204 A QUESTION OF MORALITY. 



need of this precaution, in order to confine us on 

 board our ship ; for, throughout the entire day, we 

 did not fail to have many opportunities to desert, if 

 any of us had felt so disposed, and had availed our- 

 selves of the watermen's boats, which were continu- 

 ally arriving at, and departing from the ship. 



In referring to the account of what transpired 

 aboard the ship on the last night of our stay in the 

 harbor of Hobartown, it may, perhaps, be said by 

 the strict moralist, that too much latitude of correct 

 moral principle was allowed by admitting female 

 visitors, whose reputation, at least, if not their real 

 character, was that of the lowest grade ; inasmuch as 

 by their participation in the gay hilarities of that 

 evening encouragement was given to the idea, that 

 their guilty course of life was no hindrance to the 

 realization of lawful and innocent pleasure. Now, 

 considering the fact that so many youngsters were 

 comprised in our crew — "young bloods," of keen 

 susceptibilities for sport, whom the license of an 

 hour might probably transform into "fast young 

 men," — we must acknowledge the apparent justness 

 of this objection. But, on the otherhand, let us consider 

 the relation in which the captain of a ship stands to 

 his men : it is not one which authorizes or requires 

 him to assume the care and rod of a parent, or teacher 

 of morals ; but is one which demands a disciplne that 

 can secure their willing, hearty, and effective service. 

 Moreover, it is impossible fully to control the incli- 

 nations of a boy, who likely has always had his own 

 way at home, and has been sent to sea on account 

 of a too free indulgence of self-will. I say that it ia 

 absolutely impossible to govern such a stripling, (after 



