Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-20
From .4ckernans Forget Me Not, for 1880.
GREENWICH HOSPITAL.

Ay, there it is!-,he grand depository of human
fagments-the snug harbor for locked remnants
Greenwich Hospital! Who is there that has stood
on that fine terraSe, when the aim OF evening has
shed its influence on the SPIRIT and natures pencil
interminglng light and shade, has graced the land
scape with its various tints, without feeling delight
ed at the spectacle No sound is heard to break the
stiffness of the hour save where the sea-boy trills
his plantve dtty, sudious to grace the turnings of
his song, for it was his mother taught it him. and
her he strives to initiate. To him the tide rolls on
UNDECIDED; he sees not the tall mast, the dropping
sail; all, no. his heart in the cottage where he
knew his first affection, when, with smile of infan-
tile delight, he drew his nourisbment from that fond
bosom late beloved with tears at parting. Who is
there that has not exulted in the scene, when the
proud ship has spread her canvass to the breeze to
carry forth the produce of our country, to distant
lands, or, wten returning tn her home Shores
laden with the uxures Of foreign climes the gallant
tars have 'haed each well know object with deliphi?'
Ay there they stund the veterans of the ocean hid
ding defiance to the frowns of fate, although thew
are moored in tiers. They critics too deep crit
les; but they cannot fancy the steam vessel with
chimney for mast, and long line of smoke for a
pendant. These are the men that Smollet pictured
the Jack Rattlins and the Tom Pipes of former
years. Ay, those were rafting DAYS, and mining
tmes!-There is no place on earth except Green.
witch in which we can meet with them or
find the weather roll or the leelurch to perfection
They are all thorough bred and a thoroughbred
seaman is one of the droest compounds IN existence;
q mixture of that is ludcrous and grave; of un
daunted courage and silly fear. | do not mean the
everyday sailor, but the bold, daring, nerpd man.
of-wars man; him who IN the time Of action, prned
his wit d. his gun together, without fear of either
missing u fire. he has language peculiarly his own
q his figures OF rhetoric are perfect reefknots to the
understanding of a lands-man. If he speaks of his
ship, his eloquence surpasses the orations of De-
mosthenes and he revels in the luXurunce of meta.
phor. The same powers ofelocution, with precisely
the same terms, are applied TO his wife, and it is
matter OF Doubt which engrosses the greatest Dor
ton Of his Affection to him they are both iady syiDs
Hear him expatate on his lille barkey, as he calls
MS wooden island, though she may be able 10 carry
hundred and iifly guns and crew of a thousa nd
men. ooh! she is the feetest of the feesits ON the
water like duck-stands under her canvas as stiff
as q crutch-and turns 10 wind like q witcbv Ofhis
Eiehe observes What clean from stem to stern!
She carries her top gallants through every breeze
aud IN turning hank for hank never misses stays'-
He will point to the bows ofhis ship, and swear she
Is as sharp as wedge, never stops sea- but goes
smack through all He looks his wife, adurcs her head gear
and bow lines compares her eyes dolphin strikers boasts
OF her fancy and fashion pieces and declares that She darts
along with all the grace bonneta When he paus with
his wife 70 cruise, mUsiens his cheek there /,
the hones pressure Of the hand, tie ferven kiss and heu
caps the topsa alard walks round AZ the capstan IA
the lively sounds Omusc But when he quits lis ship tine being
he has rugged with his fingers, that las stood under him IN
many dark tryiog hour whilst the " Id o.
them with relentless fury heu-the scuppe Of biz
heart are unPueged and overflow with tbs soft droppne-
senbiy How often has he upon that deck and wed
the swelling Sails lest the breczes Of should vs, i
face too roughyn How many hours has stood at that helm
pillows threatened 10 ngulf her in the bubm% Ios
NC "a,srs he has eased her the sea with ali tho Tend
s;Hs ,nat niobor feels for her darling child With VIVA
% ne oe'sd her top the mountain wave and climb NJ,
"s sWeb Whfe every ssss s,,at a. gay, EN-,
a aoght strain upon bis own heart strings ~
race confidence IN what he says and he will use M ,
@ doub his word, and he will indulge you with Soma ~ az
ss' iooomonado that ingenious fancy can invent e vii
e hs had messnate who knew the man in the moon 49,
on one occasion went hand-overhand up a rainbov 10 % 49,
$50. Iie himself was once powder -nonkey in the Vocan
"a ~ ~ WI .e you story Of hrs falling asleep the NOR
20 s commandment Of Iouon, and his body BEING Iisca
- O us mouth instead of carcass Win an the ,rsri,
an ensoesr he viii describe his eyolions In The ai
ueJ nfeo MN OFT aod the manner iu ,Vch s CO.'S 80.
Hoin peing dashed TO pieces in his fl ~ 10 was save
~ tns nc repeats without sGe nuon HE eo.,o,o ..
- ne expects you 10 believe ~ but you NAV soor 49,
s.y"unG Ior' Tell him what absgfdty YOU will be 49,
h he utmost creduliy, aud is convinced of 1s ,, ~,
courage IS gndoubted for he will sand ON tho deoL d ~
oo sgids, the blood and slaughter Of battle vet ON bo
nv. WIN nde.Srbable approximations sight Of COIN
Wanngs OF distress fni ready pass port to his bes, b,
70 disguise the real motives which pio,n6, i,nne;s,e IA y
tha' tie Object o his charity does not deserve eon,s
ySsgVss pound with only this provision that the
ss,eyeo does not bother him about gratitude You NAV tnoS
nHa kon uoussnc foI though IN hs dress eonspis
ara ms standing and running fggg ~ exact ordSI We
| ~ ~. wi seegain esgse ease, asif he had 81