THE AMERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 
221 
and the shore. He gives the word to "hard aback," bids a hasty farewell, jumps 
into his boat, and returns to his secure and quiet haven. Quickly the order is 
given on board to "fill away," and before the fresh, fair wind the floating fragment 
speeds with swelling sails, and soon the receding land, teeming with blissful life 
and plenty, sinks from view beneath the undulating waves. 
Sea life is such a change from that on shore, one fully realizes the transition ; 
and the monotony, as well as the thrilling incidents associated with a sailor's 
career, have been so often and so vividly portrayed, it would be useless to attempt 
here to add any new features ; hence, we shall only give a somewhat terse account 
of the present manner of conducting a whaling voyage. The company of a four- 
boat whale- ship number at least thirty-five persons, viz.: a captain, four mates, a 
cooper, a carpenter, four boat-steerers, a cook, and a steward, with twenty-two 
men and boys. When the vessel is making a passage, the officers and crew are 
divided into two watches, with the exception of the captain, and in some instances 
posals. We then returned to Paris, and were 
to visit Versailles to take leave according to the 
etiquette of the Court. 
"Before we set out, one of the ministers ask- 
ed us if we did not wish to visit the palace. 
We excused ourselves, as we did not think curi- 
osity would justify us, if our plain way would 
give offense. "While we remained in Paris, we 
received a note from the minister, saying he had 
spoken to the King, 'who gave full liberty to 
the Nantucket Friends (they avoided the name 
of ' Quaker ! ' when they found it was given in 
reproach) to visit the palace, both its public and 
private apartments, when he was out — which 
happened almost every day.' To view the pri- 
vate apartments was a great privilege not often 
granted, except to persons of note. But unfa- 
vorably for us, the King did not happen to be 
out on the day we went to take our leave, which 
was a disappointment ; but we went through the 
public apartments and into the Chapel ! "When 
we hesitated at the latter, the officer insisted on 
our entering in our own way, showing us ev- 
erything remarkable, and pointing out the place 
occupied by the royal family in time of mass, etc. 
"We now took leave, and returned to Lon- 
don. After I was gone to France, Lord Hawkes- 
bury became alarmed, and inquired of Harry 
Beaufoy, and asked him if I had gone to France. 
He replied in the affirmative. 'Why has he 
gone there ? ' ' For what you or any other man 
would have gone ; you would not make him an 
offer worthy his acceptance. He will now try 
what can be done in France !' 
"Alexander Champion wrote to me (I sup- 
pose at Lord Hawkesbury's request) to inform 
me that he had made provision for us in his 
fishery bill, and inserted liberty for us to bring 
in forty ships instead of thirty ! which I had 
demanded, he having forgotten the number ; but 
it was too late. This letter was brought to our 
apartments, and we understood the bearer to 
inquire if a Dutch gentleman resided there. He 
was answered in the negative, and my letter 
was lodged in a small letter -office, always an 
appendage to a large hotel. The very evening 
it was brought to me, we left Paris. 
"We now returned to London. I was soon 
sent for by George Rose, who was one of Pitt's 
secretaries. He inquired if I had contracted 
with France? I told him, 'No! I did not 
come to make any contract! Propositions were 
