The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-29
Eritten for the Plot,
OF THE PAST, THE PRESENT, ANE
TIE FUTURE.
BY tom CRfNGLE.

SOME wears ago, there was formed society OF
merchants, called the Union Company Of Aneri-
ca, who. having net together resolved to build
slip to Facilitate their commercial transactions,
an. the various other affairs connected with their
br rsisces accordingly, they assembled together
m any Of the most skiliful and experienced WORK
,ea, ~4ao built es.d launcheda most beautiiu
,essel called the Republic. Her architecture
was eF te most beautiful Symmetry, so that She
was net only fte lcfghtof herowners, but snais5
uszso,.s came from distant lands, who looked
upon her! fatlsless hull, rakish mast, taperins
sspnrs and sncyyy Sails in envy and admiration.
For many years she sailed under the corI'Ia'1d
at tried and, competent officers, and her prosper
| aus y,ryyages aad valuable sargoes rapidly sl-
crossed the income of the company; but it-so
ehaasaed, in sn-evil hour, thai our good natus I'd
merchants geTe the command to one Peak Hal
siar3a yhoh&d been cabin by to their Ia cap
tain ,.sld HardsV Gather Jack, <'a rum old oo1a-
ncdaSc,o who, in a calm a Storm, ALIVE IS
wcsaIa have.h;s own way.
| 'They never even examnsnElsis credentials, azd
weiLfor him they did not, 4uI he had nothing
prove his fitaess for the stae9n, except an CID
ragged boat clcsss which his captain had given
him but they.were so taken s-ith his fawning
and .izsinuatirg manners, thst they cmqleyea
hiusvallingly, fox he said he had served under
the old commodore, and was perfectly acfnaiEt-
ed with navigatiea; besides, he promised to sail
theiryxessel for ORA half the espense OF her for
ner efsicers and e US he doceiy cd them and was
| made commander And a fFatty skipper, he
proved,ta be, for ha appointeaz crew of green
j hands and land luslrers, who id not knoss a
uar!ing spike FROM mainnlaat, or bowiine.
fpsm a,kselSstay, and the captain himself kaesgI
raare .abent potatoes, Goldfish, Rrd horse beef,
than about standing AID running gging.
ut frsts tney got on. pretty wsiss 1t plain sail
ing and. ia smooth wascr, but theyiaad not been
at sea long, Before sasall struck ti ship aback,
threw her,aasyn on heraeam ends, Rsshipped the
i7ying jib-hoezn, carried away the fofs, main and
snizzea to'gsllant mast, and split the mainsail,
before she riglted and LATED up; ne% all this
was owing to Ehe negiiS ence OF the-crew, Tor
such a xnessa never was seen on 'the aeep blue
sea" beaare; for ahey neglected the naase cement
of the vessel, pluadered the. cargo, and Destroy
cd the steres; they broke open the spirit room,
got drunk qaarreled and fought about tie ''di-
vision Of the spQilss" they iatcd about on the
forecastle, swearing about Heir honesty and
patriotism, and sspinEing tough yarns, at which
business they can beat old Davy Jsnes hinssif,
and run his laps hull down in cEe watch, right
into the teeth of a harvester ;they crowdesA
about the caboose, gropipg into old Uncle Sans
ovens for the fIoGresn assd into his kettles for
the s..ishes," in spite Of ssndry blows from his
ron ladle; and dezens of item would sit by the t
day on the catheaGs and .davits, and angle Tor ,
cod and sileer fish, while etiers from tie cross
trees would shoot at sea eagles and aiabairosses
Never was there sreh lazy, worthless vaga- a
bond set of men misealled sailors, except per- b
haps among the Algerines of Africa, the bEea- r
neers 81 South America, and the Piccaroons Of d
Cuba and if it had not been for few COOS s.
seamen On board, they would have foundered b
long ago; and as it was, the ship was at con- .
slant expense in repairing the losses and acci- $
ients occasioped by this incompetent crew.
And Peak Halliards, their captain, too, tsok D
10 sew notions absut navigation; he threw away a
Ill the good constitution maps, compasses and
,uadrants, by which she had been sailed Tor
years in safety, and bought new set OF Gtooe P
,harts, which were worse than good for nothing, }
md some Extra maps, which were ten times t.
worse than they, And Jibing Amos, the pilot 4