudice may not lurk in the minds of many, that the latter wouldbe the destruction of the former. Clearly, however, it seems to be conceived, that there is noadequate inducement to run the risk of the experiment; and, therefore, some gross immoralities areconnived at, under the plausible title of necessary evils, provided they do not interfere with thetechnical duties of the profession. Though it be admitted, that the reformation of men's mannersforms no part of the office of a politician, yet it may be fairly pleaded, on the other hand, as vice isin its own nature a debilitating power, independent altogether of reference to a Supreme Being, thatto eradicate it, or to apply a restraint to its influence, may be no injudicious labour of his vocation.This, it is presumed, may be attempted in three ways, (in addition to certain indulgences, which thereappears to be an imperious necessity to admit, with a view of preventing greater evils,) viz. the