§96 Loss of 



out of, or above, the water, which sink 

 the parts within the water. No vessel 

 could sink if disburtheued of heavy 

 substances, if masts were c.it away, 

 and if all its parts were broug;ht as 

 much as possible within the water. 

 Were this done ia all cases of i>il;!;e<l 

 vessels, tliey would float even till their 

 parts fell 1o pieces by roiting;. 



But, independently of this principle, 

 taught by philosophy, liie masts, yards, 

 bowsprit, &,e. &e. aHord exorMlent ma- 

 volunteers the hazard ; as gales of wind, 

 rocks, fire, bad roads, animal inipetiio-ity, 

 bad workmanship, &c., escape from which 

 is impossible, without precautions corres- 

 ponding to the hazards, and to his unnatu- 

 ral situation. Piovidence operates by 

 general laws, to which all nature must sub- 

 ject itself, or be destroyed, or run the risk 

 of beinj; destroyed ;. and, when men place 

 themselves in situations, not in strict ac- 

 cordance with their relations to the rest of 

 nature, they, iu fact, challenge nature, and 

 must guard against their own presumption, 

 or abide the consequences without mur- 

 muring. Being free to do what they can, 

 they venture to sea and take the cliame of 

 inevitable storms, which, for geiwrnl pur- 

 poses, aie necessary and salutary ; but the 

 same motive which leads tlieiu to make 

 their vessel water-ti:;lit, ounht to induce 

 tliem to adopt every other prtcautioii 

 while they thus make war on, or take the 

 chances of, superior natural phenomena. 

 Nine out of ten of the accidents of life are 

 owing to the war which men thus make on 

 the laws of nature ; and then they arraign 

 providence, or expect miracles to be 

 wrought to cou'iteiact their own presump- 

 tion. The object of this note is, iiowever, 

 the correetioji of vulgar errors in regard 

 to Providence, and nut to question the 

 general worth of improveiiients on whicli 

 social happiness depends. Let us continue 

 to voyage and travel, and to direct the 

 powers of nature to our enjujnuuts; but 

 for consequences of our temerity, or want 

 of caution, do not let us blame citlier 

 nature or providence. Neither are nit- 

 swerahle for our ignorance, our short- 

 sightedness, orour convenient presumption. 

 Men who walk upou the eartli, within the 

 exact scope of their nalui;al power', sel- 

 dom meet with accidents ; but, if tfuy train 

 a horse, ride ni a carriat;e, biiiid a 'oily 

 house, manufactme guiipov\drr, or make a 

 voyage at sea, they expose themselves to 

 chances of many dangers, against which 

 they ought to guard indehuitelv; but. if 

 the victims of any oveisight, tliefau t, when 

 duly considered, is neither in Nature, nor 

 in that bountiful Providence which has 

 provided all that is strictly necessary witii- 

 out such risks. 



Packets. [May 1, 



terials for a raft or raffs, the construction 

 of which is facilitated by the rigging, 

 and niiinerous roi)es on-board of every 

 vessel. I'he weight of the masts, &ic. 

 being removed, the time of i'oiindering 

 would at least he postponed, and the 

 chances of escape increased. 



Nor is water the only ground of ap- 

 prehension on-board of ship, for fire 

 equally endangers those who cannot 

 swim, if the vessel be iiot provideil 

 with as many boats as in case of 

 necessity would convey ashore all the 

 passengers which she undertake.s to 

 carry. 



It appears, that this recent tragedy 

 was caused by the packet dej)ending on 

 wind, the most uncertain of powers. 

 — instead of steam, the most certain ; 

 and a lesson is hereby taught, that no 

 person, who values his own life, or tho 

 feelings of friends, ought hereafter to 

 trust himself in a sailiny packet. 

 But, at the same time, the legislature 

 should direct, that even steam-packets 

 ought to be provided with sufficient 

 boats to guard passengers against the 

 treble eoiitingeucy" of explosion, fire, 

 aiidcasualt> ol tiiesea. If ilie necessary 

 number of boats are deemed inconvcni- 

 eiif , then, as an alternative, every vessel 

 convejiiig passen:;ers should be pn:- 

 vided with a full complement of Malic- 

 son's life-preservers, or any other of tho 

 cheap and simple contrivances by which 

 per.sons unable to swim may be kept 

 afloat till assistance reaches them. Till 

 such law is passed, every passenger 

 should not omit to provide himself 

 with some sncli escape as part of hirf 

 store for the voyage. 



The public have the checks in their 

 own hands ; but what is the business of 

 ail, is usually performed by none ; 

 hence the n<ceasity of legislalures and 

 legislation. But, while tliese fail, no 

 man ouglit to make a voyage in any 

 packet depending on the uncertain 

 powers (d' wind, nor even in any packet 

 propelled by sfeam, unless she be pro- 

 vided with means of escape iu boats, 

 or in a stock of life-preservers, or with- 

 out taking a iife-preserver for his own 

 use in any case of emergency. 



The ordinary security i>l' the voyage, 

 the calmness of the weather, and the 

 sobriety of the captain and crew, are 

 no guarantees against danger; and it 

 thciefore ought not to be incurred, 

 when it may be as easily guarded 

 against as neglected. 



Common SiiNsi:. 



