At the same
time, as I have stated, there was not a man on board who would not
have pitched the rum to the dogs, (I have heard them say so, a dozen
times) for a pot of coffee or chocolate; or even for our common
beverage- "water bewitched, and tea begrudged," as it was.* The
temperance reform is the best thing that ever was undertaken for the
sailor; but when the grog is taken from him, he ought to have
something in its place. As it is now, in most vessels, it is a mere
saving to the owners; and this accounts for the sudden increase of
temperance ships, which surprised even the best friends of the
cause. If every merchant, when he struck grog from the list of the
expenses of his ship, had been obliged to substitute as much coffee,
or chocolate, as would give each man a pot-full when he came off the
topsail yard, on a stormy night;- I fear Jack might have gone to
ruin on the old road.**
*The proportions of the ingredients of the tea that was made for us
(and ours, as I have before stated, was a favorable specimen of
American merchantmen) were, a pint of tea, and a pint and a half of
molasses, to about three gallons of water.
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