The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-10-02

Z. S. STEAMER "E. B. HALE" I
OF Nantucket, Sept 22, 1861. (

Ed. Republicans Since my last, We have
made two trips to Boston, and are now return
ing from that port with ordnance for New York.
To-day We have had what sailors call spank
ing breeze that has sent US through the water
al The rate of fourteen knots an hour. Our pi-
lot mas Just given me the legend connected with
the names Of the islands in this portion Of the
Sound.
They were the property of an English gentle
man. VINO decided to bestow them upon his three
daughters. Martha, the eldest, selected as her
choice the one known as Martha's Vineyard
Elizabeth, that now called Elizabeth Island.
| The youngest daughter, Of course, was Obliged
to be content with the remaining one, and
! Nancy took it. Hence, Nantucket. Isn't that
| sailorish?
But let me give you an account OF one day :
| life at sea. At seven o'clock A. ~, all hands
are piped to grog." They are very punctual
| ia attendance The crew are divided into four
- messes." My steward calls the names from
| the muster roll, and a prompt here, sir, IL
| the answer. The allowance per day, for each
man, is one gill, one half Of which is served Ia
| the morning and the balance before dinner 1t
sometimes happens that one or more OF them
get disappointed in obtaining their allowance.
If guilty of dereliction OF duty, word from the
mate" grog stopped, sends them away sor-
rowful. Well, after this ceremony IS over,
come the long hours of idlene.s until after
dinner, when the ration for the next day Is
served. And here let me say, that With good
cook sailors live far better than landsLnen.
The Navy ration is composed of beef, pork,
-four, bread, tea, coffee, sugar. rice, beans,
pickles, and, indeed, all that any man needs
| Tor good table. These articles are OF the very
best quality and are Issued in literal quantities.
The officers, of course, commute their IA
tions, receiving the amount in money. We
form an officers mess, appoint one OF our num-
Der as caterer, and purchase our own provisions.
While there is doubtless more variety, yet the
DUAL ty is not one whit better than that issued
| to the men.
The steward makes to Inc weekly return OF
all provisions expended, and monthly return OF
clothing and small stores A regular &C
count is kept with each man the system Is ad-
mirable After a Purser once knows the
ropes the duties are light and easy. The re-
sponsibility, of course, is great, yet he has his
remedy in case any articles are injured and he
come valueless, by ordering survey -condem-
ming the stores and passing the amount to his
| credit
A great place for the study of human nature,
| is this. Here are men gathered from almost
every nation. One does not appreciate, cannot
without study, the good, aye. nOtle traits OF
| our tars. Generous, frank manly and brave
are they. Quick and active-why, we could
spoil an almost unlimited amount OF ''secesh y
| with these men. Nor are they deficient in some
of the requirements known to shore life. We
have excellent musicians aboard. and vocalsis,
| As write. the grand old strains Of - Old Hun
dred" come pealing along the deck. They see
in the shimmering mOonbeams. the quiet twin
kle of the stars the murmur of the waters, evil
dences of the existence and all-contrOllng
power of Him who ruleth all things. They pay
| homage. not on Bonded knee, nor in sublime
ritual but by the hushed and almost solemn 81
lence that follows each of the iavorite hymns.
| [ know that the bond of unity between these
His children and the common Father is COM
plete and perfect Thank God for music and
its holy influences.
l beard the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher two
weeks ago today. Go down to Fulton ferry.
take the ten o'clock boat, follow the crowd and
you will find Plymouth Church. On this occa-
Lei. 4 al f,ll . bol
ten, this man. whose audiences are made up of
people from all parts of the land, quietly takes
his seat behind plain table, upon which is a
bouquet of rare flowers The Introductory SER
vices are not remarkable, save the congrega-
tional singing. led by an able choir. accOmpa-
MED by powerful organ. had supposed that
had heard :. Coronation, Wesley" and kin
dred pieces sung but it was great mistake
it was only a musical whisper. They sing here.
Mr.. Beecher selects his text, and proceeds
leisurely to its consideration. All eyes are
upon him. Soon he becomes anrnated-a pc
culiar flash of the eye is the lightning that pre-
sages laundering blow at some giant individ-
ual or national sin. There is music in the
storm as it RACES. You do not see him, but YOU
hear him, and wonder if the object of his attack
will not soon yield. 1t falls, and you with it,
You adore his matchless mind, and arrive at
this conclusion that /" there are three classes
Of people in this world. saints, sinners, and the
Beecher family"
In the evening, i heard Dr. Chaplin He has
not the startling originality of his Over-the-
river friend, but when, treating of the subjects
nearest his heart, that magnificent head is
thrown back and the tide of elOquence pours
forth, carrying everything before it, you are
again guilty Of idolatry. These two men are
alike in one particular. Rejecting narrow
creeds-refusing the theology found in musty
tones. they shoulder to shoulder do battle for
the Right, recognizing an universal brother
hood among men.
But this letter is getting lengthy. The boys
before the mast are singing the doxology-so |
good night.
Truly yours, AC.W.