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

subject, this disease was indigenous in New Zealand where the sailors contracted it, and notimported there by Europeans. This opinion is, no doubt, in confirmation of what the writerhas elsewhere stated to be his own as to the general question respecting the origin of thedisease; but he is bound in candour to admit, that it seems to rest on rather slender evidenceand insufficient reasoning, in the present instance--so that he is less disposed to availhimself of it. Mr F. himself is not positive as to the facts on which he founds his opinion,and consequently is not so as to the opinion. This is to be inferred from his concludingremarks, which, besides, exhibit so fair a specimen of just indignation and regret, as maydeserve to be offered to the reader's notice. "If," says he, "in spite of appearances, ourconclusions should prove erroneous, it is another crime added to the score of civilizednations, which must make their memory execrated by the unhappy people, whom they havepoisoned. Nothing can in the least atone for the injury they have done to society, since theprice at which their libidinous enjoyments were purchased, instils another poison into themind, and destroys the moral principles, while the disease corrupts and enervates the body.A race of men, who, amidst all their savage roughness, their fiery temper, and cruelcustoms, are brave, generous, hospitable, and incapable of deceiving, are justly to be pitied,that love, the source of their sweetest and happiest feelings, is converted into the origin ofthe most dreadful scourge of life." In this last paragraph, there is reason to imagine Mr F.has somewhat overstepped the modesty of both history and nature--the former, by too highcommendation of the New Zealanders, who, whatever merit they may claim on othergrounds, can scarcely be said, at least if facts are to be trusted, to be incapable of deceiving;and the latter, in ascribing greater influence to love among these savages, than perhaps willever be found realised in such a condition of our nature. One cannot believe, that sophilosophical an enquirer should impute much efficacy as a source of happiness to the merebrute passion; and it is equally unlikely that so acute an observer should discover any thingmore refined than such an appetite in the sexual intercourse among so rude a tribe.Probably then his language is fully more poetic than becomes the sober narrator. This,indeed, is nowise uncommon with him, as the reader perhaps is already convinced. But thisvery circumstance, it is obvious, is to his advantage as a writer.--E.At seven o'clock in the morning of the 25th, the gale being more moderate, we made sail under thecourses, and in the afternoon set the top-sails close-reefed. At midnight, the wind having veeredmore to the north, we tacked and stretched to the S.E., being at this time in the latitude of 42° 53' S.,longitude 163° 20' W.We continued to stretch to the S.E., with a fresh gale and fair weather, till four o'clock in theafternoon of the next day, when we stood again to the N.E., till midnight between the 27th and 28th.Then we had a few hours calm, which was succeeded by faint breezes from the west. At this time wewere in the latitude of 42° 32', longitude 161° 15' W. The wind remained not long at west, before itveered back to the E. by the N., and kept between the S.E. and N.E., but never blew strong.On July 2d, being in the latitude of 53° 3', longitude 156° 17' W., we had again a calm, whichbrought the wind back to the west; but it was of no longer continuance than before. For the next dayit returned to the E. and S.E., blew fresh at times, and by squalls, with rain.On the 7th, being in the latitude of 41° 22', longitude 156° 12' W., we had two hours calm; in whichtime Mr Wales went on board the Adventure to compare the watches, and they were found to agree,allowing for the difference of their rates of going: A probable, if not a certain proof, that they hadgone well since we had been in this sea.The calm was succeeded by a wind from the south; between which point and the N.W., it continuedfor the six succeeding days, but never blew strong. It was, however, attended with a great hollowswell from the S.W. and W., a sure indication that no large land was near in those directions. Wenow steered east, inclining to the south, and on the 10th, in the latitude of 43° 39', longitude 144° 43'W., the variation was found, by several azimuths, to be more than 3° E., but the next morning it was