THE A3IERICAN WHALE-FISHERY. 



221 



and the shore. He gives the word to "hanl 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-stoerers, 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 wo 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 {ih.ery 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 j)lace 

 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 iu the affirmative. ' Why has he 

 gone there?' 'For what you or any other man 

 would have gone ; j-ou would not make him an 

 offer worthy his accejotance. 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 

 fisherj' 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 

 ajoartments, and we understood the bearer to 

 inquire if a Dutch gentleman resided there. He 

 was answered in the negative, and my letter 

 was lodged iu a small letter-office, always an 

 ap>pendage 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 Eose, 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 



