advancing Science. 



8097 



perance, cruelty, and the long train of evils resulting from an un- 

 occupied mind, and the absence of sufficient employment for the 

 mental and bodily energies. The ship is not always in a gale : she 

 does not always require the close supervision which is doubtless often 

 necessary. There are numerous seasons of repose, and ample time 

 which might be employed in the pursuit of those rational amusements 

 or studies which would yield a vast benefit to Science. This is an 

 important point, and one on which I should speak with diffidence, 

 were I not assured by men of the most practical knowledge, and in 

 command of the most important vessels, that there are abundant op- 

 portunities for such investigations ; whereas the time which might be 

 so employed is too often consumed, for want of such resources, in 

 idleness at sea and intoxication ashore. 



Again, a captain naturally feels that should he devote attention to 

 Natural History, he might lay himself open - to the charge of neglect- 

 ing his ship's duties. His owner might possibly be narrow-minded 

 enough to condemn him for allowing anything to occupy his mind 

 beyond the routine of ship-work; or he might even be short-sighted 

 enough to imagine that a man with an object in his moments of 

 leisure is less fitted to occupy a position of trust than a mere machine, 

 who has 'no idea beyond the mechanical duties of his profession. 

 And not without reason is this fear, — a fear which I know weighs 

 considerably with conscientious captains, who would, if they received 

 the sanction of their owners, do great service to Science, without 

 abating one jot of their vigilance in their primary duties. 



The main point, then, to be considered is, how shipowners gene- 

 rally can be induced to sanction in their captains the cultivation of 

 those tastes which they often possess, and which cannot but have a 

 beneficial influence upon their character ; and to encourage the im- 

 provement of those opportunities which they so abundantly enjoy. 

 This is the great desideratum, and until this is done no great good 

 can be effected. The merchant captain of intelligence must know 

 that his attention to Natural History, or any other branch of Science, 

 not immediately connected with his ship's duties, is not only not 

 looked upon with suspicion by his owner, but is encouraged by him. 

 He must feel that his master regards his scientific studies and attain- 

 ments not as unfitting him for command, and full confidence in the 

 management of the important interests entrusted to him, but as abso- 

 lutely rendering him more trustworthy, on the principle enunciated by 

 a well-known member of the mercantile marine service, that " a man 

 VOL. XX. 2 N 



