THE STORY OF WILLIAM SHALER 5 



and were soon able to care for their sister in a dignified way. 

 Of these brave boys I have the full story of but one, the second 

 in age, William, whose career was of some eminence, and in 

 many ways noteworthy. The basis of my information is cer- 

 tain fragments of his diaries and some printed records of his 

 service as consul of the United States to the Barbary powers 

 and at Havana, as well as his published writings, which, though 

 not extensive, are considerable. While they tell much, there is 

 evidently much left untold concerning this man, who had a 

 touch of greatness in him which carried him well through an 

 adventurous life. 



William Shaler was born in 176-. At the age of thirteen he 

 went to sea on a merchantman. Nine years thereafter, he was 

 master of a ship which appears to have been engaged in foreign 

 trade. From the beginning of his career as a seafarer he sup- 

 ported his sister. He was evidently a zealous student, for he 

 became a good navigator, and gave himself a fair training in 

 the classics as well as in French and Arabic. His English is a 

 model of clearness and simplicity. He seems to have been suc- 

 cessful as a trading shipmaster, but to have been in some way 

 involved in the French Revolution. Just what part he took is 

 not clear. After the close of this episode, he bought a ship in 

 Copenhagen, provided it with stores for trading, and set forth 

 with his friend, Cleveland, on a voyage about the world. Their 

 cruise occupied several years. The story of it is told in Cleve- 

 land's narrative, a curious, yet forgotten, book. As fitted those 

 times, the voyage led to diverse adventures, including an im- 

 prisonment by the Spanish authorities in Chili and the refusal 

 of Mr. Shaler to go forth from the jail until there was a proper 

 explanation concerning the reasons why he was put in, and 

 an apology for the outrage to which he had been subjected. 

 His exasperation led to a project for arming and leading the 

 natives of southern Chili and Patagonia against the Spaniards. 

 To carry out this plan the ship was sailed back to Europe in 

 order to dispose of its cargo of furs, obtained on the western 



