xvi 



PREFACE. 



critic on his address to the crew of the Essex, 

 previous to his steering for the Washington Islands. 

 He had no temptations of double pay to offer them, 

 like Bjron and Anson, nor was it necessary. Their 

 constancy was exemplary on all occasions; nor will 

 the author shrink from a comparison which can be 

 fairly drawn between their conduct and that of any 

 other crew that ever doubled Cape Horn. Still 

 they were sailors, wearied by long and arduous 

 service, and requiring some excitement to keep up 

 their spirits, on occasions so trying to their con- 

 stancy, at a moment of announcing to them a des- 

 tination so remote, and so long a continuance of 

 their voy 'ge. It answered every purpose ; and 

 general Packenham probably had it in mind, when 

 he gave as the signal for attack at New Orleans, 

 the words " booty and beauty two words exceed- 

 ingly significant. The general, however, in his 

 desire of imitation, probably forgot that there is a 

 wide difference between authorized and unauthor- 

 ized modes of warfare ; and that to ravish and 

 pollute by force a civilized matron, is not altogether 

 analogous to the acceptance of favours willingly 

 offered by savages, and involving neither infamy 

 nor guilt. 



The Reviewer next proceeds to ridicule the 

 statement of the dangers and difficulties of doubling 

 Cape Horn, and to assert that ^'February^^ is the 

 best month for that purpose. The author will 

 therefore proceed to show, that he has not stated a 

 single fact, but what is corroborated by other 

 navigators. 



Captain Colnet says, " I have doubled Cape 

 Horn in different seasons ; but were I to make 

 anotiier voyage to this part of the globe, and could 

 command my time, I would most certainly prefer 



