340 THE ANTARCTIC SAILS. [1829. 



on this occasion, though amply and liberally supplied with every thing 

 necessary for a long voyage, had no ardent spirits on hoard; as I was 

 determined to test the question of the practicability of such a measure. 

 I am happy in having this opportunity of bearing public testimony to 

 the fact, that the experiment was in every respect successful ; so that 

 from my representation of the result, several other ship-masters have 

 adopted the same plan, with the like happy effects. I am so perfectly 

 satisfied of the advantages arising from this system, not only to the 

 health, morals, and pecuniary interest of the crew, but also to the 

 master and owners, by a more faithful discharge of duty, that I shall 

 strictly adhere to it in all my future voyages. Its advantage to the 

 seamen is obvious ; as instead of their usual allowance of grog, they 

 receive an equivalent in cash, which, at the termination of a two 

 years' voyage, must amount to a handsome sum. Two or three 

 years' abstinence will cure this disease of a vitiated appetite in almost 

 any person, even if he be a veteran in the ranks of intemperance ; 

 and I sincerely believe that those ship-masters who have adopted my 

 plan of commuting with their crew for ardent spirits are doing more 

 for the cause of temperance than any other set of men. May heaven 

 prosper the endeavours of every one engaged in this glorious cause ; 

 for he, or she, that is instrumental in arresting one solitary human 

 being in the downward course of intemperance, and reinstating him 

 in the path of sobriety and virtue, may be emphatically termed the 

 benefactor of mankind. 



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