Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-10
GBe Storp Geller,
T r UE COUR A G E,
Or a Man of Principle.

sundry reasons, | shall rename Horton and
King. They were, soon found, the very
antipodes of each other in almost allrespects,
save that both were excellent sailors, we'll
intentioned, honorable men, and about the
same age-three or four and thirty-Captaln
Robert Horton little the Oldest, perhaps
1t was in their mental and moral build that
their lines so entirely diverged. Captain
Horton was what-at the period speak of,
and dare say now-was, and is, a rara das
in the royal navy-namely, serious officer.
do not, of course, mean to say that naval Of
ficers have not, generally speaking, as deep a
sense Of the reverential awe with which the
Creator of all things should be worshipped, as
the most Iackadaisical landsman in existence.
1t would be strange indeed if they had not,
constant witnesses as they are of the wonders
of the great deep, and of manifestations of in
finite and varied power, splendor, and benef-
cence, which the contracted horizon of the
pent-up dwellers in towns affords comparative
ly faint examples of; but what do mean is,
that ninety-nine out of a hundred of them have
an aversion to any other preaching or pray
ing on board ship, than that furnished by the
regular chaplain. And in this, as far as |
have seen, the prejudice of the forecastle en-
tirely comedies with that of the quarterback; !;
sea-parson in vulgar parlance, being quite
as much an object of contemptuous dislike
among genuine blue jackets as sea-lawyer.
carried, or endeayored to carry, the strong re-
Iigious feiings-the enthusiastic spiritualism
by which his mind was swayed-into the ev-
eryday business of sea life. Profane swear
ing was strictly forbidden, which was well
enough if the order could have been enforced !;
profane singing came within the same cate
CORY playing at cards or dominoes, even
though the stake were trihing or nominal,
was also vigorously interdicted, and scripture
reading on the Sabbath strongly inculcated
both by precept and example. Other proceed
ings of the same kind, excellent in themselves,
but, in my opinion, quite out of place on board
war-ship, were, as far as might be, enforced (;
and the natural consequence followed, that a
lot of the vilest vagabonds in the ship affected
to be religiously impressed in order to curry
favor with the captain, and avoid the penal
ties incurred by their skulking neglect of du-
ty. This state of things was viewed with in
tense disgust by Lieutenant King, and as far
as the discipline of the service permitted, he
freely expressed his opinion thereon. The
tirst luff, in fact was a rollicking, fun-loving,
dan qer-courting, dashing officer, whom even
marriage-he had a wife and family at Daw-
lish, in Devonshire, Of which pleasant village
he was, believe, native-had failed to, in
the slight est degree, tame or subdue. One,
too, that ,ould put bottle of wine comforta-
bly, out cf sight f.; two upon an emergency ;
and if duty did not stand in the way, liked a
game of billiards, and ball, next perhaps, to
a battl . This gentleman had got it into his
head that Captain Horton was better suited to
preaching than fighting, and often predicted
among his own set, that the first serious brush
we happened to be engaged in, would bring out
the Captains white feather in unmistakeable
prominence Nothing can be more absurd, as
experience has abundantly shown, than to in
fer that because man is pious he is likely to
be a poltrOon; but such persons as Lieutenant
King are not to be reasoned with and, un-
fortunately, it was not long before lamenta-
bic occurrence gave color to the accusation.
There was French corvette, LIE Renard in
the harbor at the same time as ourselves, com
manded by LIE Captaine d 'Ermonvile, a very
gentlemanly person, and his officers generally
were of the same standard Of character and
conduct. This was fortunate ; several quar-
rels having taken place between portion OF
the crews Of the two vessels when ashore on
leave, arising / fear, from the inherent con-
tempt with which the true English sea-dog
ever regards foreign sailors-the American
and Scandinavian races, of course, excepted
This feeling, grounded, in my opinion, upon
real superiority, is very frequently carried
to a ridiculous excess, especially when the
grog's on board land the Rule Britannia no.
ton, always floating in Jacks noddle, has
been heightened and infamed by copious liba-
tions to the sea-ruling goddess, under whose
auspices, as he was at all times ready to sing
or swear-even just after receiving a round
dozen at the caprice of his commanding officer
that Britains never shall be slaves. 1t was
so in these instances; and but for the good
sense OF the French officers in overlooking OF
accepting our apologies for such unruly be-
havior, the consequences might have been ex-
ceedingly unpleasant, particularly as both the
Curlew and LIE Renard were underpoino re-
pairs, and could not leave the harbor for some
time, however desirous Of doing so. Even as
1t was, GOODNESS gradually arose between the
officers, who could not help feeling in some
degree as Partizans Of their respective crews,
although Captain Horton, must say, did
warmly and untiringly admonish the English
sailors of the duty Of loving all mankind
Frenchmen included; of the sin and folly O.
drinking to excess, even when on leave and
the wickedness Of false pride and vain glor,
at all times. ea
At length, however, the repairs Of both yes
sells approached completion, and it was sug
qested, believe by Captain Horton, that /;
farewell dinner, to which the officers of botf
nations should be invited, might be the means