230 THE WHALE AND 



Sabbath for a Whale Ship. A Whale Ship for the Sabbath. 



CHAPTER XV. 



CLAIMS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE SABBATH IN 

 A WHALE SHIP. 



When the Sabbath's peaceful ray 



O'er the ocean's breast doth play, 



Though no throngs assemble there, 



No sweet church-bells call to prayer, 



Spirit ! let thy presence be 



Sabbath to the mustering sea. MRS. SIGOUHNEY. 



Atlantic Ocean, Commodore Preble, latitude 32 N., longi- 

 tude 64$ W. Off" the Bermudas. 



A PRIME end in the preceding sketches of 

 whaling life has been to prepare the way 

 and secure attention for certain considerations 

 upon the wholesale violation of the Sabbath in 

 this business. By the Whaleman's Shipping 

 List, at the commencement of 1844 or there- 

 abouts, there were employed in the whale fish- 

 ery, from the ports of the United States, six 

 hundred and seventy-four vessels, five hundred 

 and ninety-three of them then at sea, chiefly 

 from New Bedford, Nantucket, Sag Harbor, 

 New London, Stonington, and Newport. 



