It is to be remembered
that more than three-fourths of the seamen in our merchant vessels are
foreigners. They are from all parts of the world. A great many from
the north of Europe, beside Frenchmen, Spaniards, Portuguese,
Italians, men from all parts of the Mediterranean, together with
Lascars, Negroes, and, perhaps worst of all, the off-casts of
British men-of-war, and men from our own country who have gone to
sea because they could not be permitted to live on land.
As things now are, many masters are obliged to sail without
knowing anything of their crews, until they get out at sea. There
may be pirates or mutineers among them; and one bad man will often
infect all the rest; and it is almost certain that some of them will
be ignorant foreigners, hardly understanding a word of our language,
accustomed all their lives to no influence but force, and perhaps
nearly as familiar with the use of the knife as with that of the
marlins-spike. No prudent master, however peaceably inclined, would go
to sea without his pistols and handcuffs. Even with such a crew as I
have supposed, kindness and moderation would be the best policy, and
the duty of every conscientious man; and the administering of corporal
punishment might be dangerous, and of doubtful use.
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