Classic Audiobook Collection - White Jacket by Herman Melville ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Starting point is 00:00:00 White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Preface Conceive him now in a man of war with letters of Mart, well-armed, victualed, and appointed, and see how he acquits himself. Thomas Fuller's Good Sea Captain Note, in the year 1843, I shipped as ordinary seamen on board of a youth United States frigate, then lying in a harbor of the Pacific Ocean. After remaining in this frigate for more than a year, I was discharged from the service upon the vessel's arrival home. My man-of-war

Starting point is 00:00:44 experiences and observations have been incorporated in the present volume. New York, March 1850. Chapter 1 The Jacket It was not a very white jacket, but white enough. in all conscience as the sequel will show. The way I came by it was this. When our frigate lay in Kayau on the coast of Peru, her last harbor in the Pacific, I found myself without a Grigo, or sailor's surrout,

Starting point is 00:01:19 and as toward the end of a three-year's cruise, no pea-jackets could be had from the purser's steward. And being bound for Cape Horn, some sort of a substitute was indisposed, I employed myself for several days in manufacturing an outlandish garment of my own devising, to shelter me from the boisterous weather we were so soon to encounter. It was nothing more than a white duck frock, or rather shirt, which, laying on deck, I folded double at the bosom, and by then making a continuation of the slit there,

Starting point is 00:02:00 opened it lengthwise, much as you would cut a leaf in the last new novel. The gash being made, a metamorphosis took place, transcending any related by Avid, for presto the shirt was a coat, a strange-looking coat to be sure, of a quakerish amplitude about the skirts with an infirm, tumble-down collar, and a clumsy fullness about the wristbands, and white, yea, white as a shroud. And my shroud, it afterward came very near proving, as he who reads further will find. But bless me, my friend,

Starting point is 00:02:40 what sort of a summer jacket is this in which to weather Cape Horn? A very tasty and beautiful white linen garment it may have seemed, but then people almost universally sport their linen next to their skin. Very true, and that thought very early occurred to me, for no idea had I of scudding round Cape Horn in my shirt, for that would have been almost scudding under bare poles, indeed. So, with many odds and ends of patches, old socks, old trouser legs, and the like,

Starting point is 00:03:18 I bedarned and bequilted the inside of my jacket, till it became all over stiff and padded, as King James's cotton-stuffed and dagger-proof doublet, and no buckram or steel-haubberk stood up more stoutly. So far very good, but pray tell me, White Jacket, how do you propose keeping out the rain and the wet in this quilted Griego of yours? You don't call this wad of old patches a Macintosh, do you? You don't pretend to say that worsted is waterproof.

Starting point is 00:03:51 No, my dear friend, and that was the deuce of it. Waterproof it was not, no more than a sponge. Indeed, with such recklessness had I bequilted my jacket, that in a rainstorm I became a universal absorber, swathing bone-dry the very bulwarks I leaned against. Of a damp day, my heartless shipmates even used to stand up against me, so powerful was the capillary attraction between this luckless, jacket of mine and all drops of moisture. I dripped like a turkey a roasting, and long after the

Starting point is 00:04:29 rainstorms were over, and the sun showed his face. I still stalked a scotch mist, and when it was fair weather with others, alas, it was foul weather with me. Me? Ah, me. Soaked and heavy, what a burden was that jacket to carry about, especially when I was sent up a lot. dragging myself up, step by step, as if I were weighing the anchor. Small time then to strip and wring it out in a rain, when no hanging back or delay was permitted. No, no, up you go, fad or lean, Lambert or Edson, never mind how much of voir-du-bois you might weigh, and thus, in my own proper person, did many showers of rain reascend. toward the skies in accordance with the natural laws.

Starting point is 00:05:25 But here, be it known that I had been terribly disappointed in carrying out my original plan concerning this jacket. It had been my intention to make it thoroughly impervious by giving it a coating of paint. But bitter fate ever overtakes us, unfortunate's. So much paint had been stolen by the sailors in daubing their overhaul trousers and tarpaulins that by the time I, an honest man,

Starting point is 00:05:54 had completed my quiltings, the paint pots were banned, and put under strict lock and key. Said old brush, the captain of the paint room, look ye white jacket, said he, you can't have any paint. Such then was my jacket, a well-patched, padded, and porous one,

Starting point is 00:06:17 and in a dark night, gleaming white as the white lady of Avonel. End of preface and chapter one. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 2 of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 2

Starting point is 00:07:07 Homeward Bound All hands up banker, man the capstan. High die, my lads, we're homeward bound. Homeward bound. Harmonious sound. Were you ever homeward bound? No? Quick, take the wings of the morning

Starting point is 00:07:31 or the sails of a ship and fly to the uttermost parts of the earth. There, tarry a year or two, and then let the gruffest of bosons, his lungs all goose-skin, shout forth those magical words, and you'll swear the harp of Orpheus were not more enchanting. All was ready, boats hoisted in, stunsill gear rove, messenger passed, capstan bars in their places, accommodation ladder below.

Starting point is 00:08:01 and in glorious spirits we sat down to dinner. In the wardroom, the lieutenants were passing round their oldest port and pledging their friends. In the steerage, the middies were busy raising loans to liquidate the demands of their laundress, or else, in the Navy phrase, preparing to pay their creditors with a flying four-topsil. On the poop, the captain was looking to windward, and in his grand, inaccessible cabin, the high and mighty Commodore sat silent and stately as the statue of Jupiter in Dodona. We were all arrayed in our best and our bravest, like strips of blue sky lay the pure blue collars of our frocks upon our shoulders, and our pumps were so springy and playful that we danced up and down as we dined.

Starting point is 00:08:55 It was on the gun deck that our dinners were spread all along between the guns, and there, as we cross-leg sat, you would have thought a hundred farm yards and meadows were nigh. Such a cackling of ducks, chickens, and ganders, such a lowing of oxen and bleeding of lambkins, pinned up here and there along the deck to provide sea repasts for the officers. More rural than naval were the sounds continually reminding each mother's son of the old paternal homestead in the green old.

Starting point is 00:09:31 climb, the old arching elms, the hill where we gambled and down by the barley banks of the stream where we bathed. All hands up banker! When that order was given, how we sprang to the bars, heaved round that capstan, every man a Goliath, every tendon a hawser, round and round, round, round it spun like a sphere, keeping time with our feet to the time of the Pfeiffer, till the cable was straight up and down, and the ship with her nose in the water. Heave and Paul, unship your bars and make sail! It was done. Barmen, nippermen, teers, veerers, idlers, and all scrambled up the ladder to the braces and hollyards. While like monkeys and palm trees, the sail-loosers ran out on those broad,

Starting point is 00:10:28 boughs, our yards, and down fell the sails like white clouds from the ether, top sails, top gallants, and royals, and away we ran with the hauliards till every sheet was distended. Once more to the bars! Heave, my hearties, heave hard! With a jerk and a yurk we broke ground, and up to our bows came several thousand pounds of old iron in the shape of our ponderous anchor. Where was white jacket? then. White Jacket was where he belonged. It was white jacket that loosed that main royal, so far up aloft there. It looks like a white albatross's wing. It was white jacket that was taken for an albatross himself as he flew out on the giddy yard arm. End of chapter two. Recording by James

Starting point is 00:11:22 K. White. Chapter 3 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 3 A glance at the principal divisions into which a man of war's crew is divided. Having just designated the place where White Jacket belonged, it must needs be related how White Jacket came to belong there.

Starting point is 00:12:18 Everyone knows that in merchantmen, the seamen are divided into watches, starboard and larboard, taking their turn at the ship's duty by night. This plan is followed in all men of war. But in all men of war, besides this division, there are others. rendered indispensable from the great number of men, and the necessity of precision and discipline. Not only are particular bands assigned to the three tops, but in getting underway or any other proceeding requiring all hands, particular men of these bands are assigned to each yard of the tops. Thus, when the order is given to loose the main royal, white jacket flies to obey it, and no one but him.

Starting point is 00:13:08 and not only are particular bands stationed on the three decks of the ship at such times, but particular men of those bands are also assigned to particular duties. Also, in tacking ship, reefing topsails, or coming to, every man of a frigate's five hundred strong knows his own special place and is infallibly found there. He sees nothing else, attends to nothing else, and will stay there till grim death or an epaulet orders him away. Yet there are times when, through the negligence of the officers,

Starting point is 00:13:48 some exceptions are found to this rule. A rather serious circumstance growing out of such a case will be related in some future chapter. Were it not for these regulations, a man-of-war's crew would be nothing but a mob, more ungovernable stripping the canvas in a gale, than Lord George Gordon's tearing down the lofty house of Lord Mansfield. But this is not all.

Starting point is 00:14:15 Besides White Jacket's office as Looser of the Main Royal, when all hands were called to make sail, and besides his special offices in tacking ship, coming to anchor, etc., he permanently belonged to the Starboard Watch, one of the two primary grand divisions of the ship's company, and in this watch he was a main-topman, that is, was stationed in the main top with a number of other seamen always in readiness to execute any orders pertaining to the main mast from above the main yard.

Starting point is 00:14:49 For including the main yard and below it to the deck, the main mast belongs to another detachment. Now the four main and mizontop men of each watch, Starboard and Larboard, are at sea respectively subdivided into quarter watches, which regularly relieve each other in the tops to which they may belong, while collectively they relieve the whole larboard watch of topmen. Besides these topmen, who are always made up of active sailors, there are sheet anchor men, old veterans all, whose place is on the forecastle, the foreyard anchors and all sails on the bow sprit being under their care.

Starting point is 00:15:33 They are an old weather-beaten set, culled from the most experienced seamen on board. These are the fellows that sing you, The Bay of Biscayo, and here a sheer Hulk lies poor torn bowling, cease rude Boreas, blustering railer, who, when ashore at an eating house, call for a bowl of tar and a biscuit.

Starting point is 00:15:59 These are the fellows who spin interminable yarns about Decatur, Hall, and Bainbridge, and carry about their persons bits of old iron sides, as Catholics do the wood of the true cross. These are the fellows that some officers never pretend to damn, however much they may anathematize others. These are the fellows that it does your soul good to look at, hearty old members of the old guard, grim sea grenadiers who, in tempest time, have lost many a tarpaulin overboard. These are the fellows whose society some of the youngster midshipment much effect, from whom they learn their best seamanship,

Starting point is 00:16:42 and to whom they look up as veterans, if so be that they have any reverence in their souls, which is not the case with all midshipmen. Then there is the afterguard, stationed on the quarter-deck, who, under the quarter-masters and quarter-gunners, attend to the mainsail and spanker, and help haul the main brace and other ropes in the stern of the vessel. The duties assigned to the afterguards men being comparatively light and easy, and but little seamanship being expected from them,

Starting point is 00:17:16 they are composed chiefly of landsmen, the least robust, least hardy, and least sailor-like of the crew, and being stationed on the quarter-deck, they are generally selected with some, eye to their personal appearance. Hence they are mostly slender, young fellows, of a genteel figure, and gentlemanly address, not weighing much on a rope, but weighing considerably in the estimation of all foreign ladies who may chance to visit the ship. They lounge away the most part of their time in reading novels and romances, talking over their lover affairs ashore, and comparing notes concerning the melancholy and sentimental career which drove them, poor young gentlemen,

Starting point is 00:18:02 into the hard-hearted navy. Indeed, many of them show tokens of having moved in very respectable society. They always maintain a tidy exterior and express an abhorrence of the tar bucket into which they are seldom or never called to dip their digits, and plumbing themselves upon the cut of their trousers and the glossiness of their tarpaulins from the rest of the ship's company, they acquire the name of sea dandies and silk sock gentry. Then there are the wasters, always stationed on the gun deck. These haul aft the fore and main sheets, besides being subject to ignoble duties, attending to the drainage and sewerage below hatches.

Starting point is 00:18:49 These fellows are all Jimmy Dukes. sorry chaps who never put foot in ratlin or venture above the bulwarks. Invederate sons of farmers with the hayseed yet in their hair, they are consigned to the congenial superintendents of the chicken coops, pig pens, and potato lockers. These are generally placed amid ships on the gun deck of a frigate between the fore and main hatches and comprise so extensive an area

Starting point is 00:19:18 that it much resembles the marketplace of a small, town. The melodious sounds thence issuing continually draw tears from the eyes of the wasters, reminding them of their old paternal pig pens and potato patches. They are the tag rag and bobtail of the crew, and he who is good for nothing else is good enough for a waster. Three decks down, spar deck, gun deck, and birth deck, and we come to a parcel of troglodytes or holders who burrow, like rabbits and warrens, among the water tanks, casks, and cables. Like Cornwall miners, wash off the soot from their skins, and they are all pale as ghosts, unless upon rare occasions they seldom come on deck to sun themselves.

Starting point is 00:20:09 They may circumnavigate the world fifty times, and they see about as much of it as Jonah did in the whale's belly. They are a lazy, lumpish, torpid set, and when going ashore after a crews come out into the day-like terrapins from their caves or bears in the spring from tree trunks. No one ever knows the names of these fellows. After a three-year's voyage, they still remain strangers to you. In time of tempests, when all hands are called to save ship, they issue forth into the gale, like the mysterious old men of Paris during the massacre of the three days of September. Everyone marvels who they are, and whence they come, they disobeyed. They disobeyed. appear as mysteriously, and are seen no more until another general commotion.

Starting point is 00:20:57 Such are the principal divisions into which a man-of-war's crew is divided, but the inferior allotments of duties are endless, and would require a German commentator to chronicle. We say nothing here of Bosen's mates, gunners' mates, carpenters' mates, sail-makers' mates, armorers' mates, mastered arms, ships' corporals, coxswainers' quartermasters, quarter-gunners, captains of the forecastle, captains of the fore-top, captains of the main top, captains of the mizontop, captains of the afterguard, captains of the main hold,

Starting point is 00:21:35 captains of the forehold, captains of the head, coopers, painters, tinkers, Commodore steward, captain's steward, wardroom steward, steerage steward, Commodore's cook,意's cook, officers cook, cooks of the range, mess cooks, hammock boys, messenger boys, cot boys, lovelay boys, and numberless others whose functions are fixed and peculiar. It is from this endless subdivision of duties in a man of war that upon first entering one, a sailor has need of a good memory, and the more of an arithmetician he is, the better. White Jacket, for one, was a long time wrapped in calculations, concerning the various

Starting point is 00:22:20 numbers allotted him by the first luff, otherwise known as the first lieutenant. In the first place, White Jacket was given the number of his mess, then his ship's number, or the number to which he must answer when the watch roll is called, then the number of his hammock, then the number of the gun to which he was assigned, besides a variety of other numbers, all of which would have taken Jedediah Buxton himself some time to arrange a battalions previous to adding up. All these numbers, moreover, must be well remembered or woe betide you. Consider now a sailor altogether unused to the tumult of a man of war for the first time stepping on board and given all these numbers to recollect. Already, before hearing them, his head is

Starting point is 00:23:07 half stunned with the unaccustomed sounds ringing in his ears, which ears seemed to him like belfries full of toxins. On the gun deck a thousand scythed chariots seemed passing. He hears the tread of armed marines, the clash of cutlasses and curses, the boatswains' mates whistle round him, like hawks screaming in a gale, and the strange noises under decks are like volcanic rumblings in a mountain. He dodges sudden sounds as a raw recruit falling bombs. Well nigh useless to him now, all previous circumnavigations of this terraquious globe, of no account his Arctic, Antarctic, or equinoctial experiences, his gales off beechy head, or his dismastings off Hatteras, he must begin anew. He knows nothing.

Starting point is 00:24:02 Greek and Hebrew could not help him, for the language he must learn has neither grammar nor lexicon. Mark him, as he advances along the files of old ocean warriors. Mark his debased attitude. his deprecating gestures, his sawny stare, like a Scotchman in London, his cry-your-marry-noble saners. He is wholly nonplussed and confounded, and when to crown all, the first lieutenant, whose business it is to welcome all new corners, and assign them their quarters, when this officer, none of the most bland or amiable either, gives him number after number to recollect 246-139-478-351

Starting point is 00:24:49 The poor fellow feels like decamping Study then your mathematics And cultivate all your memories O ye who think of cruising in men of war End of Chapter 3 Recording by James K. White Chapter 4 of White Jacket Or the World in a Man of War

Starting point is 00:25:23 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 4. Jack Chase The first night out of port was a... clear moonlight one, the frigate gliding through the water with all her batteries. It was my

Starting point is 00:26:03 quarter watch in the top, and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my topmates. Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well-worthy an introduction to the reader. First and foremost was Jack Chase, our noble first captain of the top. He was a Briton, and a true blue. tall and well-knit with a clear open eye, a fine broad brow, and an abounding nut-brown beard. No man ever had a better heart or a boulder. He was loved by the seaman and admired by the officers, and even when the captain spoke to him, it was with a slight air of respect.

Starting point is 00:26:54 Jack was a frank and charming man. No one could be better company in four kids. castle or saloon, no man told such stories, sang such songs, or with greater alacrity, sprang to his duty. Indeed, there was only one thing wanting about him, and that was a finger of his left hand, which finger he had lost at the great battle of Navarino. He had a high conceit of his profession as a seaman, and being deeply versed in all things pertaining to a man of war, was universally regarded as an oracle. The main top, over which he presided,

Starting point is 00:27:39 was a sort of oracle of Delphi, to which many pilgrims ascended to have their perplexities or differences settled. There was such an abounding air of good sense and good feeling about the man that he who could not love him would thereby pronounce himself a knave. I thanked my sweet stars,

Starting point is 00:28:00 as that kind fortune had placed me near him, though under him, in the frigate, and from the outset Jack and I were fast friends. Wherever you may be now rolling over the blue billows, dear Jack, take my best love along with you, and God bless you wherever you go. Jack was a gentleman. What though his hand was hard, so was not his heart, too often the case with soft palms. His manners were easy and free, none of the boisterousness so common to Tars,

Starting point is 00:28:38 and he had a polite, courteous way of saluting you, if it were only to borrow your knife. Jack had read all the verses of Byron and all the romances of Scott. He talked of Rob Roy, Don Juan, and Pelham, Macbeth, and Ulysses. But above all things, was an ardent admirer of Kamawens. Parts of the Lusiad

Starting point is 00:29:06 he could recite in the original. Where he had obtained his wonderful accomplishments, it is not for me, his humble subordinate to say. Enough that those accomplishments were so various, the languages he could converse in,

Starting point is 00:29:22 so numerous, that he more than furnished an example of that saying of Charles V, he who speaks five languages is as good as five. men. But Jack, he was better than a hundred common mortals. Jack was a whole phalanx, an entire army. Jack was a thousand strong. Jack would have done honor to the Queen of England's drawing room. Jack must have been a by-blow of some British admiral of the blue. A finer specimen

Starting point is 00:29:55 of the island race of Englishmen could not have been picked out of Westminster Abbey of a Coronation Day. His whole demeanor was in strong contrast to that of one of the captains of the foretop. This man, though a good seaman, furnished an example of those insufferable Britons who, while preferring other countries to their own as places of residence, still overflow with all the pompousness of national and individual vanity combined. When I was on board the audacious, for a long time was almost the invariable exordium to the foretop captain's most cursory remarks. It is often the custom of men of wars men when they deem anything to be going on wrong aboard ship, to refer to last crews when, of course, everything was done ship-shape and Bristol fashion.

Starting point is 00:30:55 And by referring to the audacious, an expressive name, by the way, the fore-top captain meant a ship in the English Navy in which he had had the honor of serving. So continual were his allusions to this craft with the amiable name that at last the audacious was voted abhor by his shipmates. And one hot afternoon, during a calm when the foretop captain, like many others, was standing still and yawning on the spar deck, Jack Chase, his own countryman, came up to him and pointing at his open man. mouth politely inquired whether that was the way they caught flies in her Britannic majesty's ship the audacious. After that, we heard no more of the craft. Now, the tops of a frigate are quite

Starting point is 00:31:48 spacious and cozy. They are railed in behind so as to form a kind of balcony, very pleasant of a tropical night. From 20 to 30 loungers may agreeably recline there, cushioning themselves, on old sails and jackets. We had rare times in that top. We accounted ourselves the best seamen in the ship, and from our airy perch literally looked down upon the landlopers below, sneaking about the deck among the guns. In a large degree, we nourished that feeling of espree decor,

Starting point is 00:32:26 always pervading, more or less, the various sections of a man-of-war's crew. We main topmen were brothers, one and all, and we loaned ourselves to each other with all the freedom in the world. Nevertheless, I had not long been a member of this fraternity of fine fellows, ere I discovered that Jack Chase, our captain, was, like all prime favorites and oracles among men, a little bit of a dictator, not peremptorily or annoyingly so, but amusingly intent, on egotistically mending our manners and improving our taste so that we might reflect credit upon our tutor. He made us all wear our hats at a particular angle, instructed us in the tie of our neck

Starting point is 00:33:17 handkerchiefs, and protested against our wearing vulgar, dungary trousers, besides giving us lessons in seamanship, and solemnly conjuring us forever to eschew the company of any sailor we should. suspected of having served in a whaler. Against all whalers, indeed, he cherished the unmitigated detestation of a true man-of-war's man. Poor Tubbs can testify to that. Tubbs was in the afterguard, a long, lank vineyarder, eternally talking of line tubs, Nantucket, sperm oil, stoveboats, and Japan. Nothing could silence him, and his comparisons were ever invidious. Now, with all his soul, Jack abominated this Tubbs. He said he was

Starting point is 00:34:12 vulgar, an upstart, devil take him, he's been in a whaler. But like many men who have been where you haven't been, or seen what you haven't seen, Tubbs, on account of his whaling experiences, absolutely affected to look down upon Jack, even as Jack did. upon him, and this it was that so enraged our noble captain. One night, with a peculiar meaning in his eye, he sent me down on deck to invite Tubbs up aloft for a chat. Flattered by so marked in honor, for we were somewhat fastidious, and did not extend such invitations to everybody, Tubbs quickly mounted the rigging, looking rather abashed at finding

Starting point is 00:35:02 himself in the august presence of the assembled quarter-watch of Maine-topman. Jack's courteous manner, however, very soon relieved his embarrassment. But it is no use to be courteous to some men in this world. Tubbs belong to that category. No sooner did the bumpkin feel himself at ease, than he launched out, as usual, into tremendous laudations of whalmen, declaring that whalmen alone deserve the name of salemps. sailors. Jack stood at some time, but when Tubbs came down upon men of war, and particularly

Starting point is 00:35:39 upon Maine-Tupman, his sense of propriety was so outraged that he launched into Tubbs like a 42-pounder. Why, you limb of Nantucket, you train oil man, you sea-tallow strainer, you bobber after carrion, do you pretend to vilify a man of war? Why, you, lean, rogue you, a man of war is to whalmen as a metropolis to shire towns and sequestered hamlets. Here's the place for life and commotion. Here's the place to be gentlemanly and jolly. And what did you know, you bumpkin, before you came on board this Andrew Miller? What knew you of gun deck or orlop, mustering round the capstan, beating to quarters and piping to dinner? Did you ever roll to grog on board?

Starting point is 00:36:32 Orge your greasy Ballyhoo ablazes? Did you ever winter at Mayhun? Did you ever lash and carry? Why, what are even a merchant seaman sari yarns of voyages to China after tea caddies and voyages to the West Indies after sugar punchings and voyages to the Shetlands after seal skins? What are even these yarns, you, tubs you, to high life on a man of war? Why, you, dead eye.

Starting point is 00:37:00 I have sailed with lords and marquises for, for captains, and the king of the two Sicilies has passed me as I here stood up at my gun. Bhaugh! You are full of the forepeak and the forecastle. You are only familiar with Burton's and billy-tackles. Your ambition never mounted above pig-killing, which in my poor opinion is the proper phrase for whaling. Topmates, has not this Tubbs here been but a misuser of good oak planks and a vile desecrator of the thrice holy sea, turning his ship, my hearties, into a fat kettle, and the ocean into a whale pen.

Starting point is 00:37:40 Be gone, you graceless, godless knave. Pitch him over the top there, white jacket. But there was no necessity for my exertions. Poor tubs, astounded at these fulminations, was already rapidly descending by the rigging. This outburst on the part of my noble, friend Jack made me shake all over, spite of my padded sirt out, and caused me to offer up devout thanksgivings that in no evil hour had I divulged the fact of having myself served in a whaler.

Starting point is 00:38:16 For having previously marked the prevailing prejudice of men of wars men to that much malign class of mariners, I had wisely held my peace concerning stoveboats on the coast of Japan. End of Chapter 4. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapters 5 and 6 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 00:39:04 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 5. Jack Chase on a Spanish quarterdeck Here, I must frankly tell a story about Jack, which, as touching his honor and integrity, I am sure, will not work against him in any charitable man's estimation. On this present cruise of the frigate Never Sink,

Starting point is 00:39:41 Jack had deserted, and after a certain interval had been captured. But with what purpose had he deserted? To avoid naval discipline? To riot in some abandoned seaport? For love of some worthless seorita? Not at all. He abandoned the frigate from far higher and nobler, nay, glorious motives. Though bowing to naval discipline afloat, yet ashore, he was a sticker.

Starting point is 00:40:11 for the rights of man and the liberties of the world. He went to draw a partisan blade in the civil commotions of Peru, and befriend heart and soul what he deemed the cause of the right. At the time, his disappearance excited the utmost astonishment among the officers, who had little suspected him of any such conduct of deserting. What? Jack, my great man of the main top, gone? cried the captain. I'll not believe it. Jack Chase, cut and run, cried a sentimental middy.

Starting point is 00:40:48 It must have been all for love, then. The seigneuritas have turned his head. Jack Chase, not to be found? cried a grawling old sheet anchorman, one of your malicious prophets of past events. I thought so. I note it. I could have sworn it. Just the chap to make sale on the sly. I always suspected him. Months passed away, and nothing was heard of Jack, till at last the frigate came to anchor on the coast alongside of a Peruvian sloop of war. Bravely clad in the Peruvian uniform, and with a fine, mixed martial and naval step, a tall, striking figure of a long-bearded officer was decried, promenading the quarter-deck of the stranger, and superintending the salutes, which are exchanged. between national vessels on these occasions. This fine officer touched his laced hat most courteously to our captain,

Starting point is 00:41:50 who, after returning the compliment, stared at him, rather impolitely, through his spyglass. By heaven, he cried at last, it is he. He can't disguise his walk. That's the beard. I know him in Cochin, China. Man the first cutter there. Lieutenant blink, go on board that sloop of war. and fetch me yon officer all hands were aghast what when a piping-hot piece was between the united states and peru to send an armed body on board a peruvian sloop of war and seize one of its officers in broad daylight monstrous infraction of the law of nations what would vitell say but captain claret must be obeyed so off went the cutter every man armed to the teeth the lieutenant commanding having secret instructions, and the midshipmen attending, looking ominously wise,

Starting point is 00:42:49 though in truth they could not tell what was coming. Gaining the sloop of war, the lieutenant was received with the customary honors, but by this time the tall, bearded officer had disappeared from the quarter-deck. The lieutenant now inquired for the Peruvian captain, and being shown into the cabin made known to him that on board, his vessel was a person belonging to the United States ship Never Sink, and his orders were to have that person delivered up instanter. The foreign captain curled his mustache in astonishment and indignation. He hinted something about beating to quarters and chastising this piece of Yankee

Starting point is 00:43:32 insolence. But resting one gloved hand upon the table and playing with his sword knot, the lieutenant, with a bland firmness, repeated his demand. At last, the whole case being so plainly made out, and the person in question being so accurately described, even to a mole on his cheek, there remained nothing but immediate compliance. So the fine-looking bearded officer, who had so courteously doffed his chapeau to our captain, but disappeared upon the arrival of the lieutenant,

Starting point is 00:44:08 was summoned into the cabin before his superior, who addressed him thus. Don John? This gentleman declares that, of right, you belong to the frigate Never Sink. Is it so? It is even so, Don Sereno, said Jack Chase, proudly folding his gold-laced coat-sleeves across his chest. And as there is no resisting the frigate, I comply. Lieutenant Blink, I am ready. Adieu, Don said Ani.

Starting point is 00:44:38 and Madre de Dios protect you. You have been a most gentlemanly friend and captain to me. I hope you will yet thrash your beggarly foes. With that he turned, and entering the cutter was pulled back to the frigate and stepped up to Captain Claret, where that gentleman stood on the quarter-deck. Your servant, my fine dawn, said the captain, ironically, lifting his chapeau, but regarding Jack at the same time with a look of intense displeasure,

Starting point is 00:45:10 your most devoted and penitent captain of the main-tops, sir, and one who, in his very humility of contrition, is yet proud to call Captain Claret his commander, said Jack, making a glorious bow, and then tragically flinging overboard his Peruvian sword. Reinstate him at once, shouted Captain Claret, and now, sir, to your duty, and discharge that well to the end of the cruise,

Starting point is 00:45:37 and you will hear no more of your having run. So Jack went forward among the crowds of admiring Tars, who swore by his nut-brown beard, which had amazingly lengthened and spread during his absence. They divided his laced hat and coat among them, and on their shoulders carried him in triumph along the gun deck. Chapter 6 The Quarter Deck Officers, Warrant Officers, and Birth Deck Underlings of a Man of War. where they live in the ship, how they live, their social standing on shipboard, and what sort of gentlemen they are. Some account has been given of the various divisions into which our crew was

Starting point is 00:46:25 divided, so it may be well to say something of the officers, who they are and what are their functions. Our ship, be it no, was the flagship, that is, we sported a broad pennant, or bogey, at the main, in token that we carried a Commodore, the highest rank of officers recognized in the American Navy. The bogey is not to be confounded with the Long Penet or Coachwhip, a tapering serpentine streamer worn by all men of war. Owing to certain vague Republican scruples about creating great officers of the Navy, America has thus far had no admirals, though as her ships of war increase, they may become indispensable. This will assuredly be the case should she ever have occasion to employ large fleets,

Starting point is 00:47:18 when she must adopt something like the English plan and introduce three or four grades of flag officers above a commodore, admirals, vice-admirals, and rear admirals of squadrons, distinguished by the color of their flags, red, white, and blue, corresponding to the center, van, and rear. These rank respectively with generals, lieutenant generals, and major generals in the army, just as Commodore takes rank with a brigadier general, so that the same prejudice which prevents the American government from creating admirals

Starting point is 00:47:55 should have precluded the creation of all army officers above a brigadier. An American Commodore, like an English Commodore, or the French Chef Descadre, is but a senior captain, temporarily commanding a small number of ships detached for any special purpose. He has no permanent rank, recognized by government, above his captaincy, though once employed as a Commodore, usage and courtesy unite in continuing the title. Our Commodore was a gallant old man who had seen service in his time, when a lieutenant he served in the late war with England and in the gunboat actions on the lakes near New Orleans, just previous to the grand land engagements, received a musket ball in his shoulder, which, with the two balls in his

Starting point is 00:48:48 eyes, he carries about with him to this day. Often, when I looked at the venerable old warrior doubled up from the effect of his wound, I thought what a curious, as well as painful sensation it must be, to have one's shoulder a lead mine, though soothed to say, So many of us civilized mortals convert our mouths into Golcondas. On account of this wound in his shoulder, our Commodore had a body-servant's pay allowed him, in addition to his regular salary. I cannot say a great deal personally of the Commodore. He never sought my company at all, never extended any gentlemanly courtesies.

Starting point is 00:49:33 But though I cannot say much of him personally, I can mention something of him in his general character, a flag officer. In the first place, then, I have serious doubts, whether, for the most part, he was not dumb, for in my hearing, he seldom or never uttered a word. And not only did he seem dumb himself, but his presence possessed the strange power of making other people dumb for the time. His appearance on the quarterdeck seemed to give every officer the lockjaw. Another phenomenon about him was the strange manner in which everyone shunned him. At the first sign of those epaulets of his on the weather's side of the poop,

Starting point is 00:50:16 the officers there congregated invariably shrunk over to leeward and left him alone. Perhaps he had an evil eye, maybe he was the wandering Jew afloat. The real reason probably was that, like all high functionaries, he deemed it indispensable religiously to sustain his dignity, one of the most troublesome things in the world and one calling for the greatest self-denial. And the constant watch and many-sided guardedness

Starting point is 00:50:46 which this sustaining of a Commodore's dignity requires, plainly enough shows that apart from the common dignity of manhood, Commodores in general possess no real dignity at all. True, it is expedient for crowned head, General Isimos, Lord High Admirals, and Commodores, to carry themselves straight, and beware of the spinal complaint, but it is not the less veritable, that it is a piece of assumption exceedingly uncomfortable to themselves, and ridiculous to an enlightened generation. Now, how many rare good fellows there were among us, Maine-Totman, who, invited into his cabin

Starting point is 00:51:26 over a social bottle or two, would have rejoiced our old Commodore's heart, and cause that ancient wound of his to heal up at once. Come, come, Commodore, don't look so sour, old boy. Step up aloft here into the top, and we'll spin you a sociable yarn. Truly, I thought myself much happier in that white jacket of mine than our old Commodore in his dignified epaulets. One thing, perhaps, that more than anything else, helped to make our Commodore so melancholy and forlorn, was the fact of his having so little to do.

Starting point is 00:52:05 For as the frigid had a captain, of course, so far as she was concerned, our Commodore was a supernumerary. What abundance of leisure he must have had during a three years cruise, how indefinitely he might have been improving his mind. But as everyone knows that idleness is the hardest work in the world, so our Commodore was specially provided with a gentleman to assist him. This gentleman was called the Commodore's secretary. He was a remarkably urbane and polished man with a very graceful exterior and looked much like an ambassador extraordinary from Versailles. He messed with the lieutenants in the wardroom, where he had a state room, elegantly furnished as the private cabinet of Pelham. His cot boy used to entertain the sailors with all manner of stories

Starting point is 00:52:59 about the silver-keyed flutes and flageolets, fine oil paintings, Morocco-bound volumes, Chinese chessmen, gold shirt-buttons, enameled pencil cases, extraordinary fine French boots, with soles no thicker than a sheet of scented note paper, embroidered vests, incense-burning sealing wax, alabaster statuettes of Venus and Adonis, tortoise shell snuff-boxes, inlaid toilet cases, ivory-handled hairbrushes, and mother-pearl combs,

Starting point is 00:53:32 and a hundred other luxurious appendages scattered about this magnificent secretary's state-room. I was a long time in finding out what this secretary's duties comprised, but it seemed he wrote the Commodore's dispatches for Washington, and also was his general amanuensis. nor was this a very light duty at times, for some Commodores, though they do not say a great deal on board ship, yet they have a vast deal to write. Very often, the regimental orderly, stationed at our Commodore's cabin door, would touch his hat to the First Lieutenant, and with a mysterious air hand him a note. I always thought these notes must contain most important matters of state, until one day, seeing a slip of wet, torn paper in a a scupper hole, I read the following.

Starting point is 00:54:24 Sir, you will give the people pickles today with their fresh meat. To Lieutenant Bridewell, by command of the Commodore. Adolphus Dashman, Private Secretary. This was a new revelation, for, from his almost immutable reserve, I had supposed that the Commodore never meddled immediately with the concerns of the ship, but left all that to the captain. But the longer we live, the more we live. learn of Commodores. Turn we now to the second officer in rank, almost supreme, however,

Starting point is 00:55:00 in the internal affairs of his ship. Captain Claret was a large portly man, a Harry the eighth afloat, bluff and hearty, and as kingly in his cabin as Harry on his throne. For a ship is a bit of terra firma, cut off from the main. It is a state in itself, and the captain is its king. It is no limited monarchy where the sturdy commons have a right to petition and snarl, if they please, but almost a despotism like the Grand Turks. The captain's word is law. He never speaks but in the imperative mood. When he stands on his quarter-deck at sea, he absolutely commands as far as I can reach.

Starting point is 00:55:47 Only the moon and stars are beyond his jurisdiction. he is Lord and Master of the Son. It is not 12 o'clock till he says so, for when the sailing master, whose duty it is to take the regular observation at noon, touches his hat and reports 12 o'clock to the officer of the deck, that functionary orders a midshipman to repair to the captain's cabin and humbly inform him of the respectful suggestion of the sailing master.

Starting point is 00:56:18 12 o'clock reported, sir, says the midi, Make it so, replies the captain. And the bell is struck eight by the messenger boy, and 12 o'clock it is. As in the case of the Commodore, when the captain visits the deck, his subordinate officers generally beat a retreat to the other side and as a general rule, would no more think of addressing him except concerning the ship than Alacki would think of hailing the Tsar of Russia on his throne and inviting him to tea. Perhaps no mortal man has more reason to feel such an intense sense of his own personal consequence

Starting point is 00:56:59 as the captain of a man of war at sea. Next in rank comes the first or senior lieutenant, the chief executive officer. I have no reason to love the particular gentleman who filled that post aboard our frigate, for it was he who refused my petition for as much black paint as would render waterproof that white jacket of mine. All my soakings and drenchings lie at his stateroom door. I hardly think I shall ever forgive him. Every twinge of the rheumatism which I still occasionally feel is directly referable to him. The immortals have a reputation for clemency, and they may pardon him, but he must not done me to be merciful.

Starting point is 00:57:44 but my personal feelings toward the man shall not prevent me from here doing him justice. In most things he was an excellent seaman, prompt, loud and to the point, and as such was well fitted for his station. The first-lieutenancy of a frigate demands a good disciplinarian, and every way, an energetic man. By the captain he is held responsible for everything. By that magnate, indeed he is supposed to be omnipresent, down in the hold and up aloft at one in the same time. He presides at the head of the wardroom officer's table, who are so called from their messing together, in a part of the ship thus designated. In a frigate, it comprises the after part of the birth deck. Sometimes it goes by the name of the gun room, but oftener is called the ward room.

Starting point is 00:58:41 Within this wardroom much resembles a long, wide corridor in a large hotel, numerous doors opening on both hands to the private apartments of the officers. I never had a good interior look at it but once, and then the chaplain was seated at the table in the center, playing chess with the lieutenant of Marines. It was midday, but the place was lighted by lamps. Besides the first lieutenant, the wardroom officers include the junior lieutenants, in a frigate, six or seven in number, the sailing master, purser,

Starting point is 00:59:19 chaplain, surgeon, marine officers, and midshipman schoolmaster, or the professor. They generally form a very agreeable club of good fellows, from their diversity of character admirably calculated to form an agreeable social hole. The lieutenants discuss sea fights and tell anecdotes of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. The marine officer, talk of storming fortresses and the siege of Gibraltar. The purser studies this wild conversation by occasional allusions to the rule of three. The professor is always charged with a scholarly reflection or an apt line from the classics, generally Ovid.

Starting point is 01:00:02 The surgeon's stories of the amputation table judiciously serve to suggest the mortality of the whole party as men, while the good chaplain stands ready at all time, times to give them pious counsel and consolation. Of course these gentlemen all associate on a footing of perfect social equality. Next in order come the warrant or forward officers consisting of the bosun, gunner, carpenter, and sailmaker. Though these worthy sport long coats and wear the anchor button, yet in the estimation of the wardroom officers, they are not, technically speaking, rated gentlemen. The First Lieutenant,

Starting point is 01:00:46 chaplain or surgeon, for example, would never dream of inviting them to dinner. In sea parlance, they come in at the hawsholes. They have hard hands, and the carpenter and sailmaker practically understand the duties which they are called upon to superintend. They mess by themselves,

Starting point is 01:01:06 invariably four in number, they never have need to play whist with a dummy. In this part of the category now come the reefers, otherwise middies or midshipmen. These boys are sent to sea for the purpose of making Commodores, and in order to become Commodores, many of them deem it indispensable forthwith to commence chewing tobacco, drinking brandy and water, and swearing at the sailors. As they are only placed on board a seagoing ship to go to school and learn the duty of lieutenant, and until qualified to act as such, have few or no special functions to attend to. They are little more, while midshipmen, than supernumeraries on board.

Starting point is 01:01:54 Hence, in a crowded frigate, they are so everlastingly crossing the path of both men and officers that in the Navy it has become a proverb that a useless fellow is as much in the way as a reefer. In a gale of wind, when all hands are called and the deck swarms with men, the little middies running about distracted and having nothing particular to do, make it up in vociferous swearing, exploding all about underfoot like torpedoes. Some of them are terrible little boys, cocking their cups at alarming angles, and looking fierce as young roosters. They are generally great consumers of Macassar oil and the balm of Columbia.

Starting point is 01:02:38 They thirst and rage after whiskers, and sometimes applying their ointments, lay themselves out in the sun to promote the fertility of their chins. As the only way to learn to command is to learn to obey, the usage of a ship of war is such that the midshipmen are constantly being ordered about by the lieutenants. Though without having assigned them their particular destinations, they are always going somewhere and never arriving. In some things they almost have a harder time of it than the seaman themselves. They are messengers and errand boys to their superiors. Mr. Purt, cries an officer of the deck, hailing a young gentleman forward. Mr. Purt advances, touches his hat, and remains in an attitude of deferential suspense. Go and tell the Bosen I want him.

Starting point is 01:03:34 And with this perilous errand, the middy hurries away, looking, proud as a king. The middies live by themselves in the steerage, where nowadays they dine off a table, spread with a cloth. They have a caster at dinner. They have some other little boys selected from the ship's company to wait upon them. They sometimes drink coffee out of China. But for all these, their modern refinements, in some instances the affairs of their club go sadly to rack and ruin. The China is broken, the Japaned coffee pot dented like a pewter mug in an ale house. The pronged forks resemble toothpicks, for which they are sometimes used. The table knives are hacked into hand-saws, and the cloth goes to the sale-maker to be patched. Indeed, they are something like

Starting point is 01:04:28 collegiate freshmen and sophomores living in the college buildings, especially so far as the noise they make in their quarters is concerned. The steerage buzzes, hums, and swarms like a hive, or like an infant school of a hot day when the schoolmistress falls asleep with a fly on her nose. In frigates, the wardroom, the retreat of the lieutenants, immediately adjoining the steerage, is on the same deck with it. Frequently, when the middies waking early in the morning, as most youngsters do, would be kicking up their heels in their hammocks or running about with double-reefed nightgowns, playing tag among the clues. The senior lieutenant would burst among them with a, young gentleman, I am astonished. You must stop this sky-larking. Mr. Pert, what are you doing

Starting point is 01:05:21 at the table there without your pantaloons? To your hammocks, sir, let me see no more of this. If you disturbed the wardroom again, young gentleman, you shall hear of it. and so saying this hoary-headed senior lieutenant would retire to his cot in his state-room like the father of a numerous family after getting up in his dressing-gown and slippers to quiet a day-break tumult in his populous nursery having now descended from commodore to midi we come lastly to a set of nondescripts forming also a mess by themselves apart from the seamen into this mess the usage of a man-of-war thrusts various subordinates, including the Master at Arms, Persers steward, ships corporals, Marine sergeants, and ships yeoman, forming the first aristocracy above the sailors. The Master at Arms is a sort of high constable and schoolmaster, wearing citizens' clothes, and known by his official Rattan, he it is whom all sailors hate.

Starting point is 01:06:31 His is the universal duty of a universal informer and hunter-up of delinquents. On the berth-deck he reigns supreme, spying out all grease spots made by the various cooks of the seaman's messes and driving the laggards up the hatches when all hands are called. It is indispensable that he should be a very vedoc in vigilance. But as it is a heartless, so it is a thankless office, of dark nights, most masters of arms keep themselves in readiness to dodge 42-pound balls drop down the hatchways near them. The ship's corporals are this-worthy's deputies and ushers. The Marine sergeants are generally tall fellows with unyielding spines and stiff upper lips

Starting point is 01:07:21 and very exclusive in their tastes and pre-elections. The ship's yeoman is a gentleman who has a sort of counting room in a tar-dour-election, seller down in the forehold. More will be said of him a nun. Except the officers above enumerated, there are none who mess apart from the seamen. The petty officers, so-called, that is, the boatsins, gunners, carpenters, and sailmakers' mates, the captains of the tops, of the forecastle, and of the afterguard, and of the fore and main holds, and the quartermasters all mess in common with the crew, and in the American Navy, are only distinguished from the common seamen by their slightly additional pay. But in the English Navy, they wear crowns and anchors worked on the sleeves of

Starting point is 01:08:12 their jackets by way of badges of office. In the French Navy, they are known by strips of worsted, worn in the same place, like those designating the sergeants and corporals in the army. Thus it will be seen that the dinner table is the criteria. of rank in our man-of-war world. The Commodore dines alone, because he is the only man of his rank in the ship. So too, with the captain and the wardroom officers, warrant officers, midshipmen, the master-at-arms mess, and the common seamen. All of them, respectively, dined together because they are, respectively, on a footing of equality.

Starting point is 01:08:56 End of chapters five and six. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 7 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville.

Starting point is 01:09:44 Ville. Chapter 7. Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Not only is the dinner table a criterion of rank on board a man of war, but also the dinner hour. He who dines latest is the greatest man, and he who dines earliest is accounted the least. In a flagship, the Commodore generally dines about four or five o'clock, the captain about three. the lieutenants about two while the people by which phrase the common seamen are specially designated in the nomenclature of the quarter-deck sit down to their salt beef exactly at noon thus it will be seen that while the two estates of sea kings and sea-lords dine at rather patrician hours and thereby in the long run impair their digestive functions the sea commoners or the people keep up their constitutions by keeping up the good old-fashioned elizabethan franklin warranted dinner-hour of twelve twelve o'clock it is the natural centre keystone and very hard of the day at that hour the sun has arrived at the top of his hill and as he seems to hang poise there a while before coming down on the other side it is but reasonable to suppose that he is then stop

Starting point is 01:11:16 to dine, setting an imminent example to all mankind. The rest of the day is called afternoon. The very sound of which fine old Saxon word conveys a feeling of the Lee bulwarks and a nap. A summer sea, soft breezes creeping over it, dreamy dolphins gliding in the distance, afternoon. The word implies that it is an afterpeer. coming after the grand drama of the day, something to be taken leisurely and lazily. But how can this be if you dine at five? For, after all, though Paradise Lost be a noble poem, and we men of war's men, no doubt, largely partake in the immortality of the immortals, yet, let us candidly confess it, shipmates, that, upon the whole, our dinners are the most momentous

Starting point is 01:12:15 attains of these lives we lead beneath the moon. What were a day without a dinner? A dinnerless day. Such a day had better be a night. Again, 12 o'clock is the natural hour for us men of wars, men to dime, because at that hour, the very timepieces we have invented arrive at their terminus. They can get no further than 12, when the straightway they continue their old. rounds again. Doubtless Adam and Eve dined at twelve, and the patriarch Abraham in the midst of his cattle, and old Job, with his noon moors and reapers, in that grand plantation of ooze. And old Noah himself in the ark must have gone to dinner at precisely eight bells, noon, with all his floating families and farmyards. But though this anti-deluvian dinner hour,

Starting point is 01:13:15 is rejected by modern Commodores and Captains, it still lingers among the people under their command. Many sensible things banished from High Life find an asylum among the mob. Some Commodores are very particular in seeing to it that no man on board the ship dare to dine after his the Commodore's own dessert is cleared away. Not even the captain.

Starting point is 01:13:42 It is said on good authority that a captain once ventured to dine at five when the Commodore's hour was four. Next day, as the story goes, that captain received a private note, and, in consequence of that note, dined for the future at half-past three. Though in respect of the dinner hour on board a man of war, the people have no reason to complain, yet they have just cause, almost for mutiny, in the outrageous hours assigned for their breakfast and supper. 8 o'clock for breakfast, 12 for dinner, 4 for supper, and no meals but these, no lunches and no cold snacks.

Starting point is 01:14:26 Owing to this arrangement, and partly to one watch going to their meals before the other at sea, all the meals of the 24 hours are crowded into a space of less than 8. 16 mortal hours elapse between supper and breakfast, including, to one watch, eight hours on deck. This is barbarous. Any physician will tell you so. Think of it. Before the Commodore has dined, you have supped, and in high latitudes in summertime, you have taken your last meal for the day, and five hours or more daylight to spare.

Starting point is 01:15:05 Mr. Secretary of the Navy, in the name of the people, you should interpose in this matter. Many a time have I, a main-topman, found myself actually faint of a tempestuous morning watch when all my energies were demanded, owing to this miserable, unphilosophical mode of allotting the government meals at sea. We beg you, Mr. Secretary, not to be swayed in this matter by the honorable board of Commodores, who will no doubt tell you that eight, twelve, and four are the proper hours for the people to take their meals. Inasmuch as at these hours the watches are relieved. For though this arrangement makes a neater and cleaner thing of it for the officers and looks very nice and super fine on paper, yet it is plainly detrimental to health, and in time of war is

Starting point is 01:16:04 attended with still more serious consequences to the whole nation at large. If the necessary researchers were made, it would perhaps be found that in those instances where men of war, adopting the above-mentioned hours for meals, have encountered an enemy at night, they have pretty generally been beaten. That is, in those cases where the enemy's meal times were reasonable, which is only to be accounted for by the fact that the people of the beaten vessels were fighting on an empty stomach instead of a full one. End of Chapter 7. Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista.

Starting point is 01:16:55 Chapter 8 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 8. Selvigy contrasted with Mad Jack. Having glanced at the grand divisions of a man of war, let us now descend to specialties, and particularly to two of the junior lieutenants, lords and noblemen, members of that house

Starting point is 01:17:42 appears the gunroom. There were several young lieutenants on board, but from these two, representing the extremes of character to be found in their department, the nature of the other officers of their grade and the never sink must be derived. One of these two quarter-deck lords went among the sailors by a name of their own devising, Selvigy. Of course, it was intended to be characteristic, and even so it was. In frigates and all large ships of war, when getting underway a large rope called a messenger used to carry the strain of the cable to the capstan so that the anchor may be weighed without the muddy ponderous cable itself going round the capstan.

Starting point is 01:18:29 As the cable enters the hawse hole, therefore something must be constantly used to keep this traveling chain attached to this traveling messenger. something that may be rapidly wound round both, so as to bind them together. The article used is called a salvagee, and what could be better adapted to the purpose? It is a slender, tapering, unstranded piece of rope prepared with much solicitude, peculiarly flexible, and wreaths and serpentines round the cable and messenger like an elegantly modeled garter snake round the twisted stalks of a vine. Indeed, Selvigy is the exact type and symbol

Starting point is 01:19:14 of a tall, genteel, limber, spiralizing, exquisite, so much for the derivation of the name which the sailors applied to the lieutenant. From what sea alcove, from what mermaids-Milner's shop, hast thou emerged, Selvagy, with that dainty wail. and languid cheek. What heartless step-dame drove thee forth to waste thy fragrance on the

Starting point is 01:19:41 salt sea air? Was it you, Selvigy, that outward bound off Cape Horn looked at Hermit Island through an opera-glass? Was it you who thought of proposing to the captain that when the sails were furled in a gale, a few drops of lavender should be dropped in their bunt, so that when the canvas was said again your nostrils might not be offended by its musty smell? I do not say it was you, Selvigy. I, but deferentially inquire. In plain prose, Selvigy was one of those officers whom the sight of a trim-fitting naval coat had captivated in the days of his youth. He fancied that if a sea officer dressed well and conversed genteelly, he would abundantly uphold the honor of his flag and immortalized the tailor that made him.

Starting point is 01:20:35 On that rock, many young gentlemen split, for upon a frigate's quarter-deck, it is not enough to sport a coat fashion by a stult's. It is not enough to be well-braced with straps and suspenders. It is not enough to have sweet reminiscences of lauras and Matilda's. It is a right-down life of hard wear and tear. And the man who is not, in a good degree, fitted to become a common sailor will never make an officer. Take that to heart, all you naval aspirants. Thrust your arms up to the elbow and pitch and see how you like it, ere you solicit a warrant.

Starting point is 01:21:14 Prepare for white squalls, living gales, and typhoons. Read accounts of shipwrecks and horrible disasters. Peruse the narratives of Byron and Bly. Familiarize yourselves with the story of the English frigate Alcest and the French frigate Medusa, though you may go ashore now and then at Cadiz and Palermo, for every day so spent among oranges and ladies, you will have whole months of rains and gales. And even thus did Selvigy prove it. But with all the intrepid effeminacy of your true dandy, he still continued his cologne water baths and sported his lace-bordered handkerchiefs in the very teeth of a tempest. Alas, Selvigy, there was no getting the lavender out of you.

Starting point is 01:22:03 But Selvigy was no fool. Theoretically, he understood his profession, but the mere theory of seamanship forms but the thousandth part of what makes a seaman. You cannot save a ship by working out a problem in the cabin. The deck is the field of action. Well aware of his deficiency in some things, Selvigy never took the trumpet, which is the badge of the deck

Starting point is 01:22:29 officer for the time, without a tremulous movement of the lip and an earnest inquiring eye to the windward. He encouraged those old tritons, the quartermasters, to discourse with him concerning the likelihood of a squall

Starting point is 01:22:44 and often followed their advice as to taking in or making sail. The smallest favors in that way were thankfully received. Sometimes when all the north looked unusually lowering by many conversational blandishments, he would endeavor to prolong his predecessors' stay on deck, after that officer's watch had expired. But in fine, steady weather, when the captain would emerge from his cabin, salvage he might be seen pacing the poop with long,

Starting point is 01:23:15 bold, indefatigable strides, and casting his eye up aloft with the most ostentatious fidelity. But vain these pretenses, he could not deceive. Selvigy, you know very well that if it comes on to blow pretty hard, the First Lieutenant will be sure to interfere with his paternal authority. Every man and every boy in the frigate knows, Selvigy, that you are no Neptune. How unenviable his situation! His brother officers do not insult him, to be sure, but sometimes their looks are his daggers.

Starting point is 01:23:54 The sailors do not laugh at him outright, but of dark nights they jeer. When they hearken to that Mantua maker's voice ordering a strong pull at the main brace or hands by the halliards. Sometimes, by a way of being terrific and making the men jump, Selvogy wraps out an oath.

Starting point is 01:24:16 But the soft bomb stuffed with confectioner's kisses seems to burst like a crushed rosebud diffusing its odors. Selvigy, selvigy. Take a main-topman's advice, and this cruise over never more tempt the sea. With this gentleman of cravats and curling irons, how strongly contrasts the men who was born in a gale, for in some time of tempest, off Cape Horn or Hatteras,

Starting point is 01:24:47 Mad Jack must have entered the world. Such things have been. not with a silver spoon, but with a speaking trumpet in his mouth, wrapped in a call, as in a mainsail, for a charmed life against shipwrecks he bears, and crying, luff, luff, you may, steady, port, world ho, here I am. Mad Jack is in his saddle on the sea. That is his home. He would not care much if another flood came and overflowed the dry land, for what would it do but flowed his good ship higher and higher and carry his proud nation's flag round the globe over the very capitals of all hostile states. Then would masts surmount spires, and all mankind like the Chinese boatmen on Canton River,

Starting point is 01:25:35 live in flotillas and fleets, and find their food in the sea. Mad Jack was expressly created and labeled for a tar. Five feet nine is his mark in his socks, and not weighing over 11 stone before dinner. Like so many ship's shrouds, his muscles and tendons are all set true, trim, and taut. He is braced up fore and aft like a ship on the wind. His broad chest is a bulkhead that dams off the gale, and his nose is an aquiline that divides it in two, like a keel. His loud, lusty lungs are two belfries full of all manner of chimes,

Starting point is 01:26:17 but you only hear his deepest bray in the height of some tempest, like the great bell of St. Paul's, which only sounds when the king or the devil is dead. Look at him there, where he stands on the poop, one foot on the rail, and one hand on a shroud, his head thrown back and his trumpet like an elephant's trunk thrown up in the air. Is he going to shoot dead with sounds those fellows on the main topsail yard? Mad Jack was a bit of a tyrant.

Starting point is 01:26:49 They say all good officers are. But the sailors loved him all round, and would much rather stand 50 watches with him than one with a Rosewater sailor. But Mad Jack, alas, has one fearful failing. He drinks. And so do we all. But Mad Jack, he only drinks brandy.

Starting point is 01:27:12 The vice was inveterate, surely, like Ferdinandolph. Nann, Count Fathom. He must have been suckled at a punch-in. Very often this bad habit got him into very serious scrapes. Twice was he put off duty by the Commodore, and once he came near being broken for his frolics, so far as his efficiency as a sea officer was concerned, on shore at least, Jack might bouse away as much as he pleased, but afloat it will not do it all. Now, if he only followed the wise example set by those ships of the desert, the camels, and while in port, drank for the thirst past, the thirst present, and the thirst to come, so that he might cross the ocean sober.

Starting point is 01:27:58 Mad Jack would get along pretty well, still better, if he would but a shoe brandy altogether, and only drink of the limpid white wine of the rills and the brooks. End of Chapter 8. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapters 9 and 10 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 01:28:47 Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville, Chapter 9 of the pockets that were in the jacket. I must make some further mention of that white jacket of mine, and here be it known by way of introduction to what is to follow, that to a common sailor, the living on board a man of war is like living in a market, where you dress on the doorsteps and sleep in the cellar. No privacy can you have, hardly one moment's seclusion. It is almost a physical impossibility that you can ever be alone. You dine at a vast table d'aut, sleep in commons, and make your toilet where and when you can. There is no calling for a mutton chop and a pint of claret by yourself, no selecting of chambers for the night, no hanging of pantaloons over the back of a chair, no ringing your bell of a rainy morning,

Starting point is 01:29:49 to take your coffee in bed. It is something like life in a large manufacturing. The bell strikes to dinner, and hungry or not, you must dine. Your clothes are stored in a large canvas bag, generally painted black,

Starting point is 01:30:06 which you can get out of the rack only once in the 24 hours. And then, during a time of the utmost confusion, among 500 other bags, with 500 other sailors diving into each, in the midst of the twilight of the birth deck. In some measure to obviate this inconvenience, many sailors divide their wardrobes between their hammocks and their bags,

Starting point is 01:30:30 stowing a few frocks and trousers in the former, so that they can shift at night, if they wish, when the hammocks are piped down. But they gain very little by this. You have no place whatever but your bag or hammock, in which to put anything in a man-of-war. if you lay anything down and turn your back for a moment, ten to one it is gone.

Starting point is 01:30:54 Now, in sketching the preliminary plan and laying out the foundation of that memorable white jacket of mine, I had had an earnest eye to all these inconveniences and resolved to avoid them. I proposed that not only should my jacket keep me warm, but that it should also be so constructed as to contain a shirt or two, a pair of trousers and divers knick-knacks, sewing utensils, books, biscuits, and the like. With this object I had accordingly provided it with a great variety of pockets, pantries, clothes presses, and cupboards.

Starting point is 01:31:31 The principal apartments, two in number, were placed in the skirts with a wide, hospitable entrance from the inside. Two more of smaller capacity were planted in each breast, with folding doors, community. so that in case of emergency, to accommodate any bulky articles, the two pockets in each breast could be thrown into one. There were also several unseen recesses behind the Arras, in so much that my jacket, like an old castle, was full of winding stairs and mysterious closets, crips and cabinets, and like a confidential writing desk, abounded and snug little out-of-the-way layers in hiding places for the storage of valuables. Super added to these were four capacious pockets on the outside,

Starting point is 01:32:21 one pair to slip books into when suddenly startled from my studies to the main royal yard, and the other pair, for permanent mittens to thrust my hands into of a cold night watch. This last contrivance was regarded as needless by one of my topmates who showed me a pattern for sea mittens, which he said was much better than mine. It must be known that sailors, even in the bleakest weather, only cover their hands when unemployed. They never wear mittens aloft, since aloft they literally carry their lives in their hands and want nothing between their grasp of the hemp and the hemp itself. Therefore, it is desirable that whatever things they cover their hands with should be capable of being slipped on and off in a moment.

Starting point is 01:33:10 nay it is desirable that they should be of such a nature that in a dark night when you are in a great hurry say going to the helm they may be jumped into indiscriminately and not be like a pair of right and left kids neither of which will admit any hand but the particular one meant for it my topmate's contrivance was this he ought to have got out a patent for it each of his mittens was provided with two thumbs one on each side the the convenience of which needs no comment. But though for clumsy semen whose fingers are all thumbs, this description of mitten might do very well, White Jacket did not so much fancy it, for when your hand was once in the bag of the mitten, the empty thumb-hole sometimes dangled at your palm,

Starting point is 01:33:58 confounding your ideas of where your real thumb might be, or else being carefully grasped in the hand was continually suggesting the insane notion that you were all the while having hold of someone else's thumb. No, I told my good topmate to go away with his four thumbs. I would have nothing to do with them. Two thumbs were enough for any man. For some time after completing my jacket

Starting point is 01:34:24 and getting the furniture and household stores in it, I thought that nothing could exceed it for convenience. Seldom now did I have occasion to go to my bag and be jostled by the crowd who were making their wardrobe in a heat, If I wanted anything in the way of clothing, thread, needles, or literature, the chances were that my invaluable jacket contained it. Yes, I fairly hugged myself and reveled in my jacket, till, alas, a long rain put me out of conceit of it. I and all my pockets and their contents were soaked through and through, and my pocket edition of Shakespeare was reduced to an

Starting point is 01:35:04 omelette. However, availing myself of a fine sunny day that followed, I emptied myself out in the main top and spread all my goods and chattels to dry. But spite of the bright sun, that day proved a black one. The scoundrels on deck detected me in the act of discharging my saturated cargo. They now knew that the white jacket was used for a storehouse. The consequence was that my goods being well dried and again stored away in my pockets, the very next night when it was my quarter watch on deck, and not in the top, where they were all honest men, I noticed a parcel of fellows skulking about after me wherever I went. To a man, they were pickpockets, and bent upon pillaging me. In vain I kept clapping my pocket like a nervous old gentleman in a crowd.

Starting point is 01:35:59 That same night I found myself minus several valuable articles. so in the end i masoned up my lockers and pantries and saved the two used for mittens the white jacket ever after was pocketless chapter ten from pockets to pickpockets as the latter part of the preceding chapter may seem strange to those landsmen who have been habituated to indulge in high-raised romantic notions of the man-of-war's man's character it may not be amiss to set down here certain facts on this head which may serve to place the thing in its true light. From the wildlife they lead and various other causes, needless to mention, sailors as a class, entertain the most liberal notions concerning morality and the decalogue, or rather they take their own views of such matters, caring little for the theological or ethical definitions of others

Starting point is 01:37:02 concerning what may be criminal or wrong. Their ideas are much swayed by circumstances. They will covertly abstract a thing from one whom they dislike, and insist upon it that, in such a case, stealing is not robbing, or where the theft involves something funny, as in the case of the white jacket, they only steal for the sake of the joke. But this much is to be observed nevertheless, i.e. that they never spoil the joke by returning the stolen article.

Starting point is 01:37:33 It is a good joke, for instance, and one often, perpetrated on board ship to stand talking to a man in a dark night watch and all the while be cutting the buttons from his coat but once off those buttons never grow on again there is no spontaneous vegetation in buttons perhaps it is a thing unavoidable but the truth is that among the crew of a man-of-war scores of desperadoes are too often found who stop not at the largest enormities a species of high-way a robbery is not unknown to them. A gang will be informed that such a fellow has three or four gold pieces in the money bag, so-called, or purse, which many tars wear around their necks, tucked out of sight. Upon this, they deliberately lay their plans, and in due time, proceed to carry them into execution. The man they have marked is perhaps strolling along the benighted birth deck to his mess chest, when of a sudden the foot pads dash out from their hiding place,

Starting point is 01:38:39 throw him to the ground, and while two or three gag him and hold him fast, another cuts the bag from his neck and makes away with it, followed by his comrades. This was more than once done in the never sink. At other times, hearing that a sailor has something valuable secreted in his hammock, they will rip it open from underneath while he sleeps and reduce the conjecture to a certain To enumerate all the minor pilferings on board a man of war would be endless. With some highly commendable exceptions, they rob from one another and rob back again, till, in the matter of small things, a community of goods seems almost established,

Starting point is 01:39:23 and at last, as a whole, they become relatively honest by nearly every man becoming the reverse. It is in vain that the officers, by threats of condign punishment, endeavor to instill more virtuous principles into their crew. So thick is the mob that not one thief in a thousand is detected. End of chapters 9 and 10. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 11 of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 01:40:12 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 11. The Pursuit of Poetry Under Difficulties The feeling of insecurity concerning one's possessions in the Never Sink, which the things just narrated begat in the minds of honest men, was curiously exemplified in the case of my poor friend Limsford, a gentlemanly young member of the afterguard.

Starting point is 01:40:56 I had very early made the acquaintance of Limbsford. It is curious how unerringly a man pitches upon a spirit, any way akin to his own, even in the most miscellaneous mob. Limsford was a poet, so thoroughly inspired with the divine of fletus, that not even all the tar and tumult of a man of war could drive it out of him. As may readily be imagined, the business of writing verse is a very different thing on the gun deck of a frigate, from what the gentle and sequestered Wordsworth found it at Placid Rydell Mount in Westmoreland.

Starting point is 01:41:35 in a frigate you cannot sit down and meander off your sonnets when the full heart prompts but only when more important duties permit such as bracing round the yards or reefing up top sails fore and aft nevertheless every fragment of time at his command was religiously devoted by limbsford to the nine at the most unseasonable hours you would behold him seated apart in some corner among the guns a shotbox before him, pin in hand, and eyes in a fine frenzy rolling. What's that airborne natural about? He's got a fit, ain't he? Were exclamations often made by the less learned of his shipmates. Some deemed him a conjurer, others a lunatic, and the knowing ones said that he must be a crazy Methodist. But well-knowing by experience the truth of the same,

Starting point is 01:42:35 that poetry is its own exceeding great reward, Lemsford wrote on, dashing off whole epics, sonnets, ballads, and acrostics, with a facility which, under the circumstances, amazed me. Often he read over his effusions to me, and well worth the hearing they were. He had wit, imagination, feeling, and humor in abundance, and out of the very ridicule with which some persons regarded him, he made rare metrical sport, which we two together enjoyed by ourselves, or shared with certain select friends. Still, the taunts and jeers so often leveled at my friend the poet, would now and then rouse him into rage, and at such times the haughty scorn he would hurl on his foes was proof

Starting point is 01:43:26 positive of his possession of that one attribute, irritability, almost universally ascribed to the votaries of Parnassus and the nine. My noble Captain Jack Chase, rather patronized Limsford, and he would stoutly take his part against scores of adversaries, frequently inviting him up aloft into his top. He would beg him to recite some of his verses, to which he would pay the most heedful attention, like Messinas listening to Virgil, with a book of Inniad in his hand. taking the liberty of a well-wisher he would sometimes gently criticize the piece suggesting a few immaterial alterations and upon my word noble Jack with his native-born good sense

Starting point is 01:44:13 taste and humanity was not ill-qualified to play the true part of a quarterly review which is to give quarter at last however severe the critique Now, Limsford's great care, anxiety, and endless source of tribulation was the preservation of his manuscripts. He had a little box about the size of a small dressing case and secured with a lock in which he kept his papers and stationary. This box, of course, he could not keep in his bag or hammock. For in either case, he would only be able to get at it once in the 24 hours.

Starting point is 01:44:53 It was necessary to have it accessible at all times, so when not using it, he was obliged to hide it out of sight where he could, and of all places in the world a ship of war above her hold least abounds in secret nooks. Almost every inch is occupied, almost every inch is in plain sight, and almost every inch is continually being visited and explored. Added to all this was the deadly hostility of the whole tribe of ship underlings, master at arms, ships corporals and boatswain's mates, both to the poet and his casket. They hated his box, as if it had been Pandora's, crammed to the very lid with hurricanes and gales. They hunted out his hiding places like pointers, and gave him no peace, night or day. Still, the long 24-pounders on the main deck offered some promise of a hiding place to the box,

Starting point is 01:45:53 and, accordingly, it was often tucked away behind the carriages, among the side tackles, its black color blending with the evan hue of the guns. But Quinn, one of the quarter-gunners, had eyes like a ferret. Quinn was a little old man-of-war's man, hardly five feet high, with a complexion like a gunshot wound after it is healed. he was indefatigable in attending to his duties which consisted in taking care of one division of the guns embracing ten of the aforesaid twenty-four pounders ranged up against the ship's side at regular intervals they resembled not a little a stud of sable chargers in their stall among this iron stud little quinn was continually running in and out currying them down now and then with an old rag or keeping the flies off with a brush to quinn the honor and dignity of the united states of america seemed indissolubly linked with the keeping his guns unsubes

Starting point is 01:46:58 unspotted and glossy. He himself was black as a chimney sweep with continually tending them and rubbing them down with black paint. He would sometimes get outside of the portholes and peer into their muzzles as a monkey into a bottle. Or like a dentist he seemed intent upon examining their teeth. Quite as often he would be brushing out their touch holes with a little wisp of oakum like a Chinese barber in Canton, cleaning a patient's ear. Such was his solicitude that it was a thousand pities he was not able to dwarf himself still more, so as to creep in at the touch-hole, and examining the whole interior of the tube, emerge at last from the muzzle.

Starting point is 01:47:45 Quinn swore by his guns and slept by their side. Woe betide the man whom he found leaning against them, or in any way soiling them. He seemed seized with the crazy, fancy that his darling 24-pounders were fragile and might break like glass retorts. Now, from this Quinn's vigilance, how could my poor friend the poet hope to escape with his box? Twenty times a week it was pounced upon with a, here's that blank pillbox again, and a loud threat to pitch it overboard the next time without a moment's warning or benefit of clergy. Like many poets, Limsford was nervous, and upon these occasions he trembled like a leaf.

Starting point is 01:48:32 Once with an inconsolable countenance he came to me saying that his casket was nowhere to be found. He had sought for it in his hiding place, and it was not there. I asked him where he had hidden it. Among the guns, he replied. Then depend upon it, Limsford, that Quinn has been the death of it. straight to quinn went the poet but quinn knew nothing about it for ten mortal days the poet was not to be comforted dividing his leisure time between cursing quen and lamenting his loss the world is undone he must have thought no such calamity has befallen it since the deluge my verses are perished but though quen as it afterward turned out had indeed found the box it so happened that he had not destroyed it which no doubt led limsford to infer that a superintending providence had interposed to preserve to posterity his invaluable casket it was found at last lying exposed near the galley

Starting point is 01:49:39 limsford was not the only literary man on board the never sink there were three or four persons who kept journals of the cruise one of these journalists embellished his work which was written in a large blank account book with various coloured illustrations of the harbors and bays at which the frigate had touched and also with small crayon sketches of comical incidents on board the frigate itself he would frequently read passages of his book to an admiring circle of the more refined sailors between the guns. They pronounced the whole performance a miracle of art. As the author declared to them that it was all to be printed and published so soon as the vessel reached home, they vied with each other in procuring interesting items to be incorporated into additional chapters. But it having been rumored abroad that this journal was to be ominously entitled, The Cruise of the Never Sink, or a peasant shot into the, naval abuses, and it having also reached the ears of the wardroom that the work contained reflections

Starting point is 01:50:47 somewhat derogatory to the dignity of the officers. The volume was seized by the master at arms, armed with a warrant from the captain. A few days after, a large nail was driven straight through the two covers and clenched on the other side, and thus everlastingly sealed, the book was committed to the deep. The ground taken by the authorities on this occasion was perhaps that the book was obnoxious to a certain clause in the Articles of War, forbidding any person in the Navy to bring any other person in the Navy into contempt, which the suppressed volume undoubtedly did. End of Chapter 11. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 12 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War

Starting point is 01:51:48 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 12. the good or bad temper of men-of-war's men in a great degree attributable to their particular stations and duties aboard ship. Quinn, the quarter-gunner, was the representative of a class on board the Never Sink,

Starting point is 01:52:29 altogether too remarkable to be left astern, without further notice in the rapid wake of these chapters. As has been seen, Quinn was full of unaccountable whimsies. He was, with all, a very cross, bitter, ill-natured, inflammable old man. So too were all the members of the gunner's gang, including the two gunners' mates and all the quarter-gunners. Every one of them had the same dark-brown complexion. All their faces looked like smoked hams. They were continually grumbling and growling about the batteries, running in and out among the guns, driving the sailors away from them,

Starting point is 01:53:11 and cursing and swearing as if all their conscience had been powder singed and made callous by their calling. Indeed, they were a most unpleasant set of men, especially priming, the nasal-voiced gunner's mate with the hair lip, and cylinder, his stuttering coadjutor with the club foot. But you will always observe that the gunner's gang of every man of war are invariably ill-tempered, ugly featured and quarrelsome. Once, when I visited an English line of battleship, the gunner's gang were for and aft,

Starting point is 01:53:49 polishing up the batteries, which, according to the Admiral's fancy, had been painted white as snow. Fidgeting round the great 32-pounders, and making stinging remarks at the sailors and each other, they reminded one of a swarm of black wasps, buzzing about rows of white headstones in a churchyard. Now, there can be little doubt that there being so much among the guns is the very thing that makes a gunner's gang so cross and quarrelsome.

Starting point is 01:54:20 Indeed, this was once proved to the satisfaction of our whole company of Maine Topman. A fine topmate of ours, a most merry and companionable fellow, chanced to be promoted to a quarter-gunner's birth. A few days afterward, some of us Maine Topman, his old comrades, went to, to pay him a visit, while he was going his regular rounds through the division of guns allotted to his care. But instead of greeting us with his usual heartiness and cracking his pleasant jokes, to our amazement he did little else but scowl, and at last when we rallied him upon his ill temper, he seized a long black rammer from overhead and drove us on deck, threatening to report us if we ever dared to be familiar with him again.

Starting point is 01:55:12 My topmates thought that this remarkable metamorphose was the effect produced upon a weak, vain character suddenly elevated from the level of a mere seaman to the dignified position of a petty officer. But, though, in similar cases, I had seen such effects produced upon some of the crew. Yet, in the present instance, I knew better than that. it was solely brought about by his consorting with those villainous irritable ill-tempered cannon more especially from his being subject to the orders of those deformed blunderbusses priming and cylinder

Starting point is 01:55:53 the truth seems to be indeed that all people should be very careful in selecting their callings and vocations very careful in seeing to it that they surround themselves by good-humoured pleasant-looking objects and agreeable temper-soothing sounds. Many an angelic disposition has had its even edge turned and hacked like a saw, and many a sweet draught of piety has soured on the heart from people's choosing ill-natured employments and omitting to gather round them good-natured landscapes. Gardners are almost always pleasant, affable people to converse with, but beware of quarter-gunners, keepers of arsenals and lonely lighthouse men. It would be advisable for any man who, from an unlucky choice of a profession, which it is too late to change for another, should find his temper souring, to endeavor to counteract that misfortune by filling his private chamber with amiable, pleasurable sights and sounds.

Starting point is 01:56:58 In summertime, an Iolean harp can be placed in your window at a very trifling expense. A conch shell might stand on your mantle to be taken up and held to the ear that you may be soothed by its continual lulling sound when you feel the blue fit stealing over you. For sights, a gay-painted punch bowl or Dutch tankard, never mind about filling it, might be recommended. It should be placed on a bracket in the pier. Nor is an old-fashioned silver ladle,

Starting point is 01:57:29 nor a chased dinnercaster, nor a fine portly dimmy nor anything, indeed, that savers of eating and drinking, bad to drive off the spleen. But perhaps the best of all is a shelf of merrily bound books, containing comedies, farces, songs, and humorous novels. You need never open them, only have the titles in plain sight. For this purpose, Peregrine Pickle is a good book, so is Gil Blass, so is Goldsmith. But of all chamber furniture in the world, best calculated to cure a bad temper and breed a pleasant one, is the sign of a lovely wife. If you have children, however, that are teething, the nursery should be a good way upstairs. At sea, it ought to be in the mizzen top. Indeed, teething children play the very deuce with a husband's temper.

Starting point is 01:58:22 I have known three promising young husbands completely spoil on their wives' hands by reason of a teething child. child, whose worrisomeness happened to be aggravated at the time by the summer complaint. With a breaking heart and my handkerchief to my eyes, I followed those three hapless young husbands, one after the other, to their premature graves. Gossiping scenes breed gossips, who so chatty as hotel clerks, market women, auctioneers, barkeepers, apothecaries, newspaper reporters, monthly nurses, and all those who live in a lot of people, in bustling crowds or are present at scenes of chatty interest. Solitude breeds taciturnity.

Starting point is 01:59:08 That, everybody knows. Who so taciturn as authors taken as a race? A forced interior quietude in the midst of great outward commotion breeds moody people. Who so moody as railroad brakemen, steamboat engineers, helmsmen and tenders of power looms in cotton factory? for all these must hold their peace while employed and let the machinery do the chatting. They cannot even edge in a single syllable.

Starting point is 01:59:40 Now this theory about the wondrous influence of habitual sights and sounds upon the human temper was suggested by my experiences on board our frigate, and although I regard the example furnished by our quarter-gutters, especially him who had once been our topmate, as by far the strongest argument in favor of the general theory, yet the entire ship abounded with illustrations of its truth. Who were more liberal-hearted, lofty-minded, gayer, more jocund, elastic, adventurous, given to fun and frolic than the top men of the four, main, and mizzen-masts? The reason of their liberal-heartedness was that they were daily called upon to expatiate themselves

Starting point is 02:00:25 all over the rigging. The reason of their lofty-mindedness was that they were high-lifted above the petty tumults, carping cares, and paltrinesses of the decks below. And I feel persuaded in my inmost soul that it is to the fact of my having been a main topman, and especially my particular post being on the loftiest yard of the frigate, the main royal yard, that I am now enabled to give such a free, broad, offhand bird's eye, and more than all, impartial account of our man-of-war world, withholding nothing, inventing nothing, nor flattering, nor scandalizing any, but meeting out to all, Commodore and messenger-boy alike, their precise descriptions and desserts. The reason of the mirthfulness of these topmen was that they always

Starting point is 02:01:20 looked out upon the blue boundless dimpled laughing sunny sea nor do i hold that it militates against this theory that of a stormy day when the face of the ocean was black and overcast that some of them would grow moody and choose to sit apart on the contrary it only proves the thing which i maintain for even on shore there are many people naturally gay and light-hearted who whenever the autumnal wind begins to bluster round the corners and roar along the chimney stacks, straight becomes cross, petulant, and irritable. What is more mellow than fine old ale? Yet thunder will sour the best nut-brown ever brewed. The holders of our frigate, the troglodytes, who lived down in the tarry cellars and caves below the berth deck,

Starting point is 02:02:13 were nearly all of them, men of gloomy dispositions, taking sour views of everything. One of them was a blue-light Calvinist. Whereas the old sheet-anchorman who spent their time in the bracing sea air and broadcast sunshine of the forecastle were free, generous-hearted, charitable, and full of goodwill to all hands, though some of them, to tell the truth, proved sad exceptions, but exceptions only prove the rule. The steady cooks on the berth deck, the steady sweepers and steady spitbox musterers,

Starting point is 02:02:49 in all divisions of the frigate for and aft were a narrow-minded set with contracted souls imputable no doubt to their grovelling duties more especially was this evinced in the case of those odious ditchers and night scavengers the ignoble wasters the members of the band some ten or twelve in number who had nothing to do but keep their instruments polished and play a lively air now and then to stir the stagnant current in our poor old commodore's torpid veins were the most gleeful set of fellows you ever saw they were portuguese who had been shipped at the cape de verdeir islands on the passage out they messed by themselves forming a dinner party not to be exceeded ire mirthfulness by a club of young bridegrooms three months after marriage completely satisfied with their bargains after testing them but what made them now so full of fun what indeed but their merry martial mellow calling who could be a churl and play a flagellette who mean and spiritless braying forth the souls of thousand heroes from his brazen trump but still more efficacious perhaps in ministering to the light spirits of the band was the consoling thought that should the ship ever go into action they would be exempted from the peasant perils of battle. In ships of war, the members of the music, as the band is called, are generally non-combatants and mostly ship, with the express understanding that as soon as the vessel comes

Starting point is 02:04:31 within long gunshot of an enemy, they shall have the privilege of burrowing down in the cable tiers or sea-coal holes, which shows that they are inglorious, but uncommonly sensible fellows. Look at the barons of the gun-room, lieutenants, purser, marine officers, sailing-master, all of them gentlemen with stiff upper lips and aristocratic cut noses. Why was this? Will anyone deny that from their living so long in high military life, served by a crowd of menial stewards and cot-boys, and always accustomed to command right and left,

Starting point is 02:05:11 will anyone deny, I say, that by reason of this, their very noses had become thin, peaked, aquiline, and aristocratically cartilaginous? Even old cuticle, the surgeon, had a Roman nose. But I never could account how it came to be that our gray-headed first lieutenant was a little lopsided, that is, one of his shoulders disproportionately dropped, and when I observed that nearly all the first lieutenants I saw in other men of war, besides many second and third lieutenants, were similarly lopsided, I knew that there must be some general law which induced the phenomenon, and I put myself to studying it out as an interesting problem.

Starting point is 02:05:59 At last I came to the conclusion, to which I still adhere, that they're so long wearing only one epaulet, for to only one does their rank entitle them, was the infallible clue to this mystery, and when anyone reflects upon so well-known a fact that many see lieutenants grow decrepit from age without attaining a captaincy and wearing two epaplets, which would strike the balance between their shoulders, the above reason assigned will not appear unwarrantable. End of Chapter 12. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 13 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War

Starting point is 02:06:51 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 13. A Man of War Hermit in a World. mob. The allusion to the poet Limsford in a previous chapter leads me to speak of our mutual

Starting point is 02:07:25 friends Nord and Williams, who, with Limsford himself, Jack Chase, and my comrades of the maintop, comprised almost the only persons with whom I unreservedly consorted while on board the frigate. For I had not been long on board ere I found that it would not do to be intimate with everybody. An indiscriminate intimacy with all hands leads to sundry annoyances and scrapes, too often ending with a dozen at the gangway. Though I was above a year in the frigate, there were scores of men who, to the last, remained perfect strangers to me, whose very names I did not know, and whom I would hardly be able to recognize now should I happen to meet them in the streets. In the dog watches at sea during the early part of the evening, the main deck is generally filled with crowds of pedestrians,

Starting point is 02:08:21 promenading up and down past the guns like people taking the air in Broadway. At such times, it is curious to see the men nodding to each other's recognitions. They might not have seen each other for a week, exchanging a pleasant word with a friend, making a hurried appointment to meet him somewhere aloft on the march. or passing group after group without deigning the slightest salutation. Indeed, I was not at all singular in having but comparatively few acquaintances on board, though certainly carrying my fastidiousness to an unusual extent. My friend Nord was a somewhat remarkable character,

Starting point is 02:09:05 and if mystery includes romance, he certainly was a very romantic one, Before seeking an introduction to him through Limsford, I had often marked his tall, spare, upright figure stalking like Don Quixote among the pygmies of the afterguard to which he belonged. At first I found him exceedingly reserved and taciturn. His Saturnine brow wore a scowl. He was almost repelling in his demeanor. In a word he seemed desirous of hinting that his list

Starting point is 02:09:40 of Man of War friends was already made up, complete and full, and there was no room for more. But observing that the only man he ever consorted with was Limsford, I had too much magnanimity by going off in a peak at his coldness to let him lose forever the chance of making so capital an acquaintance as myself. Besides, I saw it in his eye that the man had been a reader of good books. I would have staked my life on it that he seized the right meaning of Montagna. I saw that he was an earnest thinker. I more than suspected that he had been bolted in the mill of adversity. For all these things, my heart yearned toward him.

Starting point is 02:10:26 I determined to know him. At last I succeeded. It was during a profoundly quiet midnight watch when I perceived him walking alone in the waist, while most of the men were dozing on the carronade slides. That night we scoured all the prairies of reading, dived into the bosoms of authors, and tore out their hearts, and that night White Jacket learned more than he has ever done in any single night since.

Starting point is 02:10:58 The man was a marvel. He amazed me as much as Coleridge did the troopers among whom he enlisted. What could have induced such a marvel? a man to enter a man of war, all my sapiens cannot fathom, and how he managed to preserve his dignity, as he did, among such a rabble route, was equally a mystery. For he was no sailor, as ignorant of a ship, indeed, as a man from the sources of the Niger. Yet the officers respected him, and the men were afraid of him. This much was observable, however, that he faithfully discharged whatever special duties devolved upon him, and was so fortunate as never to render himself

Starting point is 02:11:41 liable to a reprimand. Doubtless, he took the same view of the thing that another of the crew did, and had early resolved, so to conduct himself as never to run the risk of the scourge. And this it must have been, added to whatever incommunicable grief which might have been his, that made this nored such a wandering recluse, even among our man-of-war mob. Nor could he have long swung his hammock on board, ere he must have found that, to ensure his exemption from that thing which alone affrighted him, he must be content for the most part to turn a man-hater, and socially expatriate himself from many things,

Starting point is 02:12:25 which might have rendered his situation more tolerable. Still more, several events that took place must have, have horrified him at times, with the thought that, however he might isolate and entomb himself, yet for all this, the improbability of his being overtaken by what he most dreaded, never advanced to the infallibility of the impossible. In my intercourse with Nord, he never made allusion to his past career, a subject upon which most hybrid castaways in a man-of-war are very diffuse, relating their adventures at the gaming table, the recklessness with which they have run through the amplest fortunes in a single season, their alms-givings and gratuities to porters and poor relations,

Starting point is 02:13:13 and above all their youthful indiscretions and the broken-hearted ladies they have left behind. No such tales had nor to tell. Concerning the past, he was barred and locked up like the species vaults of the Bank of England. For anything that dropped from him, none of us could be sure that he had ever existed till now. Altogether, he was a remarkable man. My other friend, Williams, was a thoroughgoing Yankee from Maine, who had been both a peddler and a pedagogue in his day. He had all manner of stories to tell about nice little country frolics, and would run over an endless list of his sweethearts. He was honest, acute, witty, full of mirth and good humor, a laughing philosopher. He was invaluable as a pill against the spleen, and, with the view of extending

Starting point is 02:14:11 the advantages of his society to the Saturnine Nord, I introduced them to each other, but Nord cut him dead the very same evening, when we sallied out from between the guns for a walk on the main deck. End of Chapter 13. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapters 14 and 15 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 02:15:02 Recording by James K. White. white jacket or the world in a man of war by herman melville chapter fourteen a draught in a man of war we were not many days out of port when a rumor was set afloat that dreadfully alarmed many tars it was this that owing to some unprecedented oversight in the purser or some equally unprecedented remissness in the naval storekeeper at cayow the frigate's supply of that delectable beverage called grog was well nigh expended in the american navy the law allows one gill of spirits per day to every seaman in two portions it is served out just previous to breakfast and dinner at the roll of the drum the sailors assemble round a large tub or cask filled with liquid. And as their names are called off by a midshipman, they step up and regale themselves from a little tin measure called a tot. No high liver helping himself to toque off a well-polished sideboard

Starting point is 02:16:18 smacks his lips with more mighty satisfaction than the sailor does over this tot. To many of them, indeed, the thought of their daily tauts forms a perpetual perspective of ravishing landscapes indefinitely receding in the distance. It is their great prospect in life. Take away their grog, and life possesses no further charms for them. It is hardly to be doubted that the controlling inducement which keeps many men in the Navy is the unbounded confidence they have in the ability of the United States government to supply them regularly and unfailingly with their daily allowance of this beverage. I have known several forlorn individuals shipping as landsmen who have confessed to me that

Starting point is 02:17:09 having contracted a love for ardent spirits which they could not renounce, and having by their foolish courses been brought into the most abject poverty, in so much that they could no longer gratify their thirst ashore, they incontinently enter the Navy, regarding it, as the asylum for all drunkards who might there prolong their lives by regular hours and exercise, and twice every day quench their thirst by moderate and undeviating doses. When I once remonstrated with an old toper of a topman about this daily dram drinking, when I told him it was ruining him and advised him to stop his grog, and receive the money for it, in addition to his wages as provided by law, he turned about on me, with an irresistibly waggish look, and said,

Starting point is 02:18:04 Give up my grog and why? Because it is ruining me? No, no, I am a good Christian, white jacket, and love my enemy too much to drop his acquaintance. It may be readily imagined, therefore, what consternation and dismay pervaded the gun-deck at the first announcement of the tidings that the grog was expended. The grog gone? Roared an old sheet-anchorman. Oh, Lord, what a pain in my stomach, cried a main-topman.

Starting point is 02:18:38 It's worse than the cholera, cried a man of the afterguard. I'd sooner the water-casks would give out, said a captain of the hold. Are we ganders and geese that we can live without grog? asked a corporal of Marines. Aye, we must now drink with the ducks, cried a quartermaster. Not a tot left, groaned a waister. Not a toothful, sighed a holder from the bottom of his boots. Yes, the fatal intelligence proved true. The drum was no longer heard rolling the men to the tub,

Starting point is 02:19:15 and deep gloom and dejection fell like a cloud. The ship was like a great city, when some terrible calamity has overtaud. taken it. The men stood apart in groups discussing their woes and mutually condoling. No longer, of still moonlight nights, was the song heard from the giddy tops, and few and far between were the stories that were told. It was during this interval, so dismal to many, that to the amazement of all hands, ten men were reported by the master at arms to be intoxicated. They were brought up to the mast, and at their own. appearance the doubts of the most skeptical were dissipated, but whence they had obtained their

Starting point is 02:19:59 liquor no one could tell. It was observed, however, at the time, that the Terry knaves all smelled of lavender, like so many dandies. After their examination, they were ordered into the brig, a jailhouse between two guns on the main deck, where prisoners are kept. Here they laid for some time, stretched out stark and stiff, with their arms folded over their breasts, like so many effigies of the Black Prince on his monument in Canterbury Cathedral. Their first slumbers over, the Marine sentry who stood guard over them, had as much as he could do to keep off the crowd, who were all eagerness to find out how, in such a time of want, the prisoners had managed to drink themselves into oblivion. In due time they were liberated, and the same, the same

Starting point is 02:20:53 secret simultaneously leaked out. It seemed that an enterprising man of their number, who had suffered severely from the common deprivation, had all at once been struck by a brilliant idea. It had come to his knowledge that the purser's steward was supplied with a large quantity of O. de Cologne, clandestinely brought out in the ship for the purpose of selling it on his own account, to the people of the coast. But the supply proving low, larger than the demand, and having no customers on board the frigate but Lieutenant Selvigy, he was now carrying home more than a third of his original stock. To make a short story of it, this functionary being called upon in secret, was readily prevailed upon to part with a dozen

Starting point is 02:21:43 bottles, with whose contents the intoxicated party had regaled themselves. The news spread far and wide among the men, being only kept secret from the officers and underlies. and that night the long crane-neck cologne bottles jingled in out-of-the-way corners and by places and being emptied were sent flying out of the ports with brown sugar taken from the mess chests and hot water begged from the galley cooks the men made all manner of punches toddies and cocktails letting fall therein a small drop of tar like a bit of brown toast by way of imparting of flavor. Of course, the thing was managed with the utmost secrecy, and as a whole dark night elapsed after their orgies, the revelers were, in a good measure, secure from detection,

Starting point is 02:22:37 and those who indulged too freely had twelve long hours to get sober before daylight obtruded. Next day, for and aft, the whole frigate smelled like a lady's toilet. The very tar buckets were fragrant. And from the mouth of many a grim, grizzled old quarter-gunner came the most fragrant of breaths. The amazed lieutenants went about snuffing up the gale, and for once, Selvigy had no further need to flourish his perfumed handkerchief. It was as if we were sailing by some odiferous shore in the vernal season of violets. Sabine Odour. For many a league, cheered with grateful smell, old oceans smiled. But alas, all this perfume could not be wasted for nothing.

Starting point is 02:23:33 And the masters at arms and ships corporals, putting this and that together, very soon burrowed into the secret, the purser's steward was called to account, and no more lavender punches and cologne toddies were drank on board the never sink. End of chapter 14. Chapter 15. A Salt Junk Club and a Man of War with a Notice to Quit. It was about the period of the Cologne Water excitement that my self-conceit was not a little wounded, and my sense of delicacy altogether shocked by a polite hint received from the cook of the mess to which I happened to belong. To understand the matter, it is needful to enter into preliminaries.

Starting point is 02:24:21 The common seamen in a large frigate are divided into some 30 or 40 messes, put down on the purser's books as mess number one, mess number two, mess number three, etc. The members of each mess club, their rations of provisions, and breakfast dine and sup together in allotted intervals between the guns on the main deck. In undeviating rotation, the members of the members of

Starting point is 02:24:51 of each mess, excepting the petty officers, take their turn in performing the functions of cook and steward, and for the time being, all the affairs of the club are subject to their inspection and control. It is the cook's business also to have an eye to the general interests of his mess, to see that when the aggregated allowances of beef, bread, etc., are served out by one of the master's mates, the mess over which he presides receives its full share, without stint or subtraction. Upon the berth deck he has a chest, in which to keep his pots, pans, spoons, and small stores of sugar, molasses, tea, and flour. But though entitled a cook, strictly speaking, the head of the mess is no cook at all, for the cooking for the crew is all done by a high

Starting point is 02:25:51 and mighty functionary, officially called the ship's cook, assisted by several deputies. In our frigate, this personage was a dignified, colored gentleman, whom the men dubbed Old Coffee, and his assistants, Negroes also, went by the poetical appellations of sunshine, rosewater, and May Day. Now, the ship's cooking required very little science, though Old Coffee often often assured us that he had graduated at the New York Astor House, under the immediate eye of the celebrated Coleman and Stetson. All he had to do was in the first place to keep bright and clean the three huge coppers or cauldrons, in which many hundred pounds of beef were daily boiled.

Starting point is 02:26:43 To this end, rosewater, sunshine, and May Day every morning, sprang into their respective apartments, stripped to the, the waste and well provided with bits of soapstone and sand. By exercising these in a very vigorous manner, they threw themselves into a violent perspiration and put a fine polish upon the interior of the coppers. Sunshine was the bard of the trio, and while all three would be busily employed clattering their soapstones against the metal, he would exhilarate them with some remarkable Saint-Domingo melodies, one of which was the following. Oh, I lost my shoe in an old canoe.

Starting point is 02:27:27 Johnny O, come win'em so. Oh, I lost my boot in a pilot boat. Johnny O come win'em so. Then rub a-dub de copper-o, o'-coper-dub-a-o. When I listen to these jolly Africans, thus making gleeful their toil by their cheering songs, I could not help murmuring against that immemorable rule of men of war, which forbids the sailors to sing out, as in merchant vessels, when pulling ropes, or occupied at any other ship's duty.

Starting point is 02:28:03 Your only music, at such times, is the shrill pipe of the bosons' mate, which is almost worse than no music at all. And if the boatswain's maid is not by, you must pull the ropes like convicts in profound silence, or else endeavor to impart unity to the exertions of all hands, by singing out mechanically, one, two, three, and then pulling all together. Now, when sunshine, rose water, and May Day have so polished the ship's coppers that a white kid glove might be drawn along the inside and show no stain,

Starting point is 02:28:40 they leap out of their holes and the water is poured in for the coffee. And the coffee being boiled and decanted off in bucketfuls, the cooks of the messes march up with their salt beef for dinner, strung upon strings and tallied with labels, all of which are plunged together into the self-same coppers and there boiled. When upon the beef being fished out with a huge pitchfork, the water for the evening's tea is poured in, which consequently possesses a flavor not unlike that of shank soup.

Starting point is 02:29:15 From this it will be seen that so far as cooking is concerned, a cook of the mess has very little to do, merely carrying his provisions to and from the grand democratic cookery. Still, in some things, his office involves many annoyances. Twice a week, butter and cheese are served out, so much to each man, and the mess cook has the sole charge of these delicacies. The great difficulty consists in so catering for the mess, touching these luxuries as to satisfy all. Some guzzlers are for devouring the butter at a meal and finishing off with the cheese the same day.

Starting point is 02:29:59 Others contend for saving it up against Banyan Day when there is nothing but beef and bread. And others, again, are for taking a very small bit of butter and cheese by way of dessert to each and every meal through the week. All this gives rise to endless disputes. debates, and altercations. Sometimes, with his mess cloth, a square of painted canvas, set out on deck between the guns, garnished with pots and pans and kids, you see the mess cook seated on a match tub at its head,

Starting point is 02:30:34 his trouser legs rolled up and arms bared, presiding over the convivial party. Now, men, you can't have any butter today. I'm saving it up for tomorrow. You don't know the value of butter, men. You, Jim, take your hoof off the cloth. Devil take me if some of you chaps haven't no more manners than so many swines. Quick, men, quick, bear a hand and scoff.

Starting point is 02:30:58 Eat, away. I've got my tomorrow's duff to make yet, and some of you fellows keep scoffing as if I had nothing to do but sit still here on this here tub here and look on. There, there, men. You've all had enough, so sail away out of this and let me clear up the wreck. In this strain, would one of the periodical cooks of mess number 15 talk to us. He was a tall, resolute fellow who had once been a brakeman on a railroad, and he kept us all pretty straight.

Starting point is 02:31:28 From his fiat, there was no appeal. But it was not thus when the turn came to others among us. Then it was look out for squalls. The business of dining became a bore, and digestion was seriously impaired by the unamiable discourse we had over our salt horse. I sometimes thought that the junks of lean pork, which were boiled in their own bristles, and looked gaunt and grim like pickled chins of half-famished, unwashed Cossacks, had something to do with creating the bristling bitterness at times prevailing in our mess.

Starting point is 02:32:06 The men tore off the tough hide from their pork as if they were Indians, scalping Christians, Some cursed the cook for a rogue who kept from us our butter and cheese in order to make away with it himself in an underhand manner, selling it at a premium to other messes, and thus accumulating a princely fortune at our expense. Others anathematized him for his slovenliness, casting hypercritical glances into their pots and pans and scraping them with their knives. then he would be railed at for his miserable duffs and other shortcoming preparations. Marking all this from the beginning, I, Whitejacket, was sorely troubled with the idea that, in the course of time, my own turn would come around to undergo the same objurgations, how to escape, I knew not. However, when the dreaded period arrived, I received the keys of office, the keys of the mess chest, with a resigned temper and offered up a devout ejaculation of fortitude under the trial.

Starting point is 02:33:16 I resolved, please heaven, to approve myself an unexceptionable caterer and the most impartial of stewards. The first day there was duff to make, a business which devolved upon the mess cooks, though the boiling of it pertained to old coffee and his deputies. I made up my mind to lay myself out on that duff, to center all my energies upon it, to put the very soul of art into it, and achieve an unrivaled duff, a duff that should put out of conceit all other duffs, and forever make my administration memorable. From the proper functionary the flower was obtained, and the raisins, the beef fat or slush from old coffee, and the requisite supply of water from the scuttlebutt.

Starting point is 02:34:08 then went among the various cooks to compare their receipts for making duffs, and having well weighed them all and gathered from each a choice item to make an original receipt of my own, with due deliberation and solemnity, I proceeded to business, placing the component parts in a tin pan, I needed them together for an hour, entirely reckless as to pulmonary considerations, touching the ruinous expenditure of breath, and having decanted the semi-liquid dough into a canvas bag, secured the muzzle, tied on the tally, and delivered it to Rosewater,

Starting point is 02:34:47 who dropped the precious bag into the coppers, along with a score or two of others. Eight bells had struck. The boatswain and his mates had piped the hands to dinner. My mess cloth was set out, and my messmates were assembled, knife in hand, all ready to precipitate themselves upon the devoted duff. Waiting at the grand cookery till my turn came, I received the bag of pudding and gallanting it into

Starting point is 02:35:15 the mess, proceeded to loosen the string. It was an anxious, I may say, a fearful moment. My hands trembled, every eye was upon me. My reputation and credit were at stake. Slowly I undressed the duff, dandling it upon me. my knee, much as a nurse does a baby about bedtime. The excitement increased as I curled down the bag from the pudding. It became intense when at last I plumped it into the pan, held up to receive it by an eager hand. Bim! It fell like a man shot down in a riot. Distraction. It was harder

Starting point is 02:35:54 than a sinner's heart, yea, tough as the cock that crowed on the morn that Peter told a lie. gentlemen of the mess for heaven's sake permit me one word i have done my duty by that duff i have but they beat down my excuses with a storm of criminations one present proposed that the fatal pudding should be tied around my neck like a millstone and myself pushed overboard no use no use i had failed ever after that duff lay heavy at my stomach and my heart after this i grew desperate despised popularity returned scorn for scorn till at length my week expired and in the duff-bag i transferred the keys of office to the next man on the roll somehow there had never been a very cordial feeling between this mess and me all along they had nourished a prejudice against my white jacket they must have harboured the silly fancy that in it i gave myself airs and wore it in order to look consequential perhaps as a cloak to cover pilferings of tit-bits from the mess. But to out with the plain truth, they themselves were not a very irreproachable set. Considering the sequel I am coming to, this avowal may be deemed sheer malice, but for all that I cannot avoid speaking my mind.

Starting point is 02:37:27 After my week of office, the mess gradually changed their behavior to me. They cut me to the heart. They became cold and reserved, seldom or never addressed me at meal times without invidious illusions to my duff, and also to my jacket, and it's dripping in wet weather upon the messcloth. However, I had no idea that anything serious on their part was brewing, but alas, so it turned out. We were assembled at supper one evening when I noticed certain winks and silent hints tipped to the cook who presided. He was a little oily fellow who had once kept an oyster cellar ashore. He bore me a grudge. Looking down on the mess cloth, he observed that some fellows

Starting point is 02:38:15 never knew when their room was better than their company. This being a maxim of indiscriminate application, of course I silently assented to it, as any other reasonable man would have done, but this remark was followed up by another, to the effect that not only did some fellows never know when their room was better than their company, but they persisted in staying when their company wasn't wanted, and by so doing disturbed the serenity of society at large. But this also was a general observation that could not be gained, said. A long and ominous pause ensued,

Starting point is 02:38:54 during which I perceived every eye upon me and my white jacket. while the cook went on to enlarge upon the disagreeableness of a perpetually damp garment in the mess, especially when that garment was white, this was coming nearer home. Yes, they were going to blackball me, but I resolved to sit it out a little longer, never dreaming that my moralist would proceed to extremities while all hands were present. But be thinking him that by going this roundabout way he would never get at his eyes, object, he went off on another tack, apprising me in substance, that he was instructed by the whole mess then and there assembled, to give me warning to seek out another club, as they did not

Starting point is 02:39:41 longer fancy the society either of myself or my jacket. I was shocked. Such a want of tact and delicacy, common propriety suggested that a point-blank intimation of that nature should be conveyed in a private interview, or, still better, by note. I immediately rose, tucked my jacket about me, bowed and departed. And now, to do myself justice, I must add that the next day I was received with open arms by a glorious set of fellows, mess number one, number one, numbering among the rest, my noble Captain Jack Chase. This mess was principally composed of the headmost men of the gun deck, and out of a pardonable self-conceit they called themselves the 42-pounder club,

Starting point is 02:40:36 meaning that they were, one and all, fellows of large intellectual and corporeal caliber. Their mess cloth was well located. On their starboard hand was mess number two, embracing sundry rare jokers and high livers, who waxed gay and epicurean over their salt fare, and were known as the Society for the Destruction of Beef and Pork. On the larboard hand was mess number 31, made up entirely of foretopmen, a dashing blaze-away set of men-of-war's men,

Starting point is 02:41:10 who called themselves the Cape Horn snorters and Never Sink Invincibles. Opposite was one of the marine messes, mustering the aristocrats, of the Marine Corps, the two corporals, the drummer and Pfeiffer, and some six or eight rather gentlemanly privates, native-born Americans who had served in the seminal campaigns of Florida. And they now enlivened their salt fare with stories of wild ambushes in the Everglades. And one of them related a surprising tale of his hand-to-hand encounter

Starting point is 02:41:44 with Osceola, the Indian chief, whom he fought one morning from daybreak till breakfast time. This slashing private also boasted that he could take a chip from between your teeth at 20 paces. He offered to bet any amount on it, and as he could get no one to hold the chip, his boast remained forever good. Besides many other attractions which the 42-pounder club furnished, it had this one special advantage that, owing to there being so many petty officers in it, all the members of the mess were exempt from doing duty as co-eastern. and stewards. A fellow called a steady cook attended to that business during the entire cruise. He was a long, length pallid varlet going by the name of shanks. In very warm weather, this shanks would sit

Starting point is 02:42:36 at the foot of the mess cloth, fanning himself with the front flap of his frock or shirt, which he inelegantly wore over his trousers. Jack Chase, the president of the club, frequently remonstrated against this breach of good manners. But the steady cook had somehow contracted the habit, and it proved incurable. For a time, Jack Chase, out of a polite nervousness, touching myself as a newly elected member of the club, would frequently endeavor to excuse to me the vulgarity of Shanks.

Starting point is 02:43:13 One day he wound up his remarks by the philosophic reflection but White Jacket, my dear fellow, what can you expect of him? Our real misfortune is that our noble club should be obliged to dine with its cook. There were several of these steady cooks on board, men of no mark or consideration whatever in the ship, lost to all noble promptings, sighing for no worlds to conquer, and perfectly contented with mixing their duffs and spreading their mess-cloths and mustering their pots and pans together three times every day for a three years cruise. They were very seldom to be seen on the spar deck, but kept below out of sight.

Starting point is 02:44:00 End of chapters 14 and 15. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 16 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. all Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 16. General Training in a Man of War

Starting point is 02:44:48 To a quiet, contemplative character, a verse to uproar, undue exercise of his bodily members and all kind of useless confusion, nothing can be more distressing than a proceeding in all men of war called general quarters, and well may it be so called, since it amounts to a general drawing and quartering of all the parties concerned. As the specific object for which a man of war is built and put into commission is to fight and fire off cannon, it is, of course, deemed indispensable that the crew should be duly instructed in the art and mystery involved. Hence these general quarters, which is a mustering of all hands to their stations at the guns on the several decks, and a sort of sham fight with an imaginary foe.

Starting point is 02:45:43 The summons is given by the ship's drummer, who strikes a peculiar beat, short, broken, rolling, shuffling, like the sound made by the march into battle of iron-heeled grenadiers. It is a regular tune, with a fine song composed to it. The words of the chorus, being most artistically arranged, may give some idea of the air. Hearts of Oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men. We always are ready, steady, boys, steady, to fight and to conquer again and again. In warm weather, this pastime at the guns is exceedingly unpleasant, to say the least, and throws a quiet man into a violent passion and perspiration.

Starting point is 02:46:32 For one, I ever abominated it. I have a heart like Julius Caesar, and upon occasions would fight like Caius Marcius Coriolanus. If my beloved and forever glorious country should be ever in jeopardy from invaders, let Congress put me on a warhorse in the vanguard, and then see how I will acquit myself. But to toil and sweat in a fictitious encounter, to squander the precious breath of my precious body in a ridiculous fight of shams and pretensions,

Starting point is 02:47:08 to hurry about the deck pretending to carry the killed and wounded below, to be told that I must consider the ship blowing up in order to exercise myself and presence of mind, and prepare for a real explosion. All this I despise, as beneath a true tar and man of valor. These were my sentiments at the time, and these remain my sentiments still. But as, while on board the frigate, my liberty of thought did not extend to liberty of expression, I was obliged to keep these sentiments to myself, though, indeed, I had some thoughts of addressing a letter,

Starting point is 02:47:46 marked private and confidential, to his honor the Commodore on the subject. My station at the batteries was at one of the 32-pound caranades on the starboard side of the quarter-deck. Footnote 1. For the benefit of a Quaker reader here and there, a word or two in explanation of a caronade may not be amiss. The caronade is a gun comparatively short and light for its caliber. A carronade throwing a 32-pound shot weighs considerably less than a long gun only throwing a 24-pound shot. It further differs from a long gun in working with a joint and bolt underneath instead of the short arms or trunnions at the sides. Its carriage, likewise, is quite different from that of a long gun,

Starting point is 02:48:42 having a sort of sliding apparatus, something like an extension dining table. The goose on it, however, is a tough one, and villainously stuffed with most indigestible dumplings. Point-blank, the range of a carinate does not exceed 150 yards, much less than the range of a long gun. When of large caliber, however, it throws within that limit, peasant shot all manner of shells and combustibles with great effect, being a very destructive engine at close quarters. This piece is now very generally found mounted in the batteries of the English and American navies. The quarter-deck armaments of most modern frigates wholly consist of caronades. The name is derived from the village of Karen in Scotland,

Starting point is 02:49:35 at whose celebrated foundries this iron attila was first cast. I did not fancy this station at all, for it is well known on shipboard that, in time of action, the quarter-deck is one of the most dangerous posts of a man of war. The reason is that the officers of the highest rank are there stationed, and the enemy have an ungentlemanly way of target shooting at their buttons. If we should chance to engage a ship, then who could tell but some bungling small-arm marksmen in the enemy's tops might put a bullet through me instead of the Commodore. If they hit him, no doubt he would not feel it much, for he was used to that sort of thing,

Starting point is 02:50:22 and indeed had a bullet in him already, whereas I was altogether unaccustomed to having blue pills playing round my head in such an indiscriminate way. Besides, ours was a flagship, and everyone knows what a peculiarly dangerous predicament the quarter-deck of Nelson's flagship was in at the battle. of Trafalgar, how the lofty tops of the enemy were full of soldiers peppering away at the English Admiral and his officers. Many a poor sailor at the guns of that quarter-deck must have received a bullet intended for some wearer of an epaulet. By candidly confessing my feelings on this subject, I do by no means invalidate my claims to being held a man of prodigious valor. I merely state

Starting point is 02:51:13 my invincible repugnance to being shot for somebody else. If I am shot, be it with the express understanding in the shooter that I am the identical person intended so to be served. That Thracian, who, with his compliments, sent an arrow into the King of Macedon, superscribed for Philip's right eye, set a fine example to all warriors. The hurried, hasty, indiscriminate, reckless, abandoned manner in which both sailors and soldiers nowadays fight is really painful to any serious-minded, methodical old gentleman, especially if he chants to have systematized his mind as an accountant. There is little or no skill and bravery about it.

Starting point is 02:52:00 Two parties, armed with lead and old iron, enveloped themselves in a cloud of smoke and pitch their lead and old iron about in all directions. If you happen to be in the way, you are hit, possibly killed, if not you escape. In sea actions, if by good or bad luck, as the case may be, a round shot, fired at random through the smoke, happens to send overboard your foremast, another to unship your rudder.

Starting point is 02:52:33 There you lie crippled, pretty much at the mercy of your foe, who accordingly pronounces himself Victor, though that honor properly belongs to the law of gravitation, operating on the enemy's balls in the smoke. Instead of tossing this old lead and iron into the air, therefore, it would be much better amicably to toss up a copper and let heads win. The caranade at which I was stationed was known as gun number five on the first lieutenant's quarter bill.

Starting point is 02:53:07 Among our guns crew, however, it was known as Blackbet. This name was bestowed by the captain of the gun, a fine negro, in honor of his sweetheart, a colored lady of Philadelphia. Of black bet, I was rammer and sponger, and ram and sponge I did, like a good fellow. I have no doubt that had I and my gun been at the Battle of the Nile, we would mutually have immortalized ourselves. The ramming pole would have been hung up in Westminster Abbey, and I, ennobled by the king, besides receiving the illustrious honor of an autograph

Starting point is 02:53:45 letter from his majesty through the perfumed right hand of his private secretary. But it was terrible work to help run in and out of the porthole that amazing mass of metal, especially as the thing must be cloned in a trice. Then, at the summons of a horrid rasping rattle swayed by the captain in person, we were made to rush from our guns, seize pikes and pistols, and repel an imaginary army of borders, who, by a fiction of the officers were supposed to be assailing all sides of the ship at once. After cutting and slashing at them a while, we jumped back to our guns and again went to jerking our elbows.

Starting point is 02:54:31 Meantime, a loud cry is heard of, fire, fire, fire! in the foretop, and a regular engine, worked by a set of Bowery boy tars, is forthwith set to playing streams of water aloft, and now it is fire, fire, fire, on the main deck, and the entire ship is in as great a commotion as if a whole city ward were in a blaze. Are our officers of the Navy utterly unacquainted with the laws of good health? Do they not know that this violent exercise taking place

Starting point is 02:55:09 just after a hearty dinner, as it generally does, is imminently calculated to breed the disqualified. to breed the dyspepsia? There was no satisfaction in dining. The flavor of every mouthful was destroyed by the thought that the next moment the cannonating drum might be beating to quarters. Such a C. Martinet was our captain

Starting point is 02:55:32 that sometimes we were roused from our hammocks at night when a scene would ensue that it is not in the power of pen and ink to describe. Five hundred men spring to their feet, feet, dress themselves, take up their bedding, and run to the nettings, and stow it. Then he to their stations, each man jostling his neighbor, some aloe, some aloft, some this way, some that, and in less than five minutes, the frigate is ready for action, and still as the grave. Almost every man precisely where he would be where an enemy actually about to be engaged.

Starting point is 02:56:10 The gunner, like a Cornwall miner in a cave, is burrowing down in the magazine under the wardroom, which is lighted by battle lanterns, placed behind glazed glass bull's eyes inserted in the bulkhead. The powder monkeys, or boys who fetch and carry cartridges, are scampering to and fro among the guns, and the first and second loaders stand ready to receive their supplies. These powder monkeys, as they are called, enact a curious part in time of action. The entrance to the magazine on the berth deck, where they procure their food for the guns, is guarded by a woollen screen, and a gunner's mate standing behind it thrusts out the cartridges through a small armhole in this screen.

Starting point is 02:57:00 The enemy's shot, perhaps red-hot, are flying in all directions, and to protect their cartridges the powder monkeys hurriedly wrap them up in their jackets, and with all haste scramble up the ladders to their respective guns, like eating-house waiters hurrying along with hotcakes for breakfast. At general quarters, the shot boxes are uncovered, showing the grape shot, aptly so-called, for they precisely resemble bunches of the fruit, though to receive a bunch of iron grapes in the abdomen

Starting point is 02:57:33 would be but a sorry dessert, and also showing the canister shot, old iron of various sorts, packed in a tin case like a tea caddy. Imagine some midnight craft sailing down on her enemy thus, 24-pounders leveled, matches lighted, and each captain of his gun at his post. But if verily going into action, then, would the Never Sink have made still further preparations? For however alike in some things, there is always a... vast difference, if you sound them, between a reality and a sham. Not to speak of the pale sternness of the men at their guns at such a juncture, and the choked thoughts at their hearts, the ship

Starting point is 02:58:18 itself would here and there present a far different appearance. Something like that of an extensive mansion preparing for a grand entertainment. When folding doors are withdrawn, chambers converted into drawing rooms, and every inch of available space thrown into one continuous hole. For previous to an action, every bulkhead in a man of war is knocked down. Great guns are run out of the Commodore's parlor windows. Nothing separates the wardroom officers' quarters from those of the men, but an ensign used for a curtain. The sailors' mess chests are tumbled down into the hold, and the hospital cuts, of which all men of war carry a large supply, are dragged forth from the sail room and piled near at hand to receive the wounded.

Starting point is 02:59:09 Amputation tables are ranged in the cockpit or in the tiers, whereon to carve the bodies of the maimed. The yards are slung in chains, fire screens distributed here and there, hillocks of cannonballs piled between the guns. Shot plugs suspended within easy, reach from the beams, and solid masses of wad's biggest Dutch cheeses braced to the cheeks of the gun carriages. No small difference also would be visible in the wardrobe of both officers and men.

Starting point is 02:59:44 The officers generally fight as dandy's dance, namely in silk stockings. Inasmuch, as in case of being wounded in the leg, the silk hose can be more easily drawn off by the surgeon. Cotton sticks and works into the wound. An economical captain while taking care to case his legs in silk might yet see fit to save his best suit and fight in his old clothes. For besides that an old garment might much better be cut to pieces than a new one, it must be a mighty disagreeable thing to dye in a stiff, tight-breasted coat, not yet work easy under the armpits. At such times a man should feel free, unencumbered and perfectly at ease in point of straps and suspenders. No ill will concerning his tailor should intrude upon his thoughts of eternity.

Starting point is 03:00:40 Seneca understood this when he chose to die naked in a bath, and men of war's men understand it also, for most of them in battle stripped to the waistbands, wearing nothing but a pair of duck trousers and a handkerchief round their head. A captain combining a heedful patriotism with economy would probably bend his old top sails before going into battle instead of exposing his best canvas to be riddled to pieces. For it is generally the case that the enemy's shot flies high. Unless allowance is made for it in pointing the tube at long gun distance,

Starting point is 03:01:20 the slightest roll of the ship at the time of firing would send a shot meant for the hull high over the top gallant yards. But besides these differences between a sham fight at general quarters and a real cannonating, the aspect of the ship at the beating of the retreat would in the latter case be very dissimilar to the neatness and uniformity in the former. Then our bulwarks might look like the walls of the houses in West Broadway in New York after being broken into and burned out by the Negro mob. Our stout masts and yards might be lying about decks like tree boughs after a tornado

Starting point is 03:02:05 in a piece of woodland. Our dangling ropes cut and sundered in all directions would be bleeding tar at every yard and strew with jagged splinters from our wounded planks, the gun deck might resemble a carpenter shop. Then, when all was over and all hands would be piped to take down the hammocks from the exposed nettings, where they play the part of the cotton bales at New Orleans, we might find bits of broken shot, iron bolts, and bullets in our blankets.

Starting point is 03:02:37 And while smeared with blood like butchers, the surgeon and his mates, would be amputating arms and legs on the birth deck, an underling of the carpenter's gang would be new-legging and arming the broken chairs and tables in the Commodore's cabin, while the rest of his squad would be splicing and fishing the shattered masts and yards. The scupper holes, having discharged the last rivulet of blood, the decks would be washed down, and the galley cooks would be going for and aft, sprinkling them with hot vinegar, to take out the shambles' smell from the planks. which, unless some such means are employed,

Starting point is 03:03:17 often create a highly offensive effluvia for weeks after a fight. Then, upon mustering the men and calling the quarter-bills by the light of a battle-lantern, many a wounded seaman with his arm in a sling, would answer for some poor shipmate who could never more make answer for himself. Tom Brown. Killed, sir. Jack Jewel Killed Sir

Starting point is 03:03:46 Joe Hardy Killed Sir And opposite all these poor fellow's names Down would go on the quarter bills The bloody marks of red ink A murderous fluid Fitly used on these occasions End of Chapter 16

Starting point is 03:04:08 Recording by James K. White Chula Vista Chapter 17 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 17.

Starting point is 03:04:49 away, second, third, and fourth cutters away. It was the morning succeeding one of these general quarters that we picked up a life buoy described floating by. It was a circular mass of cork, about eight inches thick and four feet in diameter, covered with tarred canvas. All round its circumference there trailed a number of knotted ropes' ends, terminating in fanciful turks heads. These were the lifelines for the drowning to clutch.

Starting point is 03:05:24 Inserted into the middle of the cork was an upright carved pole somewhat shorter than a pike staff. The whole buoy was embossed with barnacles and its sides festooned with seaweeds. Dolphins were sporting and flashing around it and one white bird was hovering over the top of the pole. long ago this thing must have been thrown overboard to save some poor wretch who must have been drowned while even the life buoy itself had drifted away out of sight the forecastlemen fished it up from the bows and the seamen thronged round it bad luck bad luck cried the captain of the head we'll number one less before long

Starting point is 03:06:10 the ship's cooper strolled by he to whose department it belongs to see that the ship's life buoys are kept in good order in men of war night and day week in and week out two life buoys are kept depending from the stern and two men with hatchets in their hands pace up and down ready at the first cry to cut the cord and drop the buoys overboard every two hours they are regularly relieved like sentinels on god No similar precautions are adopted in the merchant or whaling service. Thus deeply solicitous to preserve human life are the regulations of men of war. And seldom has there been a better illustration of this solicitude than at the Battle of Trafalgar, when after several thousand French seamen had been destroyed, according to Lord Collingwood, and by the official returns, 1690 Englishmen, were killed or wounded.

Starting point is 03:07:12 The captains of the surviving ships ordered the life-buy's sentries from their death-dealing guns to their vigilant posts as officers of the Humane Society. There, Bungs, cried Scrimmage, a sheet-anchorman. There's a good pattern for you.

Starting point is 03:07:30 Make us a brace of life-buies like that. Something that will save a man and not fill and sink under him as those leaky quarter-casts of yours will the first time there's occasion to drop earn. I came near pitching off the boughsprit the other day, and when I scrambled in board again, I went aft to get a squint at them.

Starting point is 03:07:49 Why, bungs, they are all open between the staves. Shame on you. Suppose you yourself should fall overboard and find yourself going down with buoys under you of your own making. What then? Footnote. In addition to the bower anchors carried on her boughs, a frigate carries large anchors in her forechains called sheet anchors. Hence, the old seaman stationed in that part of a man of war are called sheet anchorman.

Starting point is 03:08:19 I never go aloft and don't intend to fall overboard, replied Bungs. Don't believe it, cried the sheet anchorman. You lopers that live about the decks here are nearer the bottom of the sea than the light hand that loses the main royal. mind your eye, Bungs, mind your eye. I will, retorted Bungs, and you mind yours. Next day, just at dawn, I was startled from my hammock by the cry of all hands about ship and shortened sail. Springing up the ladders, I found that an unknown man had fallen overboard from the chains, and darting a glance toward the poop,

Starting point is 03:09:04 perceived from their gestures that the life sentries there had cut away the buoys. It was blowing a fresh breeze. The frigate was going fast through the water, but the 1,000 arms of 500 men soon tossed her about on the other tack and checked her further headway. Do you see him? shouted the officer of the watch through his trumpet, hailing the main mastman. Man or buoy, do you see either? See nothing, sir. was the reply.

Starting point is 03:09:36 Clear away the cutters, was the next order. Bugler, call away the second, third, and fourth cutters cruise. Hands by the tackles. In less than three minutes, the three boats were down. More hands were wanted in one of them, and, among others, I jumped in to make up the deficiency. Now men give way, and each man look out along his oar, and look sharp, cried the officer of our boat,

Starting point is 03:10:02 for a time in perfect sense. silence. We slid up and down the great seething swells of the sea, but saw nothing. There, it's no use, cried the officer. He's gone, whoever he is. Pull away, men. Pull away. They'll be recalling us soon. Let him drown, cried the strokesman. He spoiled my watch below for me. Who the devil is he? cried another. He's one who'll never have a coffin, replied a third. no no they'll never sing out all hands buried the dead for him my hearties cried a fourth silence said the officer and look along your oars but the sixteen oarsmen still continued their talk and after pulling about for two or three hours we spied the recall signal at the frigate's four to gallant mast-head and returned on board having seen no sign even of the life buoys the boats were hoisted up the yards braced forward and away we bowled one man less muster all hands was now the order when upon calling the roll to cooper was the only man missing

Starting point is 03:11:16 i told you so men cried the captain of the head i said we would lose a man before long bungs is it cried scrimmage the sheet anchorman i told him his buoys wouldn't save a drowning man and now he has proved it. End of Chapter 17. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 18 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 03:12:09 Recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville Chapter 18 A Man of War Full as a Nut It was necessary to supply the Lost Cooper's place Accordingly word was passed for all who belonged to that calling To muster at the mainmast

Starting point is 03:12:36 In order that one of them might be selected 13 men obeyed the summons, a circumstance illustrative of the fact that many good handicraftsmen are lost to their trades and the world by serving in men of war. Indeed, from a frigate's crew might be culled out men of all callings and vocations, from a backslidden parson to a broken-down comedian. The Navy is the asylum for the perverse, the home of the unfortunate. Here the sons of adversity meet the children of calamity, and here the children of calamity meet the offspring of sin. Bankrupt brokers, boot blacks, black legs, and blacksmiths here assemble together, and cast away tinkers, watchmakers, quill drivers, cobblers, doctors, farmers, and lawyers, compare past experiences and talk of old times.

Starting point is 03:13:35 wrecked on a desert shore, a man-of-war's crew could quickly found in Alexandria by themselves and fill it with all the things which go to make a capital. Frequently, at one and the same time, you see every trade and operation on the gun deck, coopering, carpentering, tailoring, tinkering, blacksmithing, rope-making, preaching, gambling, and fortune-telling. In truth, a man of war is a city afloat, with long avenues set out with guns instead of trees, and numerous shady lanes, courts, and byways. The quarter-deck is a grand square, park, or parade ground, with a great Pittsfield elm in the shape of the main mast at one end,

Starting point is 03:14:26 and fronted at the other by the palace of the commodore's cabin. Or rather, a man of war is a lofty, walled, and garrisoned town, like Quebec, where the thoroughfares and mostly ramparts and peaceable citizens meet armed sentries at every corner. Or it is like the lodging houses in Paris turned upside down. The first floor or deck being rented by a lord, the second by a select club of gentlemen, the third by crowd, by crowd, by crowd, crowds of artisans, and the fourth by a whole rabble of common people. For even thus is it in a frigate, where the commander has a whole cabin to himself and the spar deck, the lieutenants their wardroom underneath, and the mass of sailors swing their hammocks under all. And with its long rows of porthole casements, each revealing the muzzle of a cannon, a man-of-war resembles a three-story

Starting point is 03:15:29 house in a suspicious part of the town, with a basement of indefinite depth and ugly-looking fellows gazing out at the windows. End of Chapter 18. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 19 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 03:16:15 Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 19. The Jacket Aloft Again must I call attention to my white jacket, which about this time came near being the death of me. I am of a meditative humor, and at sea used often to mount aloft at night, and seating myself on one of the upper yards, tuck my jacket about me, and give loose to reflection. In some ships in which I have done this, the sailors used to fancy that I must be studying astronomy, which indeed to some extent was the case, and that my object in mounting aloft was to get a nearer view of the stars,

Starting point is 03:17:06 supposing me, of course, to be short-sighted. A very silly conceit of theirs, some may say, but not so silly after all, for surely the advantage of getting nearer an object by 200 feet is not to be underrated. Then, to study the stars upon the wide, boundless sea is divine as it was to the Chaldean magi who observe their revolutions from the plains.

Starting point is 03:17:34 And it is a very fine, feeling and one that fuses us into the universe of things and mates us a part of the all to think that wherever we ocean wanderers rove, we have still the same glorious old stars to keep us company, that they still shine onward and on, forever beautiful and bright, and luring us by every ray to die and be glorified with them. I, I, we sailors sail not in vain, we, sailors, sail not in vain, we expatriate ourselves to nationalize with the universe, and in all our voyages round the world we are still accompanied by those old circumnavigators, the stars,

Starting point is 03:18:18 who are shipmates and fellow sailors of ours, sailing in heavens blue as we on the azure main. Let genteel generations scoff at our hardened hands and fingernails tipped with tar. Did they ever clasped truer palms than I? hours? Let them feel of our sturdy hearts beating like sledgehammers in those hot smithes, our bosoms. With their amber-headed canes, let them feel of our generous pulses, and swear that they go off like 32-pounders. Oh, give me again the rover's life, the joy, the thrill,

Starting point is 03:18:57 the whirl. Let me feel thee again, old sea. Let me leap into thy saddle once more. i am sick of these terra firma toils and cares sick of the dust and reek of towns let me hear the clatter of hailstones on icebergs and not the dull tramp of these plotters plotting their dull way from their cradles to their graves let me snuff thee up sea-breeze and winnie in thy spray forbid it sea-gods intercede for me with neptune O sweet amphitrite, That no dull clad may fall on my coffin. Be mine, the tomb that swallowed up Pharaoh, And all his hosts. Let me lie down with Drake, where he sleeps in the sea.

Starting point is 03:19:52 But when White Jacket speaks of the rover's life, He means not life in a man of war, Which, with its martial formalities and thousand vices, Stabs to the heart the soul of all free and easy, honorable rovers. I have said that I was wont to mount up aloft and muse, and thus was it with me the night following the loss of the Cooper. Air my watch and the top had expired, high up on the main royal yard, I reclined, the white jacket folded around me like Sir John Moore in his frosted cloak. Eight bells had struck, and my watchmates had hide to their hammocks, and the other watch

Starting point is 03:20:34 had gone to their stations. And the top, below me, was full of strangers, and still one hundred feet above even them, I lay entranced. Now dozing, now dreaming, now thinking of things past, and anon of the life to come. Well-timed was the latter thought, for the life to come was much nearer overtaking me than I then could imagine.

Starting point is 03:20:58 Perhaps I was half-conscious, at last, of a tremulous voice hailing the main royal yard, from the top. But if so, the consciousness glided away from me and left me in leithy. But when, like lightning, the yard dropped under me. And instinctively I clung with both hands to the tie. Then I came to myself with a rush and felt something like a choking hand at my throat. For an instant I thought the gulf stream in my head was whirling me away to eternity. but the next moment I found myself standing, the yard had descended to the cup. And shaking myself in my jacket, I felt that I was unharmed and alive.

Starting point is 03:21:43 Who had done this? Who had made this attempt on my life, thought I, as I ran down the rigging? Here it comes. Lord, Lord, here it comes. See, see, it is white as a hammock. Who's coming? I shouted, springing down into the top, "'Who's white as a hammock?' "'Bless my soul, Bill, it's only white jacket,

Starting point is 03:22:08 "'that infernal white jacket again. "'It seems they had spied a moving white spot there aloft, "'and, sailor-like, had taken me for the ghost of the Cooper. "'And after hailing me and bidding me descend "'to test my corporeality, "'and getting no answer, they had lowered the haliards in a fright. In a rage I tore off the jacket and threw it on the deck. Jacket! cried I.

Starting point is 03:22:38 You must change your complexion. You must hide to the diers and be dyed that I may live. I have but one poor life, White Jacket, and that life I cannot spare. I cannot consent to die for you, but be died you must for me. You can die many times without injury, but I cannot die without irreparable loss and running the eternal risk. so in the morning jacket in hand i repaired to the first lieutenant and related the narrow escape i had had during the night i enlarged upon the general perils i ran in being taken for a ghost and earnestly besought him to relax his commands for once and give me an order on brush the captain of the paint room for some black paint that my jacket might be painted of that color just look at it sir i added holding it lip. Did you ever see anything whiter? Consider how it shines of a night like a bit of the

Starting point is 03:23:39 milky way. A little paint, sir, you cannot refuse. The ship has no paint to spare, he said. You must get along without it. Sir, every rain gives me a soaking. Cape Horn is at hand, six brushes full would make it waterproof, and no longer would I be in peril of my life. Can't help it, sir, depart. I fear it. I fear it will not be well with me in the end. For if my own sins are to be forgiven only as I forgive that hard-hearted and unimpressible First Lieutenant, then pardon there is none for me. What when but one dab of paint would make a man of a ghost, and at Macintosh of a herring net, to refuse it I am full.

Starting point is 03:24:27 I can say no more. End of Chapter 19. recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 20 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 03:25:09 White Jacket or The World and World and... in a man of war by Herman Melville. Chapter 20 How They Sleep in a Man of War No more of my luckless jacket for a while. Let me speak of my hammock and the tribulations I endured therefrom. Give me plenty of room to swing it in. Let me swing it between two date trees on an Arabian plain

Starting point is 03:25:39 or extend it diagonally from Moorish pillar to pillar. in the open marble court of the lions and granada's alhambra. Let me swing it on a high bluff of the Mississippi, one swing in the pure ether for every swing over the green grass, or let me oscillate in it beneath the cool dome of St. Peter's, or drop me in it as in a balloon from the zenith, with the whole firmament to rock and expatiate in. and I would not exchange my coarse canvas hammock for the grand state bed like a stately coach and floor

Starting point is 03:26:18 in which they tuck in a king when he passes a knight at Blenheim Castle. When you have the requisite room, you always have spreaders in your hammock, that is, two horizontal sticks, one at each end, which serve to keep the sides apart and create a wide vacancy between. wherein you can turn over and over, lay on this side or that, on your back, if you please. Stretch out your legs. In short, take your ease in your hammock. For of all ends, your bed is the best. But when, with 500 other hammocks, yours is crowded and jammed on all sides on a frigate berth deck,

Starting point is 03:27:04 the third from above, when spreaders are prohibited by an express edict from the captain's, cabin, and every man about you is jealously watchful of the rights and privileges of his own proper hammock as settled by law and usage. Then your hammock is your bastille and canvas jug, into which, or out of which, it is very hard to get, and where sleep is but a mockery and a name. Eighteen inches a man is all they allow you, 18 inches and width, in that you must swing. dreadful. They give you more swing than that at the gallows. During warm nights in the tropics, your hammock is as a stew pan, where you stew and stew till you can almost hear yourself hiss.

Starting point is 03:27:55 Vane are all stratagems to widen your accommodations. Let them catch you insinuating your boots or other articles in the head of your hammock by way of a spreader. Near and far, the whole rank and file of the road to which you belong feel the encroachment in an instant, and are clamorous till the guilty one is found out, and his palate brought back to its bearings. In platoons and squadrons, they all lie on a level, their hammock clues crossing and recrossing in all directions,

Starting point is 03:28:29 so as to present one vast field bed midway between the ceiling and the floor, which are about five feet asunder. One extremely warm night during a calm when it was so hot that only a skeleton could keep cool from the free current of air through its bones. After being drenched in my own perspiration, I managed to wedge myself out of my hammock and with what little strength I had left

Starting point is 03:28:56 lowered myself gently to the deck. Let me see now, thought I, whether my ingenuity cannot devise some method whereby I can have room to breathe and sleep at the same time. I have it. I will lower my hammock underneath all these others, and then, upon that separate and independent level at least, I shall have the whole berth-deck to myself. Accordingly, I lowered away my palate to the desired point

Starting point is 03:29:25 about three inches from the floor and crawled into it again. But alas, this arrangement made such a sweeping semi-eimilar, circle of my hammock, that while my head and feet were at par, the small of my back was settling down indefinitely. I felt as if some gigantic archer had hold of me for a bow. But there was another plan left. I triced up my hammock with all my strength so as to bring it wholly above the tears of pellets around me. This done, by a last effort, I hoisted myself into it, but alas, it was much worse to than before. My luckless hammock was stiff and straight as a board, and there I was, laid out in it with my nose against the ceiling, like a dead man's against the lid of his coffin. So at last I was

Starting point is 03:30:19 fain to return to my old level, and moralized upon the folly in all arbitrary governments, of striving to get either below or above those whom legislation has placed upon an equality with yourself. Speaking of hammocks, recalls a circumstance that happened one night in the Never Sink. It was three or four times repeated

Starting point is 03:30:41 with various but not fatal results. The watch below was fast asleep on the birth deck where perfect silence was raining when a sudden shock and a groan roused up all hands and the hymn of a pair of white trousers vanished up one of the ladders

Starting point is 03:30:59 at the four hatchway. We ran toward the groan and found a man lying on the deck, one end of his hammock having given way, pitching his head close to three-24-pound cannon shot, which must have been purposely placed in that position. When it was discovered that this man had long been suspected of being an informer among the crew, little surprise and less pleasure were evinced at his narrow escape. End of Chapter 20 Recording by James K. White Chula Vista

Starting point is 03:31:37 Chapter 21 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville.

Starting point is 03:32:16 Chapter 21 One reason why men of war's men are, generally, short-lived. I cannot quit this matter of the hammocks without making mention of a grievance among the sailors that ought to be redressed. In a man of war at sea, the sailors have watch and watch, that is, through every 24 hours, they are on and off duty every four hours. Now, the hammocks are piped down from the nettings, the open space for stowing them, running round the top of the bulwarks,

Starting point is 03:32:55 a little after sunset, and piped up again when the four-noon watch is called at 8 o'clock in the morning, so that during the daytime they are inaccessible as pallets. This would be all well enough, did the sailors have a complete night's rest, but every other night at sea, one watch have only four hours in their hammocks. Indeed, deducting the time allowed for the other watch to turn out, for yourself to arrange your hammock, get into it, and fairly get asleep, it may be said that every other night you have but three hours sleep in your hammock. Having then been on deck for twice four hours at eight

Starting point is 03:33:37 o'clock in the morning, your watch below comes round, and you are not liable to duty until noon. Under like circumstances, a merchant seaman goes to his bunk and has the benefit of a good, long sleep. But in a man of war, you can do no such thing. Your hammock is very neatly stowed in the nettings, and there it must remain till nightfall. But perhaps there is a corner for you somewhere along the batteries on the gun deck, where you may enjoy a snug nap. But as no one is allowed to recline on the larboard side of the gun deck, which is reserved as a corridor for the officers when they go forward to their smoking room at the bridle port, the starboard side only is left to the seaman. But most of this side also is occupied by the carpenters, sailmakers, barbers, and coopers.

Starting point is 03:34:33 In short, so few are the corners where you can snatch a nap during daytime in a frigate that not one in ten of the watch, who have been on deck eight hours, can get a wink of sleep till the following night. Repeatedly, after, by good fortune securing a corner, I have been roused from it by some functionary commissioned to keep it clear. Off Cape Horn, what before had been very uncomfortable, became a serious, hardship. Drenched through and through by the spray of the sea at night, I have sometimes slept standing on the spar deck, and shuddered as I slept, for the want of sufficient sleep in my hammock. During three days of the stormiest weather, we were given the privilege of the birth deck,

Starting point is 03:35:23 at other times strictly interdicted, where we were permitted to spread our jackets and take a nap in the morning after the eight hours night exposure. But this privilege was but a beggarly one, indeed. Not to speak of our jackets, used for blankets, being soaking wet, the spray, coming down the hatchways, kept the planks of the birth deck itself constantly wet. Whereas, had we been permitted our hammocks, we might have swung dry over all this deluge. But we endeavored to make ourselves

Starting point is 03:35:59 as warm and comfortable as possible, chiefly by close stowing, so as to generate a little steam in the absence of any fireside warmth. You have seen, perhaps, the way in which they box up subjects intended to illustrate the winter lectures of a professor of surgery.

Starting point is 03:36:18 Just so we laid, heel and point, face to back, dovetailed into each other at every ham and knee. The wet of our jackets, thus densely packed would soon begin to distill. But it was like pouring hot water on you to keep you from freezing. It was like being packed between the soaked sheets

Starting point is 03:36:39 and a water cure establishment. Such a posture could not be preserved for any considerable period without shifting side for side. Three or four times during the four hours I would be startled from a wet dose by the hoarse cry of a fellow who did the duty of a corporal at the after end of my file. Sleepers, ahoy! Stand by to slew round!

Starting point is 03:37:06 And with a double shuffle, we all rolled in concert and found ourselves facing the taffrail instead of the bow-spirit. But however you turned, your nose was sure to stick to one or other of the steaming backs on your two flanks. There was some little relief in the change of odor consequent upon this. But what is the reason that after battling out eight stormy hours on deck at night, men of wars men are not allowed the poor boon of a dry four hours nap during the day following? What is the reason?

Starting point is 03:37:42 The Commodore, Captain, and First Lieutenant, Chaplain, Pursar, and scores of others have all night in, just as if they were staying at a hotel on shore. And the junior lieutenants not only have their cots to go to at any time, but as only one of them is required to head the watch, and there are so many of them, among whom to divide that duty, they are only on deck four hours to twelve hours below. In some eases the proportion is still greater, whereas with the people, it is four hours in and four hours off continually.

Starting point is 03:38:21 What is the reason, then, that the common semen should fare so hard in this matter, it would seem but a simple thing to let them get down their hammocks during the day for a nap. But no, such a proceeding would mar the uniformity of daily events in a man-of-war. It seems indispensable to the picturesque effect of the spar deck that the hammocks should invariably remain stowed in the nettings between sunrise and sundown. But the chief reason is this, a reason which has sanctioned minion abuse in this world, precedents are against it. Such a thing as sailors sleeping in their hammocks in the daytime,

Starting point is 03:39:02 after being eight hours exposed to a night storm, was hardly ever heard of in the Navy. Though to the immortal honor of some captains be it said, the fact is upon Navy record that off Cape Horn, they have vouchsafed the morning hammocks to their crew. Heaven bless such tender-hearted officers, and may they and their descendants, a shore or afloat have sweet and pleasant slumbers while they live, and an undreaming siesta when they die.

Starting point is 03:39:34 It is concerning such things as the subject of this chapter that special enactments of Congress are demanded. Health and comfort, so far as duly attainable under the circumstances, should be legally guaranteed to the man-of-war's men, and not left to the discretion or caprice of their commanders. End of Chapter 21 Recording by James K. White Chula Vista Chapter 22 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War

Starting point is 03:40:16 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 22. Wash day and house cleaning in a man of war. Besides the other tribulations connected with your hammock, you must keep it snow white and clean.

Starting point is 03:40:55 Who has not observed the long rows of spotless hammocks exposed in a frigate's nettings, where through the day their outsides, at least, are kept airing. Hence it comes that there are regular mornings appointed for the scrubbing of hammocks, and such mornings are called scrub hammock mornings, and desperate is the scrubbing that ensues. Before daylight the operation begins. All hands are called, and at it they go. Every deck is spread with hammocks, fore and aft, and lucky are you if you can get sufficient superficies to spread your own hammock in. Down on their knees are 500 men scrubbing away with brushes and brooms,

Starting point is 03:41:41 jostling and crowding and quarreling about using each other's suds when all their purser's soap goes to create one indiscriminate yeast. Sometimes you discover that, in the dark, you have been all the while scrubbing your next neighbor's hammock instead of your own, but it is too late to begin over again. For now the word is passed, for every man to advance with his hammock, that it may be tied to a net-like framework of clothes lines,

Starting point is 03:42:10 and hoisted aloft to dry. That done, without delay, you get together your frocks and trousers, and on the already flooded deck, embark in the laundry business. You have no special bucket or basin to yourself, the ship, being one vast wash-tub, where all hands wash and rinse out and rinse out and wash, till at last the word is passed again, to make fast your clothes that they also may be elevated to dry.

Starting point is 03:42:41 Then on all three decks the operation of holy stoning begins, so called from the queer name bestowed upon the principal instruments employed. These are ponderous flat stones with long ropes at each end, by which the stones are slidden about to and fro over the wet and sanded decks, a most wearisome dog-like galley slave employment. For the byways and corners about the masts and guns, smaller stones are used, called prayer books, inasmuch as the devout operator has to down with them on his knees.

Starting point is 03:43:22 Finally, a grand flooding takes place, and the decks are remorselessly thrashed with dry swabs, after which an extraordinary implement as sort of leathern hoe, called a squilgy is used to scrape and squeeze the last dribblings of water from the planks. Concerning this squilgy, I think something of drawing up a memoir and reading it before the Academy of Arts and Sciences, it is a most curious affair. By the time all these operations are concluded, it is eight bells,

Starting point is 03:43:59 and all hands are piped to breakfast upon the damp and every way disagreeable decks. Now, against this invariable daily flooding of the three decks of a frigate, as a man-of-war's man, white jacket most earnestly protests. In sunless weather, it keeps the sailors' quarters perpetually damp, so much so that you can scarce sit down without running the risk of getting the lumbago. One rheumatic old sheet-anchor man among us was driven to the extremity of sewing a piece of tarred canvas on the seat of his trousers. Let those neat and tidy officers who so love to see a ship kept spick and span clean,

Starting point is 03:44:42 who institute vigorous search after the man who chances to drop the crumb of a biscuit on deck when the ship is rolling in a seaway. Let all such swing their hammocks with the sailors, and they would soon get sick of this daily damping of the decks. Is a ship a wooden platter that is to be scrubbed out every morning before breakfast, even if the thermometer be at zero and every sailor goes barefooted through the flood with the chillblains, and all the while the ship carries a doctor, well aware of Borhave's Great Maxim, keep the feet dry. He has plenty of pills to give you when you are down with a fever, the consequence of these things,

Starting point is 03:45:25 but enters no protest at the outset, as it is his duty to do, against the cause that induces the fever. During the pleasant night watches, the promenading officers mounted on their high-heeled boots pass dry-shod like the Israelites over the decks. But by daybreak, the roaring tide sets back, and the poor sailors are almost overwhelmed in it, like the Egyptians in the Red Sea. Oh, the chills, colds, and eggs that are caught. No snug stove, grade, or fireplace to go to. no, your only way to keep warm is to keep in a blazing passion

Starting point is 03:46:07 and anathematize the custom that every morning makes a washhouse of a man of war. Look at it. Say you go on board a line of battleship. You see everything scrupulously neat. You see all the decks clear and unobstructed as the sidewalks of Wall Street of a Sunday morning. You see no trace of a sailor's dormitory. You marvel by what magic all this is brought about. and well you may, for consider that in this unobstructed fabric nearly 1,000 mortal men have to sleep,

Starting point is 03:46:41 eat, wash, dress, cook, and perform all the ordinary functions of humanity. The same number of men ashore would expand themselves into a township. Is it credible, then, that this extraordinary neatness, and especially this unobstructedness of a man-of-war, can be brought about except by the most rigorous, edicts and a very serious sacrifice with respect to the sailors of the domestic comforts of life. To be sure, sailors themselves do not often complain of these things. They are used to them. But man can become used even to the hardest usage, and it is because he is used to it, that sometimes he does not complain of it. Of all men of war, the American ships are the most

Starting point is 03:47:31 excessively neat and have the greatest reputation for it, and of all men of war the general discipline of the American ships is the most arbitrary. In the English Navy, the men liberally mess on tables, which between meals are trist up out of the way, the American sailors mess on deck, and pick up their broken biscuit or midshipmen's nuts like fowls in a barnyard. But if this unobstructedness in an American fighting ship be, at all hazards so desirable, why not imitate the Turks? In the Turkish Navy they have no mess chests. The sailors roll their mess things up in a rug and thrust them under a gun. Nor do they have any hammocks. They sleep anywhere about the decks in their Grigos. Indeed, come to look at it, what more does a man-of-war's

Starting point is 03:48:26 man absolutely required to live in than his own skin. That's room enough, and room enough to turn in, if he but knew how to shift his spine, end for end, like a ramrod without disturbing his next neighbor. Among all men of war's men, it is a maxim that over-neat vessels are tartars to the crew, and perhaps it may be safely laid down that when you see such a ship, some sort of tyranny is not very far off. In the Never Sink, as in other national ships, the business of wholly stoning the decks was often prolonged by way of punishment to the men, particularly of a raw, cold mourning. This is one of the punishments which a lieutenant of the watch may easily inflict upon the crew, without infringing the statute which places the power of punishment solely in the hands of the captain. The abhorrence which men of war's men have for this protracted, wholly stoning and cold, comfortless weather, with their bare feet exposed to the splashing inundations,

Starting point is 03:49:35 is shown in a strange story, rife among them, curiously tinctured with their proverbial superstitions. The first lieutenant of an English sloop of war, a severe disciplinarian, was uncommonly particular concerning the whiteness of the quarter-deck. One bitter winter morning at sea, when the crew had washed that part of the vessel, as usual, and put away their holy stones, this officer came on deck,

Starting point is 03:50:05 and after inspecting it, ordered the holy stones and prayer books up again. Once more, slipping off the shoes from their frosted feet and rolling up their trousers, the crew kneeled down to their task, and in that suppliant posture silently, invoked a curse upon their tyrant, praying as he went below, that he might never more come out of the wardroom alive. The prayer seemed answered, for shortly after being visited with a paralytic

Starting point is 03:50:35 stroke at his breakfast table, the first lieutenant next morning was carried out of the wardroom feet foremost, dead. As they dropped him over the side, so goes the story, the Marine sentry at the gangway turned his back upon the corpse. To the credit of the humane and sensible portion of the role of American Navy captains, be it added that they are not so particular in keeping the decks spotless at all times, and in all weathers, nor do they torment the men with scraping bright wood and polishing ring bolts, but give all such gingerbread work a hearty coat of black paint, which looks more warlike, is a better preservative, and exempts the sailors from a perpetual annoyance. End of Chapter 22.

Starting point is 03:51:30 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 23 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Recording by James K. White White Jacket or

Starting point is 03:52:03 The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville Chapter 23 Theatricals in a Man of War The Never Sink had summered out her last Christmas on the equator. She was now destined to winter out the 4th of July not very far from the frigid latitudes of Cape Horn. It is sometimes the custom in the American Navy

Starting point is 03:52:28 to celebrate this national holiday by doubling the allowance of spirits to the men. That is, if the ship happened to be lying in harbor, the effects of this patriotic plan may be easily imagined. The whole ship is converted into a dram shop, and the intoxicated sailors reel about on all three decks, singing, howling, and fighting. This is the time that, owing to the relaxed discipline of the ship,

Starting point is 03:52:59 old and almost forgotten quarrels are revived under the stimulus of drink. And fencing themselves up between the guns, so as to be sure of a clear space with at least three walls, the combatants two and two fight out their hate, cribbed and cabined like soldiers, dueling in a sentry box. In a word, scenes ensue which would not for a single instant be tolerated by the officers upon any other occasion. This is the time that the most venerable of quarter-gunners and quarter-masters, together with the smallest apprentice boys and men never known to have been previously intoxicated during the cruise, this is the time that they all rolled together in the same muddy trough of drunkenness.

Starting point is 03:53:46 In emulation of the potentates of the Middle Ages, some captains augment the den by authorizing a grand jail delivery of all the prisoners, who, on that auspicious fourth of the month, may happen to be confined in the ship's prison, the brig. But from scenes like these, the Never Sink was happily delivered, besides that she was now approaching a most perilous part of the ocean, which would have made it madness to intoxicate the sailors. Her complete destitution of grog, even for ordinary consumption,

Starting point is 03:54:24 was an obstacle altogether inseparable, even had the captain felt disposed to indulge his man-of-war's men by the most copious libations. For several days previous to the advent of the holiday, frequent conferences were held on the gun-deck, touching the melancholy prospects before the ship. "'Too bad, too bad!' cried a Topman. "'Think of it, shipmates, a Fourth of July without grog.'

Starting point is 03:54:52 "'I'll hoist the Commodore's pennant at half-mast that day,' sighed the Signal quartermaster. "'And I'll turn my best uniform jacket wrong side out, "'to keep company with the pennant, old ensign,' sympathetically responded in afterguardsman. "'I do,' cried a forecastman. "'I could almost pipe my eye to think on it. no grog on to-day that tried men's souls blubbered sunshine the galley-cook who would be a janky now roared a hollander of the foretop more dutch than sauerkraut is this the regular fruits of liberty touchingly inquired an irish waster of an old spanish sheet anchorman you will generally observe that of all americans your foreign-born citizens are the most patriotic especially toward the fore-born citizens are the most patriotic especially toward the 4th of July. But how could Captain Claret, the father of his crew,

Starting point is 03:55:49 behold the grief of his ocean children with indifference? He could not. Three days before the anniversary, it's still continuing very pleasant weather for these latitudes, it was publicly announced that free permission was given to the sailors to get up any sort of theatricals they desired, wherewith to honor the fourth. Now, some weeks prior to the ever since sailing from home, nearly three years before the time here spoken of, some of the seamen had clubbed together and made up a considerable purse for the purpose of purchasing a theatrical outfit having in view to diversify the monotony of lying in foreign harbors for weeks together by an occasional display on the boards, though if ever there was a continual

Starting point is 03:56:39 theater in the world, playing by night and by day, and without intervals between the acts, a man of war is that theater, and her planks are the boards indeed. The sailors who originated this scheme had served in other American frigates where the privilege of having theatricals was allowed to the crew. What was their chagrin then when, upon making an application to the captain in a Peruvian harbor for permission to present the much-admired drama of the ruffian boy under the captain's personal patronage, that dignitary assured them that there were already enough ruffian boys on board without conjuring up any more from the green room. The theatrical outfit, therefore, was stowed down in the bottom of the

Starting point is 03:57:30 sailor's bags, who little anticipated then that it would ever be dragged out while Captain Claret had this way. But immediately upon the announcement that the embargo was removed, vigorous preparations were at once commenced to celebrate the fourth with unwonted spirit. The half-deck was set apart for the theater, and the signal quartermaster was commanded to loan his flags to decorate it in the most patriotic style.

Starting point is 03:58:02 As the stage-struck portion of the crew had frequently during the crew's rehearsed portions of various plays to while away the tedium of the night watches, they needed no long time now to perfect themselves in their parts. Accordingly, on the very next morning after the indulgence had been granted by the captain, the following written placard, presenting a broadside of starring capitals, was found tacked against the main mast on the gun deck. It was as if a drury-lane bill had been posted upon

Starting point is 03:58:36 the London Monument. Cape Horn Theatre Grand Celebration of the Fourth of July. Day performance. Uncommon attraction. The old wagon paid off. Jack Chase. Percy Royal Mast.

Starting point is 03:58:51 Stars of the first magnitude. For this time only, the true Yankee Sailor. The managers of the Cape Horn Theater beg leave to inform the inhabitants of the Pacific and Southern Oceans that on the afternoon of the 4th of July 1840 blank, they will have the honor to present the admired drama of the old wagon paid off.

Starting point is 03:59:19 Commodore Bogie, Tom Brown of the foretop, Captain Spyglass, Ned Brace of the Afterguard, Commodore's Coxon, Joe Bunk of the launch, Old Luff, Quartermaster Coffin, Mayor, Seafull of the Forecastle, Percy Royal Mast, Jack Chase, Mrs. Lovelorn, Long Lox of the Afterguard, Toddy Mall, Frank Jones, Jen and Sugar Sal, Dick Dash, sailors, mariners, barkeepers, crimps, aldermen, police officers, soldiers, landsmen generally.

Starting point is 04:00:03 Long live the Commodore. Admission Free To include with the much-admired song by Dibden altered to suit all American Tars entitled The True Yankee Sailor True Yankee Sailor in costume Patrick Flinigan, Captain of the Head. Performance to commence with Hail Columbia by the brass band.

Starting point is 04:00:26 Ensign rises at three bells, P.M. No sailor permitted to enter in his shirt sleeves, good order is expected to be maintained, the master at arms, and ships corporals to be in attendance to keep the peace. At the earnest entreaties of the seaman, Limsford, the Gundek poet, had been prevailed upon to draw up this bill, and upon this one occasion his literary abilities were far from being underrated, even by the least intellectual person on board. Nor must it be omitted that before the bill was placarded, Captain Claret, enacting the part of Sensor and Grand Chamberlain,

Starting point is 04:01:08 ran over a manuscript copy of the old wagon paid off to see whether it contained anything calculated to breed disaffection against lawful authority among the crew. He objected to some parts, but in the end let them all pass. The morning of the fourth, most anxiously awaited, dawned clear and fair. The breeze was steady, the air bracing, cold, and one in all the sailors anticipated a gleeful afternoon, and thus was falsified the prophecies of certain old growlers averse to theatricals, who had predicted a gale of wind

Starting point is 04:01:46 that would squash all the arrangements of the green room. As the men whose regular turns at the time of the performance would come round to be stationed in the tops, and at the various haliards and running ropes about the spar deck, could not be permitted to partake in the celebration. There accordingly ensued during the morning, many amusing scenes of tars who were anxious to procure substitutes at their posts. Through the day, many anxious glances were cast to windward, but the weather still promised fair. At last, the people were piped to dinner. Two bells struck, and soon after, all who could be spared from their stations hurried to the half-deck. The Capstan bars were placed on shot boxes as at prayers on Sundays,

Starting point is 04:02:41 furnishing seats for the audience, while a low stage, rigged by the Carpenter's gang, was built at one end of the open space. The curtain was composed of a large ensign, and the bulwarks roundabout were drapered with the flags of all nations. The ten or twelve members of the brass band were ranged in a row at the foot of the stage. Their polished instruments in their hands, while the consequential captain of the band himself was elevated upon a gun carriage.

Starting point is 04:03:15 At three bells precisely, a group of ward-room officers emerged from the after-hatchway and seated themselves upon camp-stools in a central position with the stars and stripes for a canopy. That was the royal box. The sailors looked round for the Commodore, but neither Commodore nor captain honored the people with their presence. At the call of a bugle, the band struck up Hail Columbia, the whole audience-keeping time, as at Drury Lane, when God Save the King is played after a great national victory.

Starting point is 04:03:53 At the discharge of a Marines musket, the curtain rose, and four sailors in the picturesque god. garb of Maltese mariners, staggered on the stage in a feigned state of intoxication. The truthfulness of the representation was much heightened by the role of the ship. The Commodore, Old Luff, the mayor, and Jen and Sugar Sal were played to admiration and received great applause. But at the first appearance of that universal favorite Jack Chase in the chivalric character of Percy Royal Mast, the whole audience simultaneously rose to their feet

Starting point is 04:04:31 and greeted higher with three hearty cheers that almost took the main top sail aback. Matchless Jack in full fig bowed again and again with true quarter-deck grace and self-possession, and when five or six untwisted strands of rope and bunches of oakum were thrown to him as substitutes for bouquets,

Starting point is 04:04:54 he took them one by one and gallantly hung them from the buttons of his jacket. Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! Go on, go on. Stop hollering, hurrah, go on, stop hollering, hurrah! Was now heard on all sides, till at last, seeing no end to the enthusiasm of his ardent admirers,

Starting point is 04:05:15 matchless Jack stepped forward, and with his lips moving in pantomime, plunged into the thick of the part, silence soon followed but was fifty times broken by uncontrollable bursts of applause. At length, when that heart-thrilling scene came on, where Percy Royal Mask rescues 15 oppressed sailors from the watchhouse in the teeth of a posse of constables, the audience leaped to their feet, overturned the capstan bars,

Starting point is 04:05:44 and to a man hurled their hats on the stage in a delirium of delight. Ah, Jack, that was a ten-stroke indeed. The commotion was now terrific. All disciplines seemed gone forever. The lieutenants ran in among the men. The captain darted from his cabin, and the Commodore nervously questioned the armed sentry at his door as to what the deuce the people were about.

Starting point is 04:06:09 In the midst of all this, the trumpet of the officer of the deck, commanding the top-gallant sails to be taken in, was almost completely drowned. A black squall was coming down on the weather bow, and the boatswains' mates bellowed themselves horse at the main hatchway. There is no knowing what would have ensued, had not the bass drum suddenly been heard, calling all hands to quarters, a summons not to be withstood.

Starting point is 04:06:37 The sailors pricked their ears at it, as horses at the sound of a cracking whip, and confusedly stumbled up the ladders to their stations. The next moment all was silent but the wind, howling like a thousand devils in the cordage. Stand by to refall three top sails. Settle away the halyards. Hull out so.

Starting point is 04:06:59 Make fast, aloft, topman, and reef away. Thus, in storm and tempest, terminated that day's theatricals. But the sailors never recovered from the disappointment of not having the true Yankee sailor sung by the Irish captain of the head. And here, White-Jews, jacket must moralize a bit. The unwonted spectacle of the row of gunroom officers mingling with the people in applauding a mere seaman like Jack Chase filled me at the time with the most pleasurable

Starting point is 04:07:35 emotions. It is a sweet thing, thought I, to see these officers confess a human brotherhood with us after all. A sweet thing to mark their cordial appreciation of the manly merits of my matchless Jack. ah they are noble fellows all round and i do not know but i have wronged them sometimes in my thoughts nor was it without similar pleasurable feelings that i witnessed the temporary rupture of the ship's stern discipline consequent upon the tumult of the theatricals. I thought to myself, this now is as it should be. It is good to shake off now and then this iron yoke round our necks.

Starting point is 04:08:19 And after having once permitted us sailors to be a little noisy in a harmless way, somewhat merrily turbulent, the officers cannot, with any good grace, be so excessively stern and unyielding as before. I began to think a man of war, a man of peace and goodwill after all. But, alas, disappointment came. Next morning, the same old scene was enacted at the gangway, and beholding the row of uncompromising

Starting point is 04:08:50 looking officers there assembled with the captain to witness punishment, the same officers who had been so cheerfully disposed overnight, an old sailor touched my shoulder and said, see white jacket all around they have shipped their quarter-deck faces again but this is the way i afterward learned that this was an old man-of-war's man's phrase expressive of the facility with which a sea officer falls back upon all the severity of his dignity after a temporary suspension of it end of chapter twenty-three recording by james k white chula vista Chapter 24 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 04:10:02 White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. By Herman Melville. Chapter 24 Introductory to Cape Horn And now, through drizzling fogs and vapors, and under damp double-reefed topsails, our wet-decked frigate drew nearer and nearer to the Squally Cape. Who has not heard of it, Cape Horn?

Starting point is 04:10:31 Cape Horn, a horn, indeed, that has tossed many a good ship, Was the descent of Orpheus, Ulysses, or Dante into hell one wit more hardy and sublime than the first navigator's weathering of that terrible cape? Turned on her heel by a fierce west wind, many an outward-bound ship has been driven across the southern ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, that way to seek a passage to the Pacific, and that stormy cape, I doubt not, has sent many a fine, craft to the bottom and told no tales. At those ends of the earth are no chronicles.

Starting point is 04:11:13 What signify the broken spars and shrouds that day after day are driven before the prows of more fortunate vessels, or the tall masts embedded in icebergs that are found floating by, they but hint the old story of ships that have sailed from their ports and never more have been heard of. Impracticable cape. You may approach it from this direction or that in any way you please, from the east or from the west, with the wind a stern or a beam, or on the quarter. And still, Cape Horn is Cape Horn. Cape Horn it is that takes the conceit out of freshwater sailors and steeps in a still salter brine the saltest. Wo betide the Tyro, the foolhardy.

Starting point is 04:12:07 Heaven Preserve. Your Mediterranean Captain, who, with a cargo of oranges, has hitherto made merry, runs across the Atlantic, without so much as furling a tegallant sail, oftentimes off Cape Horn, receives a lesson which he carries to the grave, though the grave, as is too often the case, follows so hard on the lesson that no benefit comes from the

Starting point is 04:12:33 experience. Other strangers who draw nigh to this Patagonia termination of our continent, with their souls full of its shipwrecks and disasters, top sails cautiously reefed, and everything guardedly snug. These strangers at first unexpectedly encountering a tolerably smooth sea rashly conclude that the cape, after all, is but a bugbear. They have been imposed upon by fables, and founderings and sinkings hereabouts are all cock and bull stories. Outreefs, Mahardis, four and aft sit to gallant sails. Stand by to give her the four-top mastensile. But Captain Rash, those sails of yours were much safer in the sailmaker's loft. For now, while the heedless craft is bounding over the billows, a black cloud rises out of the sea. The sun drops

Starting point is 04:13:32 down from the sky, a horrible mist far and wide spreads over the water. Hands by the halliards. Let go. Clue up. Too late. For air the rope's ends can be east off from the pins. The tornado is blowing down to the bottom of their throats. The masts are willows, the sails ribbons, the cordage wool. The whole ship is brewed into the yeast of the gale. And now, if, when the first green sea breaks over him, Captain Rash is not swept overboard, he has his hands full, be sure. In all probability, his three masts have gone by the board, and, ravelled into list, his sails are floating in the air, or perhaps the ship broaches to, or is brought by the lee. In either ease, heaven helped the sailors, their wives and their little ones,

Starting point is 04:14:31 and heaven help the underwriters. Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring. Thus, with seaman, he who goes the oftenest round Cape Horn, goes the most circumspectly. A veteran mariner is never deceived by the treacherous breezes, which sometimes waft him pleasantly toward the latitude of the cape. No sooner does he come within a certain distance of it, previously fixed in his own mind,

Starting point is 04:15:03 then all hands are turned to setting the ship in storm trim, and never mind how light the breeze down come his to gallant yards, he bends his strongest storm sails and lashes everything on deck securely. The ship is then ready for the worst, and if, in reeling round the headland, she receives a broadside, it generally goes well with her. If ill, all hands go to the bottom with quiet consciences. Among sea captains there are some who seem to regard the genius of the cape

Starting point is 04:15:40 as a willful capricious jade that must be courted and coaxed into complacence. First they come along under easy sails, do not steer boldly for the headland, but tack this way and that, sidling up to it, now they woo the, Jezebel with a tegallant studying sail, anon they deprecate her wrath with double reef-top sails. When at length her unappeasable fury is fairly aroused and all around the dismantled ship the storm howls and howls for days together, they still persevere in their efforts. First, they try unconditional submission, furling every rag and heaving to, laying like a log for the tempest to toss

Starting point is 04:16:28 wheresoever it pleases. This failing, they set a Spencer or trysail and shift on the other tack, equally vain. The gale sings as hoarsely as before. At last the wind comes round fair. They drop the foresail,

Starting point is 04:16:46 square the yards, and scud before it. Their implacable foe chasing them with tornadoes as if to show her insensibility to the last. Other ships, without encountering these terrible gales, spend week after week endeavoring to turn this boisterous world corner against a continual headwind. Tacking hither and thither in the language of sailors,

Starting point is 04:17:10 they polished the Cape by beating about its edges so long. Le Mere and Chauten, two Dutchmen, were the first navigators who weathered Cape Horn. Previous to this, passages had been made to the Pacific by the Straits of Magellan, nor indeed at that period was it known to a certainty that there was any other route, or that the land now called Terra del Fuego, was an island. A few leagues southward from Terra del Fuego is a cluster of small islands, the Diego's, between which and the former island are the Straits of Le Maire, so called in honor of their discoverer, who first sailed

Starting point is 04:17:54 through them into the Pacific. Le Maire and Shoughton, in their small clumsy vessels, encountered a series of tremendous gales, the prelude to the long train of similar hardships which most of their followers have experienced. It is a significant fact that Shouton's vessel, the horn, which gave its name to the Cape, was almost lost in weathering it.

Starting point is 04:18:20 The next navigator around the Cape was Sir Francis' Drake, who, on Raleigh's expedition, beholding for the first time from the isthmus of Darien, the goodly South Sea, like a true-born Englishman, vowed, please God, to sail an English ship thereon, which the gallant sailor did, to the sore discomfiture of the Spaniards on the coasts of Chile and Peru. But perhaps the greatest hardships on record in making this celebrated passage were those experienced by Lord Anson's squadron in 1736. Three remarkable and most interesting narratives record their disasters and sufferings. The first, jointly written by the carpenter and gunner of the wager,

Starting point is 04:19:09 the second by young Byron, a midshipman in the same ship. The third, by the chaplain of the Centurion. White Jacket has them all, and they are fine reading of a boisterous March night, with the casement rattling in your ear, and the chimney stacks blowing down upon the pavement, bubbling with raindrops. But if you want the best idea of Cape Horn, get my friend Dana's unmatchable two years before the mast,

Starting point is 04:19:39 but you can read, and so you must have read it, his chapters describing Cape Horn must have been written with an icicle. At the present day the horrors of the Cape have somewhat abate, This is owing to a growing familiarity with it, but, more than all, to the improved condition of ships in all respects, and the means now generally in use of preserving the health of the crews in times of severe and prolonged exposure. End of Chapter 24 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista Chapter 25 of White Jacket or The World and a Man of War This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 04:20:30 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 25. The Dog Days Off Cape Horn. colder and colder we are drawing nigh to the cape. Now Grigos, pea jackets, monkey jackets, reefing jackets, storm jackets, oil jackets, paint jackets, round jackets, short jackets, long jackets, and all manner of jackets are the order of the day, not accepting the immortal white jacket,

Starting point is 04:21:17 which begins to be sturdily buttoned up to the throat and pull down vigorously at the skirts to bring them well over the loins. But alas, those skirts were lamentably scanty, and though with its quiltings, the jacket was stuffed out about the breasts like a Christmas turkey, and of a dry, cold day kept the wearer warm enough in that vicinity, yet about the loins it was shorter than ballet dancer's skirts, so that while my chest was in the temperate zone, close adjoining the torrid, my hapless thighs were in Nova Zembla. hardly an icicles toss from the pole. Then, again, the repeated soakings and dryings it had undergone had by this time made it shrink woefully all over, especially in the arms, so that the wristbands had gradually crawled up near to the elbows, and it required an energetic thrust to push the arm through

Starting point is 04:22:17 in drawing the jacket on. I endeavored to amend these misfortunes by sewing a sort of canvas ruffle round the skirts, by way of a continuation or supplement to the original work, and by doing the same with the wristbands. This is the time for oil-skin suits, dreadnoughts, tarred trousers and overalls, seaboots, comforters, mittens, woolen socks, guernsey frocks, haver shirts, buffalo robe shirts, and moose-skin drawers. Every man His man's jacket is his wigwam, and every man's hat his caboose. Perfect license is now permitted to the men respecting their clothing.

Starting point is 04:23:02 Whatever they can rake and scrape together they put on, swaddling themselves in old sails and drawing old socks over their heads for nightcaps. This is the time for smiting your chest with your hand and talking loud to keep up the circulation. colder and colder and colder till at last we spoke a fleet of icebergs bound north after that it was one incessant cold snap that almost snapped off our fingers and toes cold it was cold as blue flugian where sailors say fire freezes and now coming up with the latitude of the cape we stood southward to give it a wide berth and while so doing were because we were because of the lake we stood southward to give it a wide berth and while so doing were because calmed. I be calmed off Cape Horn, which is worse, far worse than being be calmed on the line. Here we lay 48 hours during which the cold was intense. I wondered at the liquid sea which refused

Starting point is 04:24:05 to freeze in such a temperature. The clear, cold sky overhead looked like a steel blue symbol that might ring, could you smite it? Our breath came and went like puffs of smoke from pipe-bowl. At first there was a long, gawky swell that obliged us to furl most of the sails and even send down to gallant yards for fear of pitching them overboard. Out of sight of land at this extremity of both the inhabitable and uninhabitable world,

Starting point is 04:24:38 our peopled frigate echoing with the voices of men, the bleeding of lambs, the cackling of fowls, the gruntings of pigs, seemed like Noah's old ark itself, be calmed at the climax of the deluge. There was nothing to be done but patiently to await the pleasure of the elements

Starting point is 04:24:57 and whistle for a wind, the usual practice of semen in a calm. No fire was allowed except for the indispensable purpose of cooking and heating bottles of water to toast salvage's feet. He who possessed the largest stock of vitality stood the best chance to escape freezing. It was horrifying. in such weather any man could have undergone amputation with great ease and helped take up the arteries himself.

Starting point is 04:25:26 Indeed, this state of affairs had not lasted quite 24 hours when the extreme frigidity of the air, united to our increased tendency to inactivity, would very soon have rendered some of us subjects for the surgeon and his mates, had not a humane proceeding of the captain suddenly impelled us to vigorous exercise. eyes. And here be it said that the appearance of the boson, with his silver whistle to his mouth at the main hatchway of the gun deck, is always regarded by the crew with the utmost curiosity. For this betokens that some general order is about to be promulgated through the ship. What now is the question that runs on from man to man? A short preliminary whistle is then given by old yarn, as they call him.

Starting point is 04:26:18 which whistle serves to collect round him from their various stations, his four mates. Then yarn or pipes as leader of the orchestra begins a peculiar call in which his assistants join. This over, the order, whatever it may be, is loudly sung out and prolonged, till the remotest corner echoes again. The boatson and his mates are the town criers of a man of war. The calm had commenced in the afternoon, and the following morning the ship's company were electrified by a general order, thus set forth and declared, Do ye hear there, fore and aft? All hands, Skylark. This mandate nowadays never used except upon very rare occasions, produced the same effect upon the men that exhilarating gas would have done, or an extra allowance of growth. For a time, the wanted discipline of the ship was broken through, and perfect license allowed. It was a babble here, a bedlam there, and a pandemonium everywhere.

Starting point is 04:27:33 The theatricals were nothing compared with it. Then the faint-hearted and timorous crawled to their hiding places, and the lusty, bold, shouted forth their glee. Gangs of men in all sorts of outlandish habilibes. wild as those worn at some crazy carnival, rushed to and fro, seizing upon whomsoever they pleased, warned officers and dangerous pugilists accepted, pulling and hauling the luckless tars about, till fairly baited into a genial warmth. Some were made fast, too, and hoisted aloft with a will. Others mounted upon oars, were ridden for and aft on a rail, to the boisterous mirth of the spectators,

Starting point is 04:28:18 any one of whom might be the next victim. Swings were rigged from the tops or the masts, and the most reluctant whites, being purposely selected, spite of all struggles, were swung from east to west in vast arcs of circles, till almost breathless. Hornpipes, fandangos, Donnybrook jigs, reels, and quadrilles,

Starting point is 04:28:43 were danced under the very nose of the most mighty captain, and upon the very quarter-deck and poop. Sparring and wrestling, too, were all the vogue, Kentucky bites were given, and the Indian hug exchanged. The den frightened the sea-fowl that flew by with accelerated wing. It is worth mentioning that several casualties occurred, of which, however, I will relate but one. While the sky-larking was at its height,

Starting point is 04:29:13 one of the fore-topmen, an ugly-tempered devil of a Portuguese looking on, swore that he would be the death of any man who laid violent hands upon his inviolable person. This threat being overheard, a band of desperadoes coming up from behind, tripped him up in an instant, and in the twinkling of an eye the Portuguese was straddling an oar, borne aloft by an uproarious multitude who rushed him along the deck at a railroad gallop. The living mass of arms all round and beneath him was so dense, that every time he inclined one side, he was instantly pushed up right, but only to fall over again, to receive another push from the contrary direction. Presently disengaging his hands from

Starting point is 04:30:02 those who held them, the enraged seaman drew from his bosom an iron-bellaying pen, and recklessly laid about him to right and left. Most of his persecutors fled, but some eight or ten still stood the ground, and, while bearing him aloft, endeavored to rest the weapon from his hands. In this attempt, one man was struck on the head and dropped insensible. He was taken up for dead and carried below to cuticle, the surgeon, while the Portuguese was put under guard. But the wound did not prove very serious, and in a few days the man was walking about the deck, with his head well bandaged. This occurrence put an end to the skylarking, further headbreaking being strictly prohibited. In due time, the Portuguese paid the penalty of his rashness at the gangway,

Starting point is 04:30:56 while once again the officers shipped their quarterdeck faces. End of Chapter 25. Recording by James K. White Chula Vista. Chapter 26 of White Jacket, or The World in a man of war. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 26.

Starting point is 04:31:47 The Pitch of the Cape Air the calm had yet left us, a sail had been discerned from the foretop mast head, at a great distance, probably three leagues or more. At first it was a mere speck, altogether out of sight from the deck. By the force of attraction, or something else equally inscrutable, two ships in a calm and equally affected by the currents will always approximate more or less. Though there was not a breath of wind, it was not a great while before the strange sail was described from our bulwarks. Gradually it drew still nearer.

Starting point is 04:32:31 What was she and whence? There is no object which so excites interest and conjecture, and at the same time baffles both as a sail seen as a mere speck on these remote seas off Cape Horn. A breeze. A breeze. A breeze. For lo, the stranger is now perceptibly nearing the frigate. The officer's spyglass pronounces her a full-rigged ship with all sail set, and coming right down to us, though in our own vicinity, the calm still rains. She is bringing the wind with her. Hooray! Ah, there it is!

Starting point is 04:33:10 Behold how mincingly it creeps over the sea, just ruffling and crisping it. Our top men were at once sent aloft to loose the sails, and presently they faintly began to distend, as yet we hardly had steerage way. Towards sunset the stranger bore down before the wind, a complete pyramid of canvas. Never before I venture to say was Cape Horn so audaciously insulted. Stunsels aloe and aloft, royals, moon sails, and everything else. She glided under our stern with inhaling distance, and the signal quartermaster ran up our ensign to the gaff.

Starting point is 04:33:52 Ship, hohoi, cried the lieutenant of the watch through his trumpet. Haloa, bawled an old fellow in a green jacket, clapping one hand to his mouth, while he held on with the other to the mizzen shrouds. What ship is that? The Sultan Indianmen from New York, and bound to Cayao and Canton, 60 days out, all well. What frigates that? The United States ship never sink,

Starting point is 04:34:21 homeward bound, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! yelled our enthusiastic countrymen, transported with patriotism. By this time the Sultan had swept past, but the lieutenant of the watch could not withhold a parting admonition. Do you hear? You'd better take in some of your flying kites there. Look out for the watch. for Cape Horn. But the friendly advice was lost in the now increasing wind. With a suddenness, by no means unusual in these latitudes, the light breeze soon became a succession of sharp squalls, and our sail, proud braggadocio of an Indianman, was observed to let everything go by the run, his to-gallant stencils and flying jib taking quick leave of the spars. The flying jib was swept into the air, rolled together for a few minutes, and tossed about in the squalls like a football.

Starting point is 04:35:20 But the wind played no such pranks with the more prudently managed canvas of the never-sink, though before many hours it was stirring times with us. About midnight, when the starboard watched to which I belonged was below, the boatswain's whistle was heard, followed by the shrill cry of all hands taken sail, jump men and save ship. springing from our hammocks we found the frigate leaning over to it so steeply that it was with difficulty we could climb the ladders leading to the upper deck here the scene was awful the vessels seemed to be sailing on her side the main deck guns had several days previous been run in and housed and the port-holes

Starting point is 04:36:06 closed but the lee carronades on the quarter-deck and forecastle were plunging through the sea which undulated over them in milk-white billows of foam. With every lurch to leeward, the yard-arm ends seemed to dip in the sea, while forward the spray dashed over the boughs in cataracts and drenched the men who were on the foreyard. By this time the deck was alive with the whole strength of the ship's company, 500 men, officers and all, mostly clinging to the weather bulwarks. The occasional phosphorescence of the yeasting sea,

Starting point is 04:36:42 cast a glare upon their uplifted faces as a night fire in a populous city lights up the panic-stricken crowd. In a sudden gale, or when a large quantity of sail is suddenly to be furled, it is the custom for the first lieutenant to take the trumpet from whoever happens then to be officer of the deck. But Mad Jack had the trumpet that watch, nor did the first lieutenant now seek to rest it from his hands. Every eye was upon him, as if we had chosen him from among us all, to decide this battle with the elements by single combat with the spirit of the cape. For Mad Jack was the saving genius of the ship, and so proved himself that night. I owe this right hand, that is this moment flying over my sheet, and all my present being to Mad Jack. The ship's bows were now budding, battering, ramming, and thundering,

Starting point is 04:37:39 and upon the head seas, and with a horrible wallowing sound our whole hull was rolling in the trough of the foam. The gale came athwart the deck, and every sail seemed bursting with its wild breath. All the quarter-masters and several of the forecastlemen were swarming round the double wheel on the quarter-deck, some jumping up and down with their hands upon the spokes, for the whole helm and galvanized keel were fiercely feverish. with the life imparted to them by the tempest hard up the helm shouted captain claret bursting from his cabin like a ghost in his night-dress damn you raged mad jack to the quarter-masters hard down hard down i say and be damned to you contrary orders but mad jacks were obeyed his object was to throw the ship into the wind so as the better to admit of close reefing the topsails but though the halliards were let go it was impossible to clue down the yards owing to the enormous horizontal strain on the canvas it now blew a hurricane the spray flew over the ship in floods the gigantic masts seemed about to snap under the worldwide sea strain of the three entire top sails.

Starting point is 04:39:02 Clue down, clue down, shouted Mad Jack Husky with excitement, and in a frenzy beating his trumpet against one of the shrouds. But owing to the slant of the ship, the thing could not be done. It was obvious that before many minutes something must go, either sails, rigging, or sticks, perhaps the hull itself and all hands. Presently a voice from the top exclaimed that there was a rent in the main. top sail, and instantly we heard a report like two or three muskets discharged together. The vast sail was rent up and clown like the veil of the temple. This saved the main mast, for the yard was now clued down with comparative ease,

Starting point is 04:39:47 and the topmen laid out to stow the shattered canvas. Soon, the two remaining top sails were also clued down and close-reefed. Above all, the roar of the tempest and the shouts of the crew was heard the dismal tolling of the ship's bell, almost as large as that of a village church, which the violent rolling of the ship was occasioning. Imagination cannot conceive the horror of such a sound in a night tempest at sea. Stop that ghost, roared Mad Jack.

Starting point is 04:40:22 Away one of you, and wrench off the clapper. But no sooner was this ghost gagged. Then a still more appalling sound was heard, the rolling to and fro of the heavy shot, which, on the gun deck, had broken loose from the gun racks, and converted that part of the ship into an immense bowling alley. Some hands were sent down to secure them,

Starting point is 04:40:47 but it was as much as their lives were worth. Several were maimed, and the midshipmen, who were ordered to see the duty performed, reported it impossible until the service. storm abated. The most terrific job of all was to furl the mainsail, which, at the commencement of the squalls, had been clued up, coaxed and quieted as much as possible with the bunt lines and slab lines. Mad Jack waited some time for a lull ere he gave in order so perilous to be executed, for to furl this enormous sail in such a gale, required at least fifty men on the yard, whose weight superadded to

Starting point is 04:41:26 that of the ponderous stick itself, still further jeopardized their lives. But there was no prospect of a cessation of the gale, and the order was at last given. At this time, a hurricane of slanting sheet and hail was descending upon us. The rigging was coated with a thin glare of ice formed within the hour. "'Aloft, manured men and all you main-top men, and furl the mainsail,' cried Madge. deck. I dashed down my hat, slipped out of my quilted jacket in an instant, kicked the shoes from my feet, and, with a crowd of others, sprang for the rigging. Above the bulwarks, which in a frigate are so high as to afford much protection to those on deck, the gale was horrible. The sheer force of the wind flattened us to the rigging as we ascended, and every hand seemed

Starting point is 04:42:22 congealing to the icy shrouds by which we held. Up, up, my brave hearties, shouted Mad Jack, and up we got some way or other, all of us, and groped our way out on the yard arms. Hold on, every mother's son, cried an old quarter-gunner at my side. He was bawling at the top of his compass, but in the gale he seemed to be whispering, and I only heard him from his being right to windward of me.

Starting point is 04:42:52 But his hint was unnecessary. I dug my nails into the jackstays and swore that nothing but death should part me and them until I was able to turn round and look to windward. As yet, this was impossible. I could scarcely hear the man to leeward at my elbow. The wind seemed to snatch the words from his mouth and fly away with them to the south pole. All this while the sail itself was flying about, sometimes catching, over our heads and threatening to tear us from the yard in spite of all our hugging.

Starting point is 04:43:28 For about three-quarters of an hour, we thus hung suspended right over the rampant billows, which curled their very crests under the feet of some four or five of us, clinging to the leered arm, as if to float us from our place. Presently the word passed along the yard from windward that we were ordered to come down and leave the sail to blow. since it could not be furled. Amid shipment, it seemed, had been sent up by the officer of the deck to give the order, as no trumpet could be heard where we were.

Starting point is 04:44:03 Those on the weather yard arm managed to crawl upon the spar and scramble down the rigging, but with us, upon the extreme leeward side, this feat was out of the question. It was, literally, like climbing a precipice to get to windward in order to reach the shrouds, besides the entire yard was now encased in ice and our hands and feet were so numb that we dared not trust our lives to them nevertheless by assisting each other we contrived to throw ourselves prostrate along the yard and embrace it with our arms and legs in this position the stunsel booms greatly assisted in securing our hold strange as it may appear i do not suppose that at this moment the slightest of the slightest of our hold the slightest of our hold the slightest of the slightest of the moment the slightest sensation of fear was felt by one man on that yard.

Starting point is 04:44:57 We clung to it with might and main, but this was instinct. The truth is that, in circumstances like these, the sense of fear is annihilated in the unutterable sights that fill all the eye and the sounds that fill all the ear. You become identified with the tempest. Your insignificance is lost in the riot of the stormy universe around. below us our noble frigate seemed thrice its real length, a vast black wedge opposing its widest end to the combined fury of the sea and wind.

Starting point is 04:45:35 At length, the first fury of the gale began to abate, and we at once fell to pounding our hands as a preliminary operation to going to work. For a gang of men had now ascended to help secure what was left of the sail, We somehow packed it away at last and came down. About noon the next day, the gale so moderated that we shook two reefs out of the top sails, set new courses, and stood due east with the wind astern.

Starting point is 04:46:07 Thus, all the fine weather we encountered after first weighing anchor on the pleasant Spanish coast was but the prelude to this one terrific night, more especially that treacherous calm immediately preceding it. But how could we reach our long-promised homes without encountering Cape Horn? By what possibility avoid it? And though some ships have weathered it without these perils, yet by far the greater part must encounter them. Lucky it is that it comes about midway in the homeward-bound passage,

Starting point is 04:46:42 so that the sailors have time to prepare for it, and time to recover from it after it is astern. But sailor or landsman, there is some sort of a cape horn for all. Boys, beware of it. Prepare for it in time. Greybeards, thank God it is past, and ye lucky livers to whom, by some rare fatality,

Starting point is 04:47:07 your cape horns are placid as Lake Lehman's, flatter not yourselves that good luck is judgment and discretion. For all the, a yoke in your eggs, you might have foundered and gone down had the spirit of the cape, said the word. End of Chapter 26. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 27 of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 04:47:41 This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 27. Some thoughts growing out of Mad Jacks countermanding his superior's order. In time of peril, like the needle to the lodestone, obedience, irrespective of rank,

Starting point is 04:48:18 generally flies to him who was best fitted to command. The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the captain's order at the helm. But every seaman knew at the time that the captain's order was an unwise one in the extreme, perhaps worse than unwise. These two orders given by the captain and his lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters. By putting the helm hard up, the captain was for scudding, that is, for flying away from the gale. Whereas Mad Jack was for running the ship into its teeth,

Starting point is 04:49:03 it is needless to say that, in almost all cases of similar hard squalls and gales, the latter step, though attended with more appalling appearances, is, in reality, the safer of the two, and the most generally adopted. Scutting makes you a slave to the blast, which drives you headlong before it, but running up into the wind's eye enables you, in a degree, to hold it at bay.

Starting point is 04:49:33 Scutting exposes to the gale your stern, the weakest part of your hull. The contrary course presents to it your bows, your strongest part. As with ships, so with men, he who turns his back to his foe gives him an advantage, whereas our ribbed chests, like the ribbed bows of a frigate, are as bulkheads to dam off and onset.

Starting point is 04:50:01 That night, off the pitch of the cape, Captain Claret was hurried forth from his disguises, and at a manhood testing conjuncture, appeared in his true colors, a thing which every man in the ship had long suspected that night was proved true. hitherto in going about the ship and casting his glances among the men the peculiarly lustreless repose of the captain's eye his slow even unnecessarily methodical step and the forced firmness of his whole demeanor though to a casual observer expressive of the consciousness of command and a desire to strike subjection among the crew all this to some minds had only been deemed indications of the fact that captain claret while carefully shunning positive excesses continually kept himself in an uncertain equilibrium between soberness and its reverse which equilibrium might be destroyed by the first sharp vicissitude of events and though this is only a surmise nevertheless as having some knowledge of brandy and mankind white jack

Starting point is 04:51:14 will venture to state that had Captain Claret been an out-and-out temperance man, he would never have given that most imprudent order to hard up the helm. He would either have held his peace and stayed in his cabin, like his gracious majesty the Commodore, or else have anticipated Mad Jack's order and thundered forth hard down the helm. To show how little real sway at times have the severest restrictive laws and how spontaneous is the instinct of discretion in some minds, it must here be added that, though Mad Jack under a hot impulse,

Starting point is 04:51:52 had countermanded an order of his superior officer before his very face, yet that severe article of war to which he thus rendered himself obnoxious was never enforced against him, nor so far as any of the crew ever knew, did the captain even venture to reprimand him for his temerity. It has been said that, mad Jack himself was a lover of strong drink. So he was, but here we only see the virtue of being

Starting point is 04:52:21 placed in a station constantly demanding a cool head and steady nerves, and the misfortune of filling a post that does not at all times demand these qualities. So exact and methodical in most things was the discipline of the frigate that, to a certain extent, Captain Claret was exempted from personal interposition in many of his current events, and thereby, perhaps, was he lulled into security under the enticing lee of his decanter. But as for Mad Jack, he must stand his regular watches and pace the quarter-deck at night and keep a sharp eye to windward. Hence, at sea, Mad Jack tried to make a point of keeping sober, though in very fine weather he was sometimes betrayed into a glass too many.

Starting point is 04:53:12 But with Cape Horn before him, he took the temperance pledge out right, till that perilous promontory should be far astern. The leading incident of the gale irresistibly invites the question, are there incompetent officers in the American Navy? That is, incompetent to the due performance

Starting point is 04:53:32 of whatever duties may devolve upon them. But in that gallant marine, which during the late war, gain so much of what is called glory, can there possibly be, today, incompetent officers? As in the camp ashore, so on the quarter-deck at sea. The trumpets of one victory drown the muffled drums of a thousand defeats. And in degree, this holds true of those events of war, which are neuter in their character, neither making renown nor disgrace. Besides, as a long array of ciphers, led by but one solitary numeral,

Starting point is 04:54:11 swelled by mere force of aggregation into an immense arithmetical sum, even so, in some brilliant actions, do a crowd of officers, each inefficient in himself, aggregate renown when banded together, and led by a numeral Nelson or a Wellington. And the renown of such heroes by outliving themselves descends as a heritage to their subordinate survivors, one large brain and one large heart have virtue sufficient to magnetize a whole fleet or an army. And if all the men who, since the beginning of the world, have mainly contributed to the warlike successes or reverses of nations, were now mustered together, we should be amazed to behold but a handful of heroes, for there is no heroism in merely running in

Starting point is 04:55:02 and out a gun at a porthole, enveloped in smoke or vapor, or in firing off muskets and platoons at the word of command. This kind of merely manual valor is often born of trepidation at the heart. There may be men individually craven who, united, may display even temerity. Yet it would be false to deny that, in some instances,

Starting point is 04:55:29 the lowest privates have acquitted themselves with even more gallantry than their Commodores. True heroism is not in the hand, but in the heart and the head. But are there incompetent officers in the gallant American Navy? For an American, the question is of no grateful cast. White Jacket must again evade it by referring to an historical fact in the history of a kindred Marine, which, from its long-standing and magnitude, furnishes many more examples

Starting point is 04:56:01 of all kinds than our own. And this is the only reason why it is ever referred to in this narrative. I thank God I am free from all national invidiousness. It is indirectly on record in the books of the English Admiralty that in the year 1808, after the death of Lord Nelson, when Lord Collingwood commanded on the Mediterranean Station and his broken health induced him to solicit a furlough, that out of a list of upward of 100 admirals,

Starting point is 04:56:34 not a single officer was found who was deemed qualified to relieve the applicant with credit to the country. This fact, Collingwood sealed with his life, for hopeless of being recalled, he shortly after died, worn out at his post. Now, if this was the case in so renowned a Marine as England's, what must be inferred with respect to our own? But herein no special disgrace is involved, for the truth is that to be an accomplished and skillful naval

Starting point is 04:57:06 Generalissimo needs natural capabilities of an uncommon order. Still more, it may safely be asserted that worthily to command even a frigate requires a degree of natural heroism, talent, judgment, and integrity, that is denied to mediocrity. Yet these qualifications are not only required, but demanded, and no one has a right to be a naval captain unless he possesses them. Regarding lieutenants, there are not a few salvages and paperjacks in the American Navy. Many Commodores know that they have seldom taken a line of battleship to sea without feeling more or less nervousness when some of the lieutenants have the deck at night. According to the last Navy Register, 1849, there are now 68,000,

Starting point is 04:57:59 captains in the American Navy, collectively drawing about $300,000 annually from the public treasury. Also, 297 commanders drawing about $200,000, and 377 lieutenants drawing about half a million, and 451 midshipmen, including past midshipmen, also drawing nearly half a million. considering the known facts that some of these officers are seldom or never sent to sea, owing to the Navy Department being well aware of their inefficiency, that others are detailed for pen and ink work at observatories and solvers of logarithms in the Coast Survey, while the really meritorious officers, who are accomplished practical seamen, are known to be sent from ship to ship with but small interval of a furlough.

Starting point is 04:58:51 considering all this, it is not too much to say that no small portion of the million and a half of money above mentioned is annually paid to national pensioners in disguise who live on the Navy without serving it. Nothing like this can be even insinuated against the forward officers, bosons, gunners, etc., nor against the petty officers, captains of the tops, etc., nor against the able seamen in the nation. for if any of these are found wanting, they are forthwith disrated or discharged. True, all experience teaches that whenever there is a great national establishment employing large numbers of officials, the public must be reconciled to support many incompetent men. For such is the favoritism and nepotism always prevailing in the perlues of these establishments, that some incompetent persons are always admitted to the exclusion of many of the worthy. Nevertheless, in a country like ours boasting of the political equality of all social conditions,

Starting point is 05:00:05 it is a great reproach that such a thing as a common seaman rising to the rank of a commissioned officer in our Navy is nowadays almost unheard of. Yet in former times when officers have so risen to rank, they have generally proved of signal usefulness in the service and sometimes have reflected solid honor upon the country. Instances in point might be mentioned. Is it not well to have our institutions of a peace? Any American landsman may hope to become president of the Union,

Starting point is 05:00:41 Commodore of our squadron of states, and every American sailor should be placed in such a position that he might freely aspire to command a squadron of frigates. End of chapter 27. Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista. Chapter 28 of White Jacket or

Starting point is 05:01:07 The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville Chapter 28 Edging Away

Starting point is 05:01:34 Right before the wind, aye, blow, blow ye breezes, So long as ye stay fair and we are homeward bound, what care the jolly crew? It is worth mentioning here that, in nineteen cases out of twenty, a passage from the Pacific round the Cape, is almost sure to be much shorter and attended with less hardship than a passage undertaken from the Atlantic. The reason is that the gales are mostly from the westward, also the currents. But after all, going before the wind in a frigate in such a tempest, has its annoyances and drawbacks as well as many other blessings. The disproportionate weight of metal upon the spar and gun decks

Starting point is 05:02:23 induces a violent rolling, unknown to merchant ships. We rolled and rolled on our way, like the world in its orbit, shipping green seas on both sides, until the old frigate dipped and went into it like a diving bell. The hatchways of some armed vessels are but poorly secured in bad weather. This was peculiarly the ease with those of the Never Sink. They were merely spread over with an old tarpaulin, cracked and rent in every direction. In fair weather, the ship's company messed on the gun deck, but as this was now flooded almost

Starting point is 05:03:05 continually, we were obliged to take our meals upon the berth deck, the next one below. One day, the messes of the starboard watch were seated here at dinner, forming little groups twelve or fifteen men in each, reclining about the beef kids and their pots and pans. When all of a sudden, the ship was seized with such a paroxysm of rolling that, in a single instant, everything on the birth deck, pots, kids, sailors, pieces of beef, bread bags, clothes bags, and barges, were tossed indiscriminately from side to side. It was impossible to stay oneself. There was nothing but the bare deck to cling to. which was slippery with the contents of the kids,

Starting point is 05:03:52 and heaving under us as if there were a volcano in the frigates hold. While we were yet sliding in uproarious crowds, all seated, the windows of the deck opened, and floods of brine descended simultaneously with a violent lee-roll. The shower was hailed by the reckless tars with a hurricane of yells, although for an instant I really imagined we were about being swamped in the sea, such volumes of water came cascading down. A day or two after,

Starting point is 05:04:23 we had made sufficient easting to stand to the northward, which we did with the wind astern, thus fairly turning the corner without abating our rate of progress. Though we had seen no land since leaving Cayao, Cape Horn was said to be somewhere to the west of us, and though there was no positive evidence of the fact,

Starting point is 05:04:45 the weather encountered might be accounted pretty good presumptive proof. The land near Cape Horn, however, is well worth seeing, especially Statenland. Upon one occasion, the ship in which I then happened to be sailing drew near this place from the northward with a fair, free wind blowing steadily through a bright translucent clay

Starting point is 05:05:09 whose air was almost musical with the clear, glittering cold. On our starboard beam, like a pile of glaciers in Switzerland, lay this staten land, gleaming in snow-white bareness and solitude. Unnumbered white albatross were skimming the sea nearby, and clouds of smaller white wings fell through the air like snowflakes. High, towering in their own turban snows, the far inland pinnacles loomed up like the border of some other world, flashing walls and crystal battlements like the diamond watchtowers

Starting point is 05:05:46 along Heaven's furthest frontier. After leaving the latitude of the Cape, we had several storms of snow. One night, a considerable quantity laid upon the decks, and some of the sailors enjoyed the juvenile diversion of snowballing. Woe unto the Middy, who that night went forward of the booms. Such a target for snowballs, the throwers could never be known. By some curious slight in hurling the missiles,

Starting point is 05:06:15 they seemed to be thrown on board by some hoidenish sea-nymph outside the frigate. At daybreak, midshipman Pert went below to the surgeon with an alarming wound gallantly received in discharging his perilous duty on the forecastle. The officer of the deck had sent him on an errand to tell the Bolson that he was wanted in the captain's cabin. While in the very act of performing the exploit of delivering the message, Mr. Pert was struck on the nose with a snowball of wondrous compactness. Upon being informed of the disaster, the rogues expressed the liveliest sympathy. Pert was no favorite.

Starting point is 05:06:59 After one of these storms, it was a curious sight to see the men relieving the uppermost deck of its load of snow. It became the duty of the captain of each gun to keep his own station clean, accordingly with an old broom or squilgy, he proceeded to business, often quarreling with his next-door neighbors about their scraping their snow on his premises. It was like Broadway in winter, the morning after a storm, when rival shopboys are at work cleaning the sidewalk. Now and then, by way of variety, we had a fall of hailstones so big that sometimes we found ourselves dodging them. The Commodore had a Polynesian servant on board whose services he had engaged at the Society Islands. Unlike his countryman, Wooloo, was of a sedate, earnest, and philosophic temperament.

Starting point is 05:07:53 Having never been outside of the tropics before, he found many phenomena off Cape Horn, which absorbed his attention and set him, like other philosophers, to feign theories corresponding to the marvels he beheld. At the first snow, when he saw the deck covered all over with a white powder, as it were, he expanded his eyes into stewpans, but upon examining the strange substance, he decided that this must be a species of super-fine flour, such as was compounded into his master's duffs and other dainties. In vain did an experienced natural philosopher belonging to the foretop maintain before his face, that in this hypothesis, Wulu was mistaken. Wulu's opinion remained unchanged for some time.

Starting point is 05:08:44 As for the hailstones, they transported him. He went about with a bucket making collections and receiving contributions for the purpose of carrying them home to his sweethearts for glass beads. But having put his bucket away and returning to it again and finding nothing but little water, he accused the bystanders of stealing his precious stones. This suggests another story concerning him.

Starting point is 05:09:09 The first time he was given a piece of duff to eat, he was observed to pick out very carefully every raisin and throw it away with a gesture indicative of the highest disgust. It turned out that he had taken the raisins for bugs. In our man of war, this semi-savage wandering about the gun-deck and his barbaric robe seemed a being from some other sphere. His tastes were our abominations, ours his. Our creed, he rejected, his, we.

Starting point is 05:09:43 We thought him aloon. He fancied us fools. Had the case been reversed, had we been Polynesians and he and American, our mutual opinion of each other would still have remained the same, a fact proving that neither was wrong, but both right. End of Chapter 28. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 29 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 05:10:19 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Mel Ville. Chapter 29. The Night Watches Though leaving the cape behind us, the severe cold still continued, and one of its worst consequences was the almost incurable drowsiness induced thereby during the long night watches. All along the decks, huddled between the guns, stretched out on the carinate slides,

Starting point is 05:11:05 and in every accessible nook and corner, you would see the sailors wrapped in their monkey jackets in a state of half-conscious torpidity, lying still and freezing alive, without the power to rise and shake themselves. Up, up, you lazy dogs! Our good-natured third lieutenant, a Virginian, would cry, rapping them with his speaking trumpet.

Starting point is 05:11:32 Get up and stir about. But in vain. they would rise for an instant, and as soon as his back was turned, down they would drop, as if shot through the heart. Often I have lain thus when the fact that if I laid much longer I would actually freeze to death would come over me with such overpowering force as to break the icy spell, and starting to my feet I would endeavor to go through the combined manual and pedal exercise to restore the circulation. The first fling of my benumbed arm generally struck me in the face,

Starting point is 05:12:08 instead of smiting my chest, its true destination. But in these cases, one's muscles have their own way. In exercising my own extremities, I was obliged to hold on to something and leap with both feet, for my limbs seemed as destitute of joints as a pair of canvas pants spread to dry and frozen stiff. when an order was given to haul the braces which required the strength of the entire watch some two hundred men a spectator would have supposed that all hands had received a stroke of the palsy roused from their state of enchantment they came halting and limping across the decks falling against each other and for a few moments almost unable to handle the ropes the slightest exertion seemed intolerable and frequently a body of eighty

Starting point is 05:13:01 or a hundred men summoned to brace the main yard, would hang over the rope for several minutes, waiting for some active fellow to pick it up and put it into their hands. Even then, it was some time before they were able to do anything. They made all the motions usual in hauling a rope, but it was a long time before the yard budged an inch. It was to no purpose that the officers swore at them or sent the midshipmen among them to find out who those horse marines and soggers were. The sailors were so enveloped in monkey jackets that in the dark night there was no telling one from the other. "'Here, you, sir,' cries little Mr. Purt, eagerly catching hold of the skirts of an old sea-dog,

Starting point is 05:13:46 and trying to turn him round so as to peer under his tarpaulin. "'Who are you, sir? What's your name?' "'Find out, milk and water,' was the impertinent rejoinder. "'Blast you, you old rascal. I'll have you lick for that. "'Tell me his name, some of you,' turning round to the bystanders. "'Gammon!' cries a voice at a distance. "'Hang me, but I know you, sir, and here's at you.' And so saying Mr. Purt drops the impenetrable unknown

Starting point is 05:14:18 and makes into the crowd after the bodily voice. But the attempt to find an owner for that voice is quite as idle as the effort to discover the contents of the monkey jacket. And here sorrowful mention must be made of something which, during this state of affairs, most sorely afflicted me. Most monkey jackets are of a dark hue. Mine, as I have fifty times repeated and say again, was white. And thus, in those long dark nights, when it was my quarter-watch on deck, and not in the top,

Starting point is 05:14:53 and others went skulking and saugging about the decks, secure from detection, their identity, undiscoverable, my own hapless jacket forever proclaimed the name of its wearer. It gave me many a hard job which otherwise I should have escaped. When an officer wanted a man for any particular duty running aloft, say, to communicate some slight order to the captains of the tops, how easy in that mob of incognito's to individualize that white jacket and dispatch him on the errand. then it would never do for me to hang back when the ropes were being pulled. Indeed, upon all these occasions, such alacrity and cheerfulness was I obliged to display

Starting point is 05:15:40 that I was frequently held up as an illustrious example of activity, which the rest were called upon to emulate. Pull, pull, you lazy lubbers, look at whitejacket there, pull like him. Oh, how I execrated my luckless gregers! garment, how often I scoured the deck with it to give it a tawny hue. How often I supplicated the inexorable brush, captain of the paint room, for just one brushful of his invaluable pigment. Frequently, I meditated giving it a toss overboard, but I had not the resolution. Jacketless at sea, Jacketless so near Cape Horn? The thought was unendurable. And at least my garment was a

Starting point is 05:16:28 jacket in name, if not in utility. At length I assayed a swap. Here, Bob, said I, assuming all possible suavity, and accosting a messmate with a sort of diplomatic assumption of superiority, suppose I was ready to part with this Grigo of mine and take yours in exchange. What would you give me to boot? Give you to boot, he exclaimed with horror, I wouldn't take your infernal jacket for a gift. how i hailed every snow-squall for then blessings on them many of the men became white jackets along with myself and powdered with the flakes we all looked like millers

Starting point is 05:17:13 we had six lieutenants all of whom with the exception of the first lieutenant by turns headed the watches three of these officers including mad jack were strict disciplinarians and never permitted us to lay down on deck during the night and to tell the truth though it caused much growling, it was far better for our health to be thus kept on our feet. So promenading was all the vogue. For some of us, however, it was like pacing in a dungeon, for as we had to keep at our stations, some at the halliards, some at the braces, and elsewhere, and were not allowed to stroll about indefinitely and fairly take the measure of the ship's entire keel, we were fain to confine ourselves to the space of a very few feet. But the worst of this was soon over. The suddenness of the change in the temperature consequent on leaving Cape Horn

Starting point is 05:18:07 and steering to the northward with a ten-not breeze is a noteworthy thing. Today you are sailed by a blast that seems to have edged itself on icebergs, but in a little more than a week your jacket may be superfluous. One word more about Cape Horn, and we have done with it. years hence when a ship canal shall have penetrated the isthmus of darian and the traveller be taking his seat in the ears at cape cod for astoria it will be held a thing almost incredible that for so long a period vessels bound to the northwest coast from new york should by going round Cape Horn, have lengthened their voyages some thousands of miles. In those unenlightened days, I quote in advance, the language of some future philosopher, entire years were frequently consumed in making the voyage to and from the Spice Islands,

Starting point is 05:19:07 the present fashionable watering place of the Beaumont of Oregon. Such must be our national progress. Why, sir, that boy, of yours will one of these days be sending your grandson to the salubrious city of Gido to spend his summer vacations. End of Chapter 29. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 30 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Libravox org.

Starting point is 05:19:59 Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 30 A peep through a porthole at the subterranean parts of a man of war.

Starting point is 05:20:18 While now running rapidly away from the bitter coast of Patagonia, battling with the night watches, still cold, as best we may, come under the lee of my white jacket reader, while I tell of the less painful sights to be seen in a frigate. A hint has already been conveyed concerning the subterranean depths of the never sinks hold,

Starting point is 05:20:43 but there is no time here to speak of the spirit room, a cellar down in the afterhold, where the sailor's grog is kept, nor of the cableteers where the great hawsers and chains are piled, as you see them at a large ship chandler's on shore, nor of the grocer's vaults, where tears of sugar, molasses, vinegar, rice, and flour are snugly stowed. Nor of the sailroom, full as a sailmaker's loft ashore, piled up with great top sails and top gallant sails, all ready folded in their places, like so many white vests in a gentleman's wardrobe. Nor of the copper and copper-fastened magazine, closely packed with kegs of powder, great gun and

Starting point is 05:21:30 small arm cartridges, nor of the immense shot lockers or subterranean arsenals full as a bushel of apples with 24-pound balls, nor of the bread room, a large apartment, tend all round within to keep out the mice, where the hard biscuit destined for the consumption of 500 men on a long voyage is stowed away by the cubic yard. Nor of the vast iron tanks for fresh water in the hold, like the reservoirs, lakes at Fairmont in Philadelphia, nor of the paint room where the kegs of white lead and casks of linseed oil and all sorts of pots and brushes are kept, nor of the armorer's smithy, where the ship's forges and anvils may be heard ringing at times.

Starting point is 05:22:19 I say, I have no time to speak of these things, and many more places of note. But there is one very extensive warehouse among the rest that needs special many. the ship's yeoman's store-room. In the Never Sink it was down in the ship's basement, beneath the berth deck, and you went to it by way of the forepassage, a very dim, devious corridor indeed. Entering, say, at noonday, you find yourself in a gloomy apartment,

Starting point is 05:22:52 lit by a solitary lamp. On one side are shelves filled with balls of marlene, ratlin stuff, seizing stuff, spun yarn, and numerous twines of assorted sizes. In another direction, you see large cases containing heaps of articles reminding one of a shoemaker's furnishing store, wooden serving mallets, fids, toggles, and heavers, iron prickers, and marling spikes. In a third quarter, you see a sort of hardware shop, shelves piled with all manner of hooks,

Starting point is 05:23:28 bolts, nails, screws, and thimbles. And in still another direction, you see a blockmaker's store, heaped up with lignum-vete sheaves and wheels. Through low arches in the bulkhead beyond, you peep in upon distant vaults and catacombs, obscurely lighted in the far end, and showing immense coils of new ropes and other bulky articles stowed in tears, all savoring of tar.

Starting point is 05:23:56 But by far the most curious department of these mysterious storerooms is the armory, where the spikes, cutlasses, pistols, and belts forming the arms of the borders in time of action are hung against the walls and suspended in thick rows from the beams overhead. Here too are to be seen scores of Colts patent revolvers, which, though furnished with but one tube, multiply the fatal bullets as the naval catanine-tailed, with a cannibal cruelty in one blow nine times multiplies a culprit's lashes. So when a sailor is ordered one dozen lashes, the sentence should read 108. All these arms are kept in the brightest order, wearing a fine polish,

Starting point is 05:24:44 and may truly be said to reflect credit on the yeoman and his mates. Among the lower grade of officers in a man of war, that of yeoman is not the least important. His responsibilities are denoted by his pay. While the petty officers, quarter-gunners, captains of the tops and others, receive but $15 and $18 a month, but little more than a mere able seaman, the yeoman in an American line of battleship receives $40 and in a frigate $35 per month. He is accountable for all the articles under his charge, and on no account must deliver a yard of twine or a ten-penny nail to the bosen or carpenter

Starting point is 05:25:29 unless shown a written requisition and order from the senior lieutenant. The yeoman is to be found burrowing in his underground storerooms all the day long in readiness to serve license customers. But in the counter, behind which he usually stands, there is no place for a till to drop the shillings in, which takes away not a little from the most agreeable part of a storekeeper's duties, nor among the musty old account books in his desk, where he registers all expenditures of his stuffs.

Starting point is 05:26:03 Is there any cash or checkbook? The yeoman of the Never Sink was a somewhat odd specimen of a troglodyte. He was a little old man, round-shouldered, bald-headed, with great goggle eyes, looking through portentous round spectacles, which he called his barnacles. He was imbued with a wonderful zeal for the naval service and seemed to think that in keeping his pistols and cutlasses free from rust, he preserved the national honor untarnished. After General Quarters, it was amusing to watch his anxious air

Starting point is 05:26:40 as the various petty officers restored to him the arms used at the martial exercises of the crew. as successive bundles would be deposited on his counter he would count over the pistols and cutlasses like an old housekeeper telling over his silver forks and spoons in a pantry before retiring for the night and often with a sort of dark lantern in his hand he might be seen poking into his furthest vaults and cellars and counting over his great coils of ropes as if they were all jolly puncheons of old port and madera by reason of his incessant watchfulness and unaccountable bachelor oddities it was very difficult for him to retain in his employment the various sailors who from time to time were billeted with him to do the duty of subalterns in particular he was always desirous of having at least one steady faultless young man of a literary taste to keep an eye to his account books and swab out the armory every morning it was an odious business this to be amured all day in such a bottomless hole among tarry old ropes and villainous guns and pistols it was with peculiar dread that i one day noticed the goggle eyes of old revolver as they called him fastened upon me with a fatal glance of good-will and approbation he had somehow heard of my being a very learned person who could both read and write with extraordinary facility and, moreover, that I was a rather reserved youth who kept his modest, unassuming merits

Starting point is 05:28:22 in the background. But, though, from the keen sense of my situation as a man-of-war's man, all this about my keeping myself in the background, was true enough, yet I had no idea of hiding my diffident merits underground. I became alarmed at the old yeoman's goggling glances, lest he should drag me down into tarry perdition in his hideous store-rooms. But this fate was providentially averted, owing to mysterious causes which I never could fathom. End of Chapter 30, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 31 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording.

Starting point is 05:29:19 All Librevox recordings are in the... the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 31, The Gunner Under Hatches. Among such a crowd of marked characters as were to be met with on board our frigate, many of whom moved in mysterious circles beneath the lowermost deck, and at long intervals flitted into sight, like apparitions and disappeared again for whole weeks together,

Starting point is 05:30:02 there were some who inordinately excited my curiosity, and whose names, callings, and precise abodes I industriously sought out in order to learn something satisfactory concerning them. While engaged in these inquiries, often fruitless, or but partially gratified, I could not but regret that there was no public printed directory for the Never Sink, such as they have in large towns, containing an alphabetic list of all the crew and where they might be found. Also, in losing myself in some remote, dark corner of the bowels of the frigate, in the vicinity of the various storerooms, shops, and warehouses,

Starting point is 05:30:45 I much lamented that no enterprising tar had yet thought of compiling a handbook of the Never Sink, so that the tourist might have a reliable guide. Indeed, there were several parts of the ship under hatches, shrouded in mystery, and completely inaccessible to the sailor. Wondrous old doors barred and bolted and dingy bulkheads must have opened into regions full of interest to a successful explorer. They looked like the gloomy entrances to family vaults of buried dead, and when I chanced to see some unknown functionary insert his key

Starting point is 05:31:23 and enter these inexplicable apartments with a battle lantern, as if on solemn official business, I almost quaked to dive in with him and satisfy myself whether these vaults indeed contain the moldering relics of bygone old commodores, and post-captains. But the habitations of the living Commodore and captain, their spacious and curtain cabins, were themselves almost as sealed volumes,

Starting point is 05:31:51 and I passed them in hopeless wonderment, like a peasant before a prince's palace. Night and day armed centuries guarded their sacred portals, cutless in hand, and had I dared to cross their path, I would infallibly have been cut down as if in battle. Thus, those, those. for a period of more than a year, I was an inmate of this floating box of live oak,

Starting point is 05:32:16 yet there were numberless things in it that, to the last, remained wrapped in obscurity, or concerning which I could only lose myself in vague speculations. I was as a Roman Jew of the Middle Ages, confined to the Jew's quarter of the town, and forbidden to stray beyond my limits. Or I was as a modern traveler in the same famous city, forced to be able to, to quit it at last without gaining ingress to the most mysterious haunts, the innermost shrine of the Pope, and the dungeons and cells of the Inquisition. But among all the persons and things on board that puzzled me and filled me most with strange emotions of doubt, misgivings, and mystery, was the

Starting point is 05:33:00 gunner, a short, square grim man, his hair and beard grizzled and singed, as if with gunpowder. His skin was of a flecky brown, like the stained barrel of a fowling piece, and his hollow eyes burned in his head like blue lights. He it was who had access to many of those mysterious vaults I have spoken of. Often he might be seen groping his way into them, followed by his subalterns, the old quarter-gunners, as if intent upon laying a train of powder to blow up the ship. I remembered Guy Fawkes and the Parliament House and made earnest inquiry whether this gunner was a Roman Catholic.

Starting point is 05:33:43 I felt relieved when informed that he was not. A little circumstance, which one of his mates once told me heightened the gloomy interest with which I regarded his chief, he told me that at periodical intervals, his master, the gunner, accompanied by his phalanx, entered into the great magazine under the gunroom, of which he had sole custody and kept the key, nearly as big as the key of the Bastille,

Starting point is 05:34:11 and provided with lanterns something like Sir Humphrey Davies' safety lamp for coal mines, proceeded to turn, in for in, all the kegs of powder and packages of cartridges stored in this innermost explosive vault, lined throughout with sheets of copper. In the vestibule of the magazine, against the panel, were several pegs for slippers, and, before penetrating further than that vestibule,

Starting point is 05:34:38 every man of the gunner's gang silently removed his shoes for fear that the nails in their heels might possibly create a spark by striking against the coppered floor within. Then, with slippered feet and with hushed whispers, they stole into the heart of the place. This turning of the powder was to preserve its inflammability, and surely it was a business full of direful interest to be buried so deep below the sun handling whole barrels of powder, any one of which, touched by the smallest bark,

Starting point is 05:35:13 was powerful enough to blow up a whole street of warehouses. The gunner went by the name of old combustibles, though I thought this an undignified name for so momentous a personage, who had all our lives in his hand. While we lay in Kayau, we received, received from shore several barrels of powder. So soon as the launch came alongside with them, orders were given to extinguish all lights and all fires in the ship, and the master at arms and his corporals inspected every deck to see that this order was obeyed, a very prudent

Starting point is 05:35:48 precaution, no doubt, but not observed at all in the Turkish Navy. The Turkish sailors will sit on their gun carriages, tranquilly smoking while kegs of powder are being rolled under their ignited pipe bowls. This shows the great comfort there is in the doctrine of these fatalists, and how such a doctrine, in some things at least, relieves men from nervous anxieties. But we all are fatalists at bottom. Nor need we so much marvel at the heroism of that army officer who challenged his personal foe to bestride a barrel of powder with him. The match to be placed between them, and be blown up in good company, for it is pretty certain that the whole earth itself is a vast hogshead, full of inflammable materials, and which

Starting point is 05:36:37 we are always bestriding, at the same time that all good Christians believe that at any minute the last day may come, and the terrible combustion of the entire planet ensue. As if impressed with a befitting sense of the awfulness of his calling, our gunner always wore a fixed expression of solemnity, which was heightened by his grizzled hair and beard. But what imparted such a sinister look to him, and what wrought so upon my imagination concerning this man, was a frightful scar crossing his left cheek and forehead. He had been almost mortally wounded, they said, with a saber-cut during a frigate engagement in the last war with Britain. He was the most methodical, exact, and punctual of all

Starting point is 05:37:27 the forward officers. Among his other duties, it pertained to him, while in harbor, to see that a certain hour in the evening one of the great guns was discharged from the forecastle, a ceremony only observed in a flagship, and always at the precise moment you might behold him blowing his match, then applying it. And with that booming thunder in his ear and the smell of the powder in his hair, he retired to his hammock for the night. dreams he must have had. The same precision was observed when ordered to fire a gun to bring to some ship at sea. For true to their name and preserving its applicability, even in times of peace, all men of war are great bullies on the high seas. They domineer over the poor merchantmen,

Starting point is 05:38:19 and with a hissing hotball sent bowling across the ocean, compel them to stop their headway at pleasure. It was enough to make you a man of method for life to see the gunner superintending his subalterns when preparing the main deck batteries for a great national salute. While lying in harbor, intelligence reached us of the lamentable casualty that befell certain high officers of state, including the acting secretary of the Navy himself, some other member of the president's cabinet, a Commodore, and others. all engaged in experimenting upon a new-fangled engine of war. At the same time, with the receipt of this sad news,

Starting point is 05:39:05 orders arrived to fire minute guns for the deceased head of the naval department. Upon this occasion, the gunner was more than usually ceremonious in seeing that the long 24s were thoroughly loaded and rammed down and then accurately marked with chalk so as to be discharged in undisputed, in undeviating rotation, first from the larboard side, and then from the starboard. But as my ears hummed,

Starting point is 05:39:34 and all my bones danced in me with the reverberating din, and my eyes and nostrils were almost suffocated with the smoke, and when I saw this grim old gunner firing away so solemnly, I thought it a strange mode of honoring a man's memory,

Starting point is 05:39:50 who had himself been slaughtered by a cannon. Only the smoke, that, after rolling in at the portholes, rapidly drifted away to leeward, and was lost to view, seemed truly emblematical touching the personage thus honored, since that great non-combatant the Bible assures us that our life is but a vapor that quickly passeth away. End of Chapter 31. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 32 of White Jacket, or The World

Starting point is 05:40:30 in a man of war. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 32. A Dish of Dunderfunk In Men of War, the space on the uppermost deck, roundabout the main mast,

Starting point is 05:41:05 is the police office, courthouse, and yard of execution, where all charges are lodged, causes tried, and punishment administered. In frigate phrase, to be brought up to the mast is equivalent to being presented before the grand jury to see whether a true bill will be found against you. From the merciless inquisitorial baiting, which sailors charged with offenses too often experience at the mast, that vicinity is usually known among them as the bullring. The main mast, moreover, is the only place where the sailor can hold formal communication with the captain and officers. If anyone has been robbed, if anyone has been evilly entreated, if anyone's character has been defamed,

Starting point is 05:41:53 if anyone has a request to present, if anyone has ought important for the executive of the ship to know, straight to the main mast he repairs and stands there, generally with his hat off, waiting the pleasure of the officer of the deck to advance and communicate with him. Often the most ludicrous scenes occur and the most comical complaints are made. One clear cold morning, while we were yet running away from the cape, a raw-boned, crack-pated down-easter belonging to the waist, made his appearance at the mast, dolefully exhibiting a blackened tin pan, bearing a few crusty traces of some sort of a sea-pie which had been cooked in it.

Starting point is 05:42:41 "'Well, sir, what now?' said the lieutenant of the deck, advancing. "'They stole it, sir. All my nice dunder-fell. sir. They did, sir, whined the down Easter, ruefully holding up his pan. Stole your dunderfunk? What's that? Dunderfunk, sir, dunderfunk, a cruel, nice dish as ever man put into him. Speak out, sir, what's the matter? My dunderfunk, sir. As elegant a dish of dunderfunk as you ever see, sir. They stole it, sir. Go forward, you rascal, cried the lieutenant, in a towering rage, or else

Starting point is 05:43:18 stop your whining. Tell me, what's the matter? Why, sir, them there are two fellows, Dobbs and Hodnows, stole my dunderfunk. Once more, sir, I ask what that dunderfunk is. Speak, as cruel a nice, blank. Be off, sir, sheer, and muttering something about non-compos-mentis, the lieutenant stalked away, while the down-easter beat a melancholy retreat, holding up his pan like a tambourine and making dolorous music on it as he went. Where are you going with that tear in your eye, like a traveling rat? cried a topman. Oh, he's going home to down east, said another. So far eastward, you know, shippy, that they have to pry up the sun with a handspike. To make this anecdote plainer, be it said that at sea,

Starting point is 05:44:10 the monotonous round of salt beef and pork at the messes of the sailors, where but very few of the varieties of the season are to be found, induces them to adopt many contrivances in order to diversify their meals. Hence, the various sea rolls, made dishes, and Mediterranean pies, well known by the men of war's men. Scouse, lob scouse, soft tack, soft tommy, Skilla Galley, Burgu, Doe, Doe Boys, Lob Dominion, Dogbodies, and lastly, and least known, Dunderfunk. of which come under the general denomination of mannavalans. Dunderfunk is made of hard biscuit, hashed and pounded, mixed with beef fat,

Starting point is 05:44:56 molasses and water, and baked brown in a pan. And to those who are beyond all reach of shore delicacies, this Dunderfunk, in the feeling language of the downeaster, is certainly a cruel, nice dish. Now, the only way that a sailor after preparing his Dunderfunk could get it cooked on board

Starting point is 05:45:16 the Never Sink was by slyly going to old coffee, the ship's cook, and bribing him to put it into his oven. And, as some such dishes or other are well known to be all the time in the oven, a set of unprincipled gormans are constantly on the lookout for the chance of stealing them. Generally, two or three league together, and while one engages old coffee in some interesting conversation touching his wife and family at home, another snatches the first thing he can lay hands on in the oven and rapidly passes it to the third man, who, at his earliest leisure, disappears with it. In this manner had the Downeaster lost his precious pie, and afterward found the empty pen knocking about the forecastle.

Starting point is 05:46:07 End of Chapter 32. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 33 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 05:46:43 By Herman Melville. Chapter 33. A flogging If you begin the day with a laugh, you may nevertheless end it with a sob and a sigh. Among the many who were exceedingly diverted with the scene between the Downeaster and the lieutenant, none laughed more heartily than John, Peter, Mark, and Antoine,

Starting point is 05:47:08 four sailors of the Starboard Watch. The same evening these four found themselves prisoners in the brig with a sentry standing over them. They were charged with violating a well-known law of the ship, having been engaged in one of those tangled general fights sometimes occurring among sailors. They had nothing to anticipate but a flogging at the captain's pleasure. Toward evening of the next day,

Starting point is 05:47:36 they were startled by the dread summons of the boatswain and his mates at the principal hatchway, a summons that ever sends a shudder through every manly heart in a frigate. All hands witness punishment, ahoy! The hoarseness of the cry, its unrelenting prolongation, it's being caught up at different points and sent through the lower most depths of the ship, all this produces a most dismal effect upon every heart not calloused by long habituation to it. However much you may desire to absent yourself from the scene that ensues, yet behold it you must,

Starting point is 05:48:16 or at least stand near it you must, for the regulations enjoin the attendance of the entire ship's company from the corpulent captain himself to the smallest boy who strikes the bell. All hands witness punishment, ahoy! To the sensitive seaman that summons sounds like a doom. He knows that the same law which impels it, the same law by which the culprits of the day must suffer, that by that very law he also is liable at any time to be judged and condemned, and the inevitableness of his own presence at the scene, the strong arm that drags him in view of the scourge,

Starting point is 05:48:58 and holds him there till all is over, forcing upon his loathing eye and soul the sufferings and groans of men, who have familiarly consorted with him, eaten with him, battled out watches with him. Men of his own type and badge, all this conveys a terrible hint of the omnipotent authority under which he lives. Indeed, to such a man, the naval summons to witness punishment carries a thrill, somewhat akin to what we may impute to the quick and the dead, when they shall hear the last trump, that is to bid them all arise in their ranks, and behold the final penalties inflicted upon the sinners of our race.

Starting point is 05:49:42 But it must not be imagined that to all men of wars men, this summons conveys such poignant emotions, but it is hard to decide whether one should be glad or sad that this is not the case. Whether it is grateful to know that so much pain is avoided, or whether it is far sadder to think that either from constitutional heart, hard-heartedness or the multiplied searings of habit, hundreds of men-of-war's men have been made proof against the sense of degradation, pity, and shame.

Starting point is 05:50:14 As if in sympathy with the scene to be enacted, the sun, which the day previous had merrily flashed upon the tin pan of the disconsolate down-easter, was now setting over the dreary waters, veiling itself in vapors. The wind blew hoarsely in the cordage, the seas broke heavily against the boughs, and the frigate, staggering under the whole top sails,

Starting point is 05:50:38 strained as an agony on her way. All hands witness punishment to Hoy! At the summons, the crew crowded round the main mast, multitudes eager to obtain a good place on the booms, to overlook the scene, many laughing and chatting, others canvassing the case of the culprits, some maintaining sad, anxious countenances or carrying a suppressed indignation in their eyes, a few purposely keeping behind to avoid looking on.

Starting point is 05:51:10 In short, among 500 men, there was every possible shade of character. All the officers, midshipmen included, stood together in a group on the starboard side of the main mast, the first lieutenant in advance and the surgeon, whose special duty it is to be present at such times, standing close by his side. Presently, the captain came forward from his cabin and stood in the center of this solemn group, with a small paper in his hand. That paper was the daily report of offenses regularly laid upon his table every morning or evening, like the day's journal placed by a bachelor's napkin at breakfast.

Starting point is 05:51:53 Master at arms, bring up the prisoners, he said. A few moments. elapsed, during which the captain, now clothed in his most dreadful attributes, fixed his eyes severely upon the crew, when suddenly a lane formed through the crowd of seamen, and the prisoners advanced. The master-at-arms retan in hand on one side, and an armed marine on the other, and took up their stations at the mast. You, John, you, Peter, you, Mark, you Antoine, said the captain. were yesterday found fighting on the gun deck. Have you anything to say?

Starting point is 05:52:34 Mark and Antoine, two steady middle-aged men, whom I had often admired for their sobriety, replied that they did not strike the first blow, that they had submitted to much before they had yielded to their passions. But as they acknowledged that they had at last defended themselves, their excuse was overruled. John, a brutal book, bully, who, it seems, was the real author of the disturbance, was about entering into a long

Starting point is 05:53:05 extenuation when he was cut short by being made to confess, irrespective of circumstances that he had been in the fray. Peter, a handsome lad about nineteen years old, belonging to the mizzen-top, looked pale and tremulous. He was a great favorite in his part of this ship, and especially in his own mess, principally composed of lads of his his own age. That morning two of his young messmates had gone to his bag, taken out his best clothes, and, obtaining the permission of the Marine sentry at the brig, had handed them to him to be put on against being summoned to the mast. This was done to propitiate the captain, as most captains loved to see a tidy sailor. But it would not do. To all his supplications, the captain turned a deaf

Starting point is 05:53:56 ear. Peter declared that he had been struck twice before he had returned a blow. No matter, said the captain, you struck at last instead of reporting the case to an officer. I allow no man to fight on board here but myself. I do the fighting. Now men, he added, you all admit the charge, you know the penalty. Strip. Quartermasters, are the gratings rigged? The gratings are square frames of barred woodwork. placed over the hatchways. One of these squares was now laid on the deck, close to the ship's bulwarks, and while the remaining preparations were being made, the master at arms assisted the prisoners in removing their jackets and shirts. This done, their shirts were loosely thrown over their

Starting point is 05:54:43 shoulders. At a sign from the captain, John, with a shameless leer, advanced and stood passively upon the grating, while the bareheaded old quartermaster, with gray hair streaming in the wind, bound his feet to the crossbars, and, stretching out his arms over his head, secured them to the hammock nettings above. He then retreated a little space, standing silent. Meanwhile, the bosun stood solemnly on the other side with a green bag in his hand, from which, taking four instruments of punishment, he gave one to each of his mates, for a fresh cat applied by a fresh hand, is the ceremonious privilege accorded to every man of war culprit. At another sign from the captain, the master at arms, stepping up, removed the shirt from the prisoner.

Starting point is 05:55:36 At this juncture, a wave broke against the ship's side and clashed the spray over his exposed back. But though the air was piercing cold and the water drenched him, John stood still, without a shutter. The captain's finger was now lifted, and the first Bosen's mate advanced, combing out the nine tails of his cat with his hand, and then, sweeping them round his neck, brought them with the whole force of his body upon the mark, again and again and again, and at every blow, higher and higher rose the long purple bars on the prisoner's back. But he only bowed over his head and stood still. meantime some of the crew whispered among themselves in applause of their shipmate's nerve, but the greater part were breathlessly silent as the keen scourge hissed through the wintry air

Starting point is 05:56:29 and fell with a cutting, wiry sound upon the mark. One dozen lashes being applied, the man was taken down and went among the crew with a smile saying, "'Blank me, it's nothing when you're used to it. Who wants to fight?' The next was Antoine, the Portuguese. At every blow, he surged from side to side, pouring out a torrent of involuntary blasphemies.

Starting point is 05:56:58 Never before had he been heard to curse. When cut down, he went among the men swearing to have the life of the captain. Of course, this was unheard by the officers. Mark, the third prisoner, only cringed and coughed under his punishment. He had some pulmonary complaint. He was off duty for several days after the flogging, but this was partly to be imputed to his extreme mental misery. It was his first scourging,

Starting point is 05:57:25 and he felt the insult more than the injury. He became silent and sullen for the rest of the crews. The fourth and last was Peter, the mizontop lad. He had often boasted that he had never been degraded at the gangway. The day before, his cheek had worn its usual red, but now no ghost was whiter. As he was being secured to the gratings, and the shudderings and creepings of his dazzlingly white back were revealed,

Starting point is 05:57:55 he turned round his head imploringly, but his weeping entreaties and vows of contrition were of no avail. I would not forgive God Almighty, cried the captain. The fourth boatswens made advanced, and at the first blow the boy shouting, my God, oh my God, writhed and leaped so as to displace the gratings and scattered the nine-tails of the scourge all over his person. At the next blow, he howled, leaped, and raged in unendurable torture.

Starting point is 05:58:29 What are you stopping for, Boeson's mate? cried the captain. Lay on. And the whole dozen was applied. I don't care what happens to me now, wept Peter, going among the crew with bloodshot eyes, as he put on his shirt. I have been flogged once, and they may do it again if they will. Let them look for me now.

Starting point is 05:58:50 Pipe down, cried the captain, and the crew slowly dispersed. Let us have the charity to believe them, as we do, when some captains in the Navy say that the thing of all others most repulsive to them in the routine of what they consider their duty is the administration of corporal punishment upon the crew. For surely,

Starting point is 05:59:12 Not to feel scarified to the quick at these scenes would argue a man but a beast. You see a human being stripped like a slave, scourged worse than a hound, and for what? For things not essentially criminal, but only made so by arbitrary laws. End of Chapter 33. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain

Starting point is 05:59:57 For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville Chapter 34 Some of the Evil effects of flogging. There are incidental considerations touching this matter of flogging which exaggerate the

Starting point is 06:00:25 evil into a great enormity. Many illustrations might be given, but let us be content with a few. One of the arguments advanced by officers of the Navy in favor of corporal punishment is this. It can be inflicted in a moment. It consumes no valuable time, and when the prisoner's shirt is put on, that is the last of it. Whereas if another punishment were substituted, it would probably occasion a great waste of time and trouble, besides thereby beginning in the sailor an undue idea of his importance. Absurd or worse than absurd, as it may appear, all this is true. And if you start from the same premises with these officers, you must admit that they advance an irresistible argument. But in accordance with this principle, captains in the

Starting point is 06:01:22 Navy, to a certain extent, inflict the scourge which is ever at hand for nearly all degrees of transgression. In offenses not cognizable by a court-martial, little if any discrimination is shown. It is of a peace with the penal laws that prevailed in England some 60 years ago when 160 different offenses were declared by the statute book to be capital, and the servant-maid who but pilfered a watch was hung beside the murderer of a family. It is one of the most common punishments for very trivial offenses in the Navy to stop a seaman's grog for a day or a week, and as most seamen so cling to their grog, the loss of it is generally deemed by them a very serious penalty. You will sometimes hear them say, I would rather have my wind stopped than my

Starting point is 06:02:20 grog. But there are some sober seamen that would much rather draw the money for it, instead of the grog itself, as provided by law. But they are too often deterred from this by the thought of receiving a scourging for some inconsiderable offense as a substitute for the stopping of their spirits. This is a most serious obstacle to the cause of temperance in the Navy, but in many cases even the reluctant drawing of his grog cannot exempt a prudent seaman from ignominy. For besides the formal administering of the cat at the gangway for petty offenses, he is liable to the colt or rope's end, a bit of ratlin stuff, indiscriminately applied without stripping the victim at any time.

Starting point is 06:03:11 and in any part of the ship, at the merest wink from the captain. By an express order of that officer, most Boeson's mates carry the colt, coiled in their hats, in readiness to be administered at a minute's warning upon any offender. This was the custom in the Never Sink, and until so recent a period as the administration of President Polk, when the historian Bankcroft, Secretary of the Navy, officially interposed, it was an almost universal thing for the officers of the watch at their own discretion to inflict chastisement upon a sailor, and this too, in the face of the ordinance restricting the power of flogging solely to captains and courts-martial.

Starting point is 06:03:57 Nor was it a thing unknown for a lieutenant, in a sudden outburst of passion perhaps inflamed by brandy, or smarting under the sense of being disliked or hated by the seaman, to order a whole watch of 250 men at dead of night to undergo the indignity of the cult. It is believed that even at the present day there are instances of commanders still violating the law by delegating the power of the cult to subordinates. At all events, it is certain that, almost to a man, the lieutenants in the Navy bitterly rail against the officiousness of Bancroft in so materially abridging their usurped functions by snatching the cult from their hands.

Starting point is 06:04:43 At the time, they predicted that this rash and most ill-judged interference of the Secretary would end in the breaking up of all discipline in the Navy, but it has not so proved. These officers now predict that, if the cat be abolished, the same unfulfilled prediction would be verified. concerning the license with which many captains violate the express laws laid down by Congress for the government of the Navy, a glaring instance may be quoted. For upward of 40 years, there has been on the American statute book a law prohibiting a captain from inflicting on his own authority more than 12 lashes at one time. If more are to be given, the sentence must be passed by a court-martial. yet for nearly half a century this law has been frequently and with almost perfect impunity set at naught though of late through the exertions of bancroft and others it has been much better observed than formerly

Starting point is 06:05:49 indeed at the present day it is generally respected still while the never sink was lying in a south american port on the cruise now written of the seamen belonging to the seamen belonging to another American frigate informed us that their captain sometimes inflicted upon his own authority 18 and 20 lashes. It is worthwhile to state that this frigate was vastly admired by the shore ladies for her wonderfully neat appearance. One of her forecastleman told me that he had used up three jacknives charged to him on the books of the purser in scraping the belaying pins and the combings of the hatchways. It is singular that while the lieutenants of the watch in American men of war, so long usurp the power of inflicting corporal punishment with the cult, few or no similar abuses were known in the English Navy. And though the captain of an English armed ship is authorized

Starting point is 06:06:52 to inflict, at his own discretion, more than a dozen lashes, I think three dozen, yet it is to be doubted whether, upon the whole, there is as much flogging at present in the English Navy as in the American. The Chevalric, Virginia, John Randolph of Roanoke, declared in his place in Congress that on board of the American man of war that carried him out ambassador to Russia, he had witnessed more flogging than had taken place on his own plantation of 500 African slaves in 10 years. certain it is, from what I have personally seen, that the English officers, as a general thing, seem to be less disliked by their crews than the American officers by theirs.

Starting point is 06:07:39 The reason probably is that many of them, from their station in life, have been more accustomed to social command, hence quarter-deck authority sits more naturally on them. A coarse vulgar man who happens to rise to high naval rank by the exhibition of talents not incompatible with vulgarity, invariably proves a tyrant to his crew. It is a thing that American men of warsmen have often observed that the lieutenants from the southern states,

Starting point is 06:08:11 the descendants of the old Virginians, are much less severe and much more gentle and gentlemanly in command than the northern officers as a class. According to the present laws and usages of the Navy, a seaman for the most trivial alleged offenses of which he may be entirely innocent, must, without a trial, undergo a penalty the traces whereof he carries to the grave. For to a man-of-war's man's experienced eye, the marks of a naval scourging with the cat are through life discernible.

Starting point is 06:08:49 And with these marks on his back, this image of his creator must rise at the last day. Yet so untouchable is true dignity that there are cases wherein to be flogged at the gangway is no dishonor. Though to abase and hurl down the last pride of some sailor who has piqued him, be sometimes the secret motive with some malicious officer in procuring him to be condemned to the lash. But this feeling of the innate dignity remaining untouched, though outwardly the body be scarred for the whole term of the natural life, is one of the hushed things buried among the holiest privacies of the soul, a thing between a man's God and himself, and forever undiscernible by our fellow men, who account that a degradation which seems so to the corporal eye.

Starting point is 06:09:46 But what torments must that seaman undergo, who, while his back bleeds at the gangway, bleeds agonized drops of shame from his soul? Are we not justified in immeasurably denouncing this thing? Join hands with me, then, and in the name of that being, in whose image the flogs sailor is made, let us demand of legislators, by what right they dare profane what God himself accounts sacred. Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, asks the intrepid apostle, well-knowing as a Roman citizen that it was not? And now, 1800 years after, is it lawful for you, my countryman,

Starting point is 06:10:31 to scourge a man that is an American, to scourge him round the world in your frigates? It is to no purpose that you apologetically appeal to the general depravity of the man-of-war's man. Depravity in the oppressed is no apology for the oppressor, but rather an additional stigma to him, as being, in a large degree, the effect and not the cause and justification of oppression. End of Chapter 34 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 35 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 06:11:19 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 35. Flogging Not Lawful It is next to idle at the present day, merely to denounce an iniquity, Be ours, then, a different task. If there are any three things opposed to the genius of the American Constitution, they are these.

Starting point is 06:12:00 Irresponsibility in a judge, unlimited discretionary authority in an executive, and the union of an irresponsible judge and an unlimited executive in one person. Yet by virtue of an enactment of Congress, all the Commodores in the American Navy are obnoxious to these three charges so far as concerns the punishment of the sailor for alleged misdemeanors not particularly set forth in the Articles of War. Here is the enactment in question. 32 of the Articles of War All crimes committed by persons belonging to the Navy, which are not specified in the foregoing articles, shall be punished according to the laws and customs in such cases at sea.

Starting point is 06:12:49 This is the article that above all others puts the scourge into the hands of the captain, calls him to no account for its exercise, and furnishes him with an ample warrant for inflictions of cruelty upon the common sailor, hardly credible to landsmen. By this article, the captain is made a legislator, as well as a judge and an executive. So far as it goes, it absolutely leaves to his description. to decide what things shall be considered crimes and what shall be the penalty. Whether an accused person has been guilty of actions by him declared to be crimes, and how, when, and where the penalty shall be inflicted.

Starting point is 06:13:35 In the American Navy, there is an everlasting suspension of the habeas corpus. Upon the bare allegation of misconduct, there is no law to restrain the captain from imprisoning a seaman and keeping him confirmed. find at his pleasure. While I was in the Never Sink, the captain of an American sloop of war, from undoubted motives of personal peak, kept a seaman confined in the brig for upward of a month. Certainly, the necessities of navies warrant a code for their government more stringent than the law that governs the land, but that code should conform to the spirit of the political institutions of the country that ordains it. It should not convert into slaves, some of the

Starting point is 06:14:19 the citizens of a nation of freemen. Such objections cannot be urged against the laws of the Russian Navy, not essentially different from our own, because the laws of that Navy, creating the absolute one-man power in the captain and vesting in him the authority to scourge, conform in spirit to the territorial laws of Russia, which is ruled by an autocrat and whose courts inflict the knout upon the subjects of the land. But with us it is different. Our institutions claim to be based upon broad principles of political liberty and equality,

Starting point is 06:14:56 whereas it would hardly affect one iota the condition on shipboard of an American man-of-war's man where he transferred to the Russian Navy and made a subject of the Tsar. As a sailor, he shares none of our civil immunities, the law of our soil in no respect accompanies the national floating timbers grown thereon, and to which he clings as his home. For him, our revolution was in vain. To him, our Declaration of Independence is a lie.

Starting point is 06:15:29 It is not sufficiently born in mind, perhaps, that though the naval code comes under the head of the martial law, yet in time of peace and in the thousand questions arising between man and man on board ship, this code, to a certain extent, may not improperly be deemed municipal. With its crew of 800 or 1,000 men, a three-decker is a city on the sea. But in most of these matters between man and man, the captain, instead of being a magistrate, dispensing what the law promulgates, is an absolute ruler, making and unmaking law as he pleases. It will be seen that the 20th of the Articles of War provides that if any person in the Navy negligently perform the duties assigned him, he shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial shall a judge.

Starting point is 06:16:22 But if the offender be a private, common sailor, he may, at the discretion of the captain, be put in irons or flogged. It is needless to say that in cases where an officer commits a trivial violation of, of this law, a court-martial is seldom or never called to sit upon his trial. But in the Sailor's case, he is at once condemned to the lash. Thus, one set of sea citizens is exempted from a law that is hung in terror over others. What would landsmen think were the state of New York to pass a law against some offense of fixing a fine as a penalty, and then add to that law a section restricting its penal operation to mechanics and day laborers, exempting all gentlemen with an income of $1,000.

Starting point is 06:17:13 Yet thus, in the spirit of its practical operation, even thus stands a good part of the naval laws wherein naval flogging is involved. But a law should be universal and include in its possible penal operations the very judge himself who gives decisions upon it. nay, the very judge who expounds it. Had Sir William Blackstone violated the laws of England, he would have been brought before the bar, over which he had presided, and would there have been tried,

Starting point is 06:17:46 with the counsel for the crown reading to him, perhaps, from a copy of his own commentaries, and should he have been found guilty, he would have suffered like the meanest subject according to law. How is it in an American frigate? Let one example suffice. By the Articles of War, and especially by Article 1, an American Captain may, and frequently does,

Starting point is 06:18:11 inflict a severe and degrading punishment upon a sailor, while he himself is forever removed from the possibility of undergoing the like disgrace, and in all probability from undergoing any punishment whatever, even if guilty of the same thing, contention with his equals, for instance, for which he punishes another, other. Yet both sailor and captain are American citizens. Now, in the language of Blackstone again,

Starting point is 06:18:40 there is a law, co-eval with mankind dictated by God himself, superior in obligation to any other, and no human laws are of any validity if contrary to this. That law is the law of nature, among the three great principles of which Justinian includes, that to every man should be rendered his due. But we have seen that the laws involving flogging in the Navy do not render to every man his due, since in some cases they indirectly exclude the officers from any punishment whatever, and in all cases protect them from the scourge, which is inflicted upon the sailor. Therefore, according to Blackstone and Justinian, those laws have no binding force, and every American man-of-war's man would be morally justified in resistance.

Starting point is 06:19:32 the scourge to the uttermost, and in so resisting, would be religiously justified in what would be judicially styled the act of mutiny itself. If then these scourging laws be for any reason necessary, make them binding upon all who of right come under their sway, and let us see an honest commodore duly authorized by Congress condemning to the lash a transgressing captain by the side of a transgressing sailor. And if the Commodore himself prove a transgressor, let us see one of his brother Commodores take up the lash against him. Even as the Bosen's mates, the Navy executioners, are often called upon to scourge each other. Or will you say that a Navy officer is a man, but that an American-born citizen whose grandsire may have ennobled

Starting point is 06:20:26 him by pouring out his blood at Bunker Hill, will you say that by, by entering the service of his country as a common seaman and standing ready to fight her foes, he thereby loses his manhood at the very time he most asserts it? Will you say that by doing, he degrades himself to the liability of the scourge, but if he tarries ashore in time of danger, he is safe from that indignity? All our link states, all four continents of mankind, unite in denouncing such a thought. We plant the question then on the topmost argument of all. Irrespective of incidental considerations, we assert that flogging in the Navy is opposed to the essential dignity of man,

Starting point is 06:21:14 which no legislator has a right to violate, that it is oppressive and glaringly unequal in its operations, that it is utterly repugnant to the spirit of our democratic institutions, indeed that it involves a lingering trait of the worst times of a barbarous feudal aristocracy. In a word, we denounce it as religiously, morally, and immutably wrong. No matter then what may be the consequences of its abolition, no matter if we have to dismantle our fleets and our unprotected commerce should fall appraight to the spoiler, The awful admonitions of justice and humanity demand that abolition without procrastination. In a voice that is not to be mistaken, demand that abolition today.

Starting point is 06:22:06 It is not a dollar and cent question of expediency. It is a matter of right and wrong. And if any man can lay his hand on his heart and solemnly say that this scourging is right, let that man but once feel the lash on his own back, and in his agony you will hear the apostate call the seventh heavens to witness that it is wrong. And in the name of immortal manhood, would to God that every man who upholds this thing were scourged at the gangway till he recanted. End of Chapter 35.

Starting point is 06:22:44 Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista Chapter 36 of White Jacket, or the World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 36.

Starting point is 06:23:22 Flogging Not Necessary But White Jacket is ready to come down from the long. lofty masthead of an eternal principle and fight you, Commodores and captains of the Navy, on your own quarterdeck with your own weapons at your own paces. Exempt yourselves from the lash. You take Bible oaths to it that it is indispensable for others. You swear that without the lash, no armed ship can be kept in suitable discipline. Be it proved to you, officers, and stamped upon your foreheads, that he, herein you are utterly wrong.

Starting point is 06:24:01 Send them to Collingwood, said Lord Nelson, and he will bring them to order. This was the language of that renowned admiral, when his officers reported to him certain seamen of the fleet as wholly ungovernable. Send them to Collingwood. And who was Collingwood, that after these Navy rebels had been imprisoned and scourged without being brought to order, Collingwood? could convert them to docility. Who Admiral Collingwood was, as an historical hero,

Starting point is 06:24:36 history herself will tell you, nor, in whatever triumphal hall they may be hanging, will the captured flags of Trafalgar fail to rustle at the mention of that name. But what Collingwood was as a disciplinarian on board the ships he commanded perhaps needs to be said. He was an officer, then, who held in abhorrence all corporal punishment, who, though seeing more active service than any sea officer

Starting point is 06:25:03 of his time, yet for years together, governed his men without inflicting the lash. But these seamen of his must have been most exemplary saints to have proved docile under so lenient assay. Were they saints? Answer, ye jails and almshouses, throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain, which, in Collingwood's time, were swept clean of the last lingering villain and pauper to man his majesty's fleets. Still more, that was a period when the uttermost resources of England were taxed to the quick, when the masts of her multiplied fleets almost transplanted her forests, all standing to the sea, when British press gangs not only boarded foreign ships on the high seas and boarded foreign peer heads,

Starting point is 06:25:57 but boarded their own merchantmen at the mouth of the tames and boarded the very firesides along its banks. When Englishmen were knocked down and dragged into the navy like cattle into the slaughterhouse, with every mortal provocation to a mad desperation against the service that thus ran their unwilling heads into the muzzles of the enemy's cannon. This was the time, and these the men, that Collingwood governed without the lash.

Starting point is 06:26:28 I know it has been said that Lord Collingwood began by inflicting severe punishments, and afterward ruling his sailors by the mere memory of a bygone terror, which he could at pleasure revive, and that his sailors knew this, and hence their good behavior under a lenient sway. But, granting the quoted assertion to be true, how comes it that many American captains who, after inflicting as severe punishment as ever Collingwood could have authorized, how comes it that they also have not been able to maintain good order

Starting point is 06:27:04 without subsequent floggings after once showing to the crew with what terrible attributes they were invested? But it is notorious, and a thing that I myself in several instances know to have been the case, that in the American Navy, where corporal punishment has been most severe, it has also been most frequent. But it is incredible that, with such crews as Lord Collingwoods, composed in part of the most desperate characters, the rakings of the jails,

Starting point is 06:27:36 it is incredible that such a set of men could have been governed by the mere memory of the lash. Some other influence must have been brought to bear, mainly, no doubt, the influence wrought by a powerful brain and a determined intrepid spirit over a miscellaneous rabble. It is well known that Lord Nelson himself in point of policy was averse to flogging,

Starting point is 06:28:01 and that too, when he had witnessed the mutinous effects of government abuses in the Navy, unknown in our times, and which, to the terror of all England, developed themselves at the great mutiny of the Nore, an outbreak that for several weeks jeopardized the very existence of the British Navy. But we may press this thing,

Starting point is 06:28:21 thing nearly two centuries further back. For it is a matter of historical doubt whether in Robert Blake's time, Cromwell's great admiral, such a thing as flogging was known at the gangways of his victorious fleets. And as in this matter we cannot go further back than to Blake, so we cannot advance further than to our own time, which shows Commodore Stockton during the recent war with Mexico, governing the American squadron in the Pacific without employing the scourge. But if of three famous English admirals, one has aboard flogging, another almost governed his ships without it, and to the third it may be supposed to have been unknown, while an American commander has, within the present year, almost been enabled to sustain the good discipline

Starting point is 06:29:11 of an entire squadron in time of war, without having an instrument of scourging on board, what inevitable inferences must be drawn, and how disastrous to the mental character of all advocates of Navy flogging, who may happen to be Navy officers themselves. It cannot have escaped the discernment of any observer of mankind that, in the presence of its conventional inferiors, conscious imbecility in power often seeks to carry off that imbecility

Starting point is 06:29:43 by assumptions of lordly severity. The amount of flogging on board an American man of war is, in many cases, in exact proportion to the professional and intellectual incapacity of her officers to command. Thus, in these cases, the law that authorizes flogging does but put a scourge into the hand of a fool. In most calamitous instances, this has been shown. It is a matter of record that some English ships of war have fallen a prey to the enemy through the insubordination of the crew, induced by the witless cruelty of their officers, officers so armed by the law that they could inflict that cruelty without restraint. Nor have there been wanting instances where the seamen have ran away with their ships,

Starting point is 06:30:33 as in the case of the Hermione and Dane and forever rid themselves of the outrageous inflicted, of their officers by sacrificing their lives to their fury. Events like these aroused the attention of the British public at the time, but it was a tender theme, the public agitation of which the government was anxious to suppress. Nevertheless, whenever the thing was privately discussed, these terrific mutinies, together with the then-prevailing insubordination of the men in the Navy, were almost universally attributed to the, exasperating system of flogging, and the necessity for flogging was generally believed to be directly

Starting point is 06:31:16 referable to the impressment of such crowds of dissatisfied men. And in high quarters, it was held that if, by any mode, the English fleet could be manned without resource to coercive measures, then the necessity of flogging would cease. If we abolish either impressment or flogging, the abolition of the other will follow as a matter of course. This was the language of the Edinburgh Review at a still later period, 1824. If then the necessity of flogging in the British Armed Marine was solely attributed to the impressment of the seaman,

Starting point is 06:32:00 what faintest shadow of reason is there for the continuance of this barbarity in the American service, which is wholly freed from the reproach of impressment. It is true that during a long period of non-impressment, and even down to the present day, flogging has been, and still is, the law of the English Navy. But in things of this kind, England should be nothing to us, except an example to be shunned. Nor should wise legislators wholly govern themselves by precedence, and conclude that,

Starting point is 06:32:35 since scourging has so long prevailed, some virtue must resign. in it. Not so. The world has arrived at a period which renders it the part of wisdom to pay homage to the prospective precedence of the future in preference to those of the past. The past is dead and has no resurrection. But the future is endowed with such a life that it lives to us even in anticipation. The past is, in many things, the foe of mankind. The future is, in all things, our friend. In the past is no hope. The future is both hope and fruition. The past is the textbook of tyrants. The future, the Bible of the free. Those who are solely governed by the past stand like Lott's wife, crystallized in the act of looking backward and forever incapable of looking before.

Starting point is 06:33:32 Let us leave the past then to dictate laws to immovable China. Let us abandon it to the legitimists of Europe. But for us, we will have another captain to rule over us, that captain who ever marches at the head of his troop and beckons them forward, not lingering in the rear, and impeding their march with lumbering baggage wagons of old precedence. This is the past. But in many things we Americans are driven to a rejection of the maxims of the past, seeing that ere long the van of the nations must of right belong to ourselves. There are occasions when it is for America to make precedence and not to obey them. We should, if possible, prove a teacher to posterity instead of being the pupil of bygone generations.

Starting point is 06:34:25 More shall come after us than have gone before. The world is not yet middle-aged. escaped from the house of bondage Israel of old did not follow after the ways of the Egyptians to her was given an express dispensation to her were given new things under the sun and we Americans are the peculiar chosen people the Israel of our time we bear the arc of the liberties of the world seventy years ago we escaped from thrall and besides our first birthright embracing one continent of earth, God has given to us, for a future inheritance,

Starting point is 06:35:05 the broad domains of the political pagans that shall yet come and lie down under the shade of our ark, without bloody hands being lifted. God has predestinated, mankind expects, great things from our race and great things we feel in our souls.

Starting point is 06:35:24 The rest of the nations must soon be in our rear. We are the pioneers of the world, the advance guard sent on through the wilderness of untried things to break a new path in the new world that is ours. In our youth is our strength, in our inexperience, our wisdom. At a period when other nations have but list our deep voice is heard afar. Long enough have we been skeptics with regard to ourselves and doubted whether indeed the political Messiah had come. But he has come in us if we would but give utterance to his promptings, and let us always remember that with ourselves,

Starting point is 06:36:06 almost for the first time in the history of earth, national selfishness is unbounded philanthropy, for we cannot do a good to America, but we give alms to the world. End of Chapter 36, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 37 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 06:36:49 Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 37. Some Superior Old London Doc from the wine-coolers of Neptune. We had just slid into pleasant weather, drawing near to the tropics, when all hands were thrown into a wonderful excitement

Starting point is 06:37:13 by an event that eloquently appealed to many pallets. A man at the foretop sail yard sung out that there were eight or ten dark objects floating on the sea, some three points off our lee bow. Keep her off three points, cried Kavu. Captain Claret to the quartermaster at the Cun. And thus, with all our batteries, store rooms, and 500 men with their baggage and beds and provisions, at one move of a round bit of mahogany, our great embattled arc edged away for the strangers,

Starting point is 06:37:47 as easily as a boy turns to the right or left in pursuit of insects in the field. Directly, the man on the topsail yard reported the dark objects to be hogsheads. instantly all the topmen were straining their eyes in delirious expectation of having their long grog fast broken at last and that too by what seemed an almost miraculous intervention it was a curious circumstance that without knowing the contents of the hogsheads they yet seemed certain that the staves encompassed the thing they longed for sail was now shortened our headway was stopped and a cutter was lowered with orders to tow the fleet of strangers alongside. The men sprang to their oars with a will, and soon five goodly puncheons lay wallowing in the sea just under the main chains. We got overboard the slings and hoisted them out of the water.

Starting point is 06:38:45 It was a sight that Bacchus and his bacchanals would have gloated over. Each punchen was of a deep green color so covered with minute barnacles and shellfish and streaming with seaweed, that it needed long searching to find out their bungholes. They looked like venerable old loggerhead turtles. How long had they been tossing about and making voyages for the benefit of the flavor of their contents?

Starting point is 06:39:12 No one could tell. In trying to raft them ashore, or on board of some merchant ship, they must have drifted off to sea. This we inferred from the ropes that lengthwise united them, and which from one point of view made them resemble a long sea serpent. They were struck into the gun deck, where the eager crowd being kept off by centuries,

Starting point is 06:39:36 the cooper was called with his tools. Bung up and bilge free, he cried in an ecstasy, flourishing his driver and hammer. Upon clearing away the barnacles and moss, a flat sort of shellfish was found, closely adhering like a California shell, right over one of the bungholes. Doubtless this shellfish had there taken up his quarters

Starting point is 06:40:00 and thrown his own body into the breach in order the better to preserve the precious contents of the cask. The bystanders were breathless, when at last this punchen was cantered over and a tin pot held to the orifice. What was to come forth? Salt water or wine? But a rich purple tide soon settled the question

Starting point is 06:40:22 and the lieutenant assigned to taste it, with a loud and satisfactory smack of his lips, pronounced it Port. "'O Porto!' cried Mad Jack, and no mistake. But, to the surprise, grief, and consternation of the sailors, an order now came from the quarter-deck to strike the strangers down into the main hold. This proceeding occasioned all sorts of censorious observations upon the captain, who, of course, had authorized it. it must be related here that on the passage out from home the never sink had touched at medera and there as is often the case with men-of-war the commodore and captain had laid in a goodly stock of wines for their own private tables and the benefit of their foreign visitors and although the commodore was a small spare man who evidently emptied but few glasses yet captain claret was a portly gentleman with a crimson face whose father had fought at the battle of the brandywine, and whose brother had commanded the well-known frigate

Starting point is 06:41:28 named in honor of that engagement. And his whole appearance evinced that Captain Clared himself had fought many brandywine battles ashore in honor of his sire's memory, and commanded in many bloodless brandywine actions at sea. It was, therefore, with some savor of provocation, that the sailors held forth on the ungenerous conduct of capital. Captain Claret, in stepping in between them in Providence, as it were, which by this lucky windfall they held, seemed bent upon relieving their necessities. While Captain Claret himself, with an inexhaustible cellar, emptied his Madeira decanters at his leisure. But next day all hands were electrified by the old familiar sound, so long hushed of the drum rolling to grog. After that,

Starting point is 06:42:20 the port was served out twice a day till all was expended. End of Chapter 37. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 38 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,

Starting point is 06:42:51 please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville Chapter 38 The Chaplain and Chapel in a Man of War The next day was Sunday A fact set down in the almanac

Starting point is 06:43:14 spite of Merchant Seaman's Maxim that there are no Sundays off-soundings No Sundays off-soundings indeed No Sundays on shipboard You may as well say there should be no Sundays in church for is not a ship modeled after a church has it not three spires three steeples yea and on the gun-deck a bell and a bell-free and does not that bell merrily peel every sunday morning to summon the crew to devotions at any rate there were sundays on board this particular frigate of ours and a clergyman also he was a slender middle-aged man of an amiable deportment an irreproachable conversation, but I must say that his sermons were but ill calculated to benefit the crew. He had drink at the mystic fountain of Plato.

Starting point is 06:44:10 His head had been turned by the Germans, and this I will say, that White Jacket himself saw him with Coleridge's Biographia Literaria in his hand. Fancy now, this transcendental divine standing behind a gun carriage on the main deck, and addressing 500 salt-sea sinners upon the psychological phenomena of the soul and the ontological necessity of every sailors saving it at all hazards. He enlarged upon the follies of the ancient philosophers, learnedly alluded to the Fiden of Plato, exposed the follies of Simplicius' commentary on Aristotle's De Sillo,

Starting point is 06:44:55 by arraying against that clever pagan author the admired tract of Tertullian de prascriptionibus erecticorum and concluded by a Sanskrit invocation. He was particularly hard upon the Gnostics and Marcionites of the second century of the Christian era, but he never, in the remotest manner, attacked the everyday vices of the 19th century, as eminently illustrated in our man-of-war world. Concerning drunkenness, fighting, flogging, and oppression, things expressly or impliedly prohibited by Christianity, he never said ought.

Starting point is 06:45:37 But the most mighty Commodore and captain sat before him, and in general if in a monarchy the state formed the audience of the church, little evangelical piety will be preached. Hence, the harmless non-committal abstrusities of our chaplain were not to be wondered at. He was no Mazelon, to thunder forth his ecclesiastical rhetoric, even when a Louis Legrant was enthroned among his congregation. Nor did the chaplains who preached on the quarter-deck of Lord Nelson ever allude to the guilty Felix, nor to Delilah,

Starting point is 06:46:11 nor practically reason of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come when that renowned admiral sat sword-belted before them. During these Sunday discourses, the officers always sat in a circle round the chaplain, and, with a business-like air, steadily preserved the utmost propriety. In particular, our old Commodore himself made a point of looking intensely edified,

Starting point is 06:46:39 and not a sailor on board but believed that the Commodore, being the greatest man present, must alone comprehend the mystic sentences that fell from our parson's lips. Of all the noble lords in the wardroom, this lord spiritual, with the exception of the purser, was in the highest favor with the Commodore, who frequently conversed with him in a close and confidential manner. Nor upon reflection was this to be marveled at, seeing how efficacious in all despotic governments it is for the throne and altar to go hand in hand. The accommodations of our chapel were very poor.

Starting point is 06:47:20 We had nothing to sit on but the great gun-rammers and capstan bars placed horizontally upon shot boxes. These seats were exceedingly uncomfortable, wearing out our trousers and our tempers, and, no doubt, impeded the conversion of many valuable souls. To say the truth, men of wars men in general make but poor auditors upon these occasions and adopt every possible means to elude them. Often the Bosen's mates were obliged to drive the men to service, violently swearing upon these occasions as upon every other.

Starting point is 06:47:57 Go to prayers, blank you, to prayers, you rascals, to prayers. In this clerical invitation, Captain Claret would frequently unite. At this, Jack Chase would some sort of. sometimes make Mary. Come, boys, don't hang back, he would say. Come, let us go hear the parson talk about his Lord High Admiral Plato and Commodore Socrates. But in one instance, grave exception was taken to this summons. A remarkably serious but bigoted seaman, a sheet anchorman, whose private devotions may hereafter be alluded to, once touched his hat to the captain, and respectfully said, Sir, I am a Baptist. The child.

Starting point is 06:48:40 Chaplain is an Episcopalian. His form of worship is not mine. I do not believe with him, and it is against my conscience to be under his ministry. May I be allowed, sir, not to attend service on the half-deck? You will be allowed, sir, said the captain haughtily, to obey the laws of the ship. If you absent yourself from prayers on Sunday mornings, you know the penalty. According to the Articles of War, the captain was perfectly right. But if any law requiring an American to attend divine service against his will be a law respecting the establishment of religion, then the Articles of War are, in this one particular, opposed to the American Constitution, which expressly says, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion,

Starting point is 06:49:31 or the free exercise thereof. but this is only one of several things in which the articles of war are repugnant to that instrument. They will be glanced at in another part of the narrative. The motive which prompts the introduction of chaplains into the Navy cannot but be warmly responded to by every Christian, but it does not follow that because chaplains are to be found in men of war that under the present system they achieve much good or that under any other they ever will. How can it be expected that the religion of peace should flourish in an oaken castle of war? How can it be expected that the clergyman, whose pulpit is a 42-pounder,

Starting point is 06:50:18 should convert sinners to a faith that enjoins them to turn the right cheek when the left is smitten? How is it to be expected that when, according to the 42 of the articles of war, as they now stand unrepealed on the statute book, a bounty shall be paid to the officers and crew by the United States government of $20 for each person on board any ship of an enemy which shall be sunk or destroyed by any United States ship, and when, by a subsequent section 7, it is provided, among other apportionings, that the chaplains shall receive two-twentieths of this price paid for sinking and destroying ships full of human beings. How is it to be expected that a clergyman, thus provided for, should prove efficacious in

Starting point is 06:51:10 enlarging upon the criminality of Judas, who, for 30 pieces of silver, betrayed his master? Although, by the regulations of the Navy, each seaman's mess on board the never sink was furnished with a Bible. These Bibles were seldom or never to be seen except on Sunday mornings, when usage demands that they shall be exhibited by the cooks of the messes, when the master-at-arms goes his rounds on the berth deck. At such times, they usually surmounted a highly polished tin pot placed on the lid of the chest. Yet, for all this, the Christianity of Men of Wars men,

Starting point is 06:51:49 and their disposition to contribute to pious enterprises, are often relied upon. Several times, subscription papers were circulated among the crew of the NeverSink, while in harbor, under the direct patronage of the chaplain. One was for the purpose of building a Siemens Chapel in China, another to pay the salary of a tract distributor in Greece, a third to raise a fund for the benefit of an African colonization society. Where the captain himself is a moral man,

Starting point is 06:52:22 he makes a far better chaplain for his crew than any clergyman can be. This is sometimes illustrated in the case of sloops of war and armed brigs, which are not allowed a regular chaplain. I have known one crew who were warmly attached to a naval commander worthy of their love, who have mustered even with alacrity to the call to prayer, and when their captain would read the Church of England's service to them, would present a congregation not to be surpassed for earnestness and devotion by any Scottish Kirk. It seemed like family devotions, where the head of the house is foremost in confessing himself before his maker.

Starting point is 06:53:06 But our own hearts are our best prayer rooms, and the chaplains who can most help us are ourselves. End of Chapter 38, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 39 of White Jacket or The World and a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 39.

Starting point is 06:53:53 The Frigate in Harbor. The Boats. Grand State Reception of the Commodore. In good time we were up with the parallel of Rio de Janeiro, and standing in for the land, the mist soon cleared, and high aloft the famed sugar-loaf pinnacle was seen, our bow-sprit pointing for it straight as a die. As we glided on toward our anchorage, the bands of the various men of war in harbor saluted us with national heirs and gallantly lowered their ensigns. nothing can exceed the courteous etiquette of these ships, of all nations, in greeting their brethren. Of all men, your accomplished duelist is generally the most polite.

Starting point is 06:54:40 We lay in Rio some weeks, lazily taking in stores and otherwise preparing for the passage home. But though Rio is one of the most magnificent bays in the world, though the city itself contains many striking objects, and though much might be said of the sugarloaf and Signal Hill Heights, and the little islet of Lucia, and the fortified Ila dos gobras, or Isle of the Snakes, though the only anacondas and adders now found in the arsenals there are great guns and pistols. And Lord Woods knows, a lofty eminence said by seamen to resemble,

Starting point is 06:55:19 his lordship's conch shell, and the Praiz do Flamingo, a noble tract of beach so-called from its having been the resort in olden times of those gorgeous birds, and the charming bay of Botofogio, which, spite of its name, is fragrant as the neighboring Larangiro's, or Valley of the Oranges, and the green Gloria Hill, surmounted by the belfries of the queenly church of Nosa Senora de Gloria, and the iron-gray Benedictine convent nearby, and the fine drive and promenade, Paceo Publico, and the massive arch-over-arch aqueduct, Arcos de Carico, and the Emperor's Palace, and the Empress's Gardens, and the fine church de Candelaria, and the gilded throne on wheels drawn by eight silken silver-belled mules, in which of pleasant evenings,

Starting point is 06:56:13 his imperial majesty, is driven out of town to his moorish villa of St. Christova. I, though much might be said of all this, yet must I forbear, if I may, and adhere to my one proper object, the world in a man of war. Behold now the never sink under a new aspect. With all her batteries, she is tranquilly lying in harbor, surrounded by English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Brazilian 74s, moored in the deep green water, close under the lee of that oblong castellated mass of rock Ila dojogbras, which, with its portholes and lofty flagstaffes, looks like another man of war, fast anchored in the way. But what is an insular fortress indeed,

Starting point is 06:57:05 but an embattled landslide into the sea from the world Gibraltar's in Quebec's? And what a mainland fortress but a few decks of a line of battleship transplanted ashore? They are all one, all, as King David, men of war from their youth. I behold now the Never Sink at her anchors in many respects presenting a different appearance from what she presented at sea, nor is the routine of life on board the same. At sea there is more to employ the sailors and less temptation to violations of the law, whereas in port, unless some particular service engages them, they lead the laziest of lives, beset by all the allurements of the shore, though perhaps that shore they may never touch.

Starting point is 06:57:53 Unless you happen to belong to one of the numerous boats which, in a man of war and harbor, are continually plying to and from the land, you are mostly thrown upon your own resources to while away the time. Whole days frequently pass without your being individually called upon to lift a finger, for though in the merchant service they make a point of keeping the men always busy about something or other, yet to employ 500 sailors when there is nothing definite to be done wholly surpasses the ingenuity of any first lieutenant in the Navy. As mentioned has just been made of the numerous boats employed in harbor, something more may as well be put down concerning them.

Starting point is 06:58:36 Our frigate carried a very large boat, as big as a small sloop, called a launch, which was generally used for getting off wood, water, and other bulky articles. Besides this, she carried four boats of an arithmetical progression in point of size, the largest being known as the first cutter, the next largest, the second cutter, then the third and fourth cutters.

Starting point is 06:59:01 She also carried a Commodore's barge, a captain's gig, and a dinghy, a small yawl, with a crew of apprentice boys. All these boats, except the dingy, had their regular crews, who were subordinate to their coxins, petty officers receiving pay in addition to their seamen's wages.

Starting point is 06:59:21 The launch was manned by the old tritons of the forecastle, who were no ways particular about their dress, while the other boats, commissioned for genteeler duties, were rowed by young fellows, mostly, who had a dandy eye to their personal appearance. Above all, the officers see to it that the Commodore's barge and the captain's gig are manned, by gentlemanly youths, who may do credit to their country and form agreeable objects for the

Starting point is 06:59:50 eyes of the Commodore or captain to repose upon as he tranquilly sits in the stern, when pulled ashore by his bargemen or gigmen, as the case may be. Some sailors are very fond of belonging to the boats, and deem it a great honor to be a Commodore's bargeman, but others, perceiving no particular distinction in that office, do not court it so much. On the second day after arriving at Rio, one of the gigmen fell sick, and, to mind no small concern, I found myself temporarily appointed to his place. Come, white jacket, rig yourself in white, that's the gigs uniform today. You are a gig man, my boy. Give ye joy.

Starting point is 07:00:35 This was the first announcement of the fact that I heard, but soon after it was officially ratified. I was about to seek the first lieutenant and plead the scantiness of my wardrobe, which wholly disqualified me to feel so distinguished a station, when I heard the bugler call away the gig. And without more ado, I slipped into a clean frock, which a messmate doffed for my benefit, and soon after found myself pulling off his high mightiness the captain, to an English seventy-four.

Starting point is 07:01:08 As we were bounding along, the coxswain, suddenly cried, oars! At the word, every oar was suspended in the air, while our commodore's barge floated by, bearing that dignitary himself. At the sight, Captain Claret removed his chapeau, and saluted profoundly our boat lying motionless on the water. But the barge never stopped, and the Commodore made but a slight return to the obsequious salute he had received. We then resumed rowing, and presently, I don't. heard oars again, but from another boat, the second cutter, which turned out to be carrying a lieutenant ashore. It was now Captain Claret's turn to be honored. The cutter lay still,

Starting point is 07:01:54 and the lieutenant off hat, while the captain only nodded, and we kept on our way. This naval etiquette is very much like the etiquette at the Grand Port of Constantinople, where after washing the sublime sultan's feet, the Grand Vizier avenges himself on an emir, who does the same office for him. When we arrived aboard the English 74, the captain was received with the usual honors, and the gig's crew were conducted below,

Starting point is 07:02:25 and hospitably regaled with some spirits served out by order of the officer of the deck. Soon after, the English crew went to quarters, and as they stood up at their guns, all along the main deck, a row of beef-fed Britons, stalwart-looking fellows, I was struck with the contrast they afforded to similar sights on board of the Never Sink. For on board of us, our quarters showed an array of rather slender, lean-checked chaps. But then I made no doubt that in a sea tussle, these lantern-jawed varlets

Starting point is 07:02:59 would have approved themselves as slender Damascus blades, nimble and flexible, whereas these Britons would have been perhaps as sturdy broadswords. Yet everyone remembers that story of Saladin and Richard trying their respective blades, how gallant Richard clove and anvil in twain, or something quite as ponderous, and Saladin elegantly severed a cushion, so that the two monarchs were even. Each excelling in his way, though, unfortunately for my simile, in a patriotic point of view, Richard whipped some of the two monarchs. Saladin's armies in the end.

Starting point is 07:03:37 There happened to be a lord on board of this ship, the younger son of an Earl, they told me. He was a fine-looking fellow. I chanced to stand by when he put a question to an Irish captain of a gun, upon the seamans inadvertently saying, sir, to him, his lordship looked daggers at the slight, and the sailor, touching his hat a thousand times, said, pardon, your honor, I meant to say, my lord, sir. I was much pleased with an old white-headed musician who stood at the main hatchway with his enormous bass drum full before him and thumping it sturdily to the tune of God Save the King, though small mercy did he have on his drumheads. Two little boys were clashing symbols and another was blowing a fife with his cheeks puffed out like the plumpest of his country's plum-pudd-puddings. When we returned from this trip, there again took place that ceremonious reception of our captain on board the vessel he commanded,

Starting point is 07:04:37 which always had struck me as exceedingly diverting. In the first place, while in port, one of the quartermaster's is always stationed on the poop with a spyglass to look out for all boats approaching and report the same to the officer of the deck, also who it is that may be coming in them, so that preparations may be made accordingly. As soon then, as the gig touched the side, a mighty shrill piping was heard, as if some boys were celebrating the Fourth of July with penny whistles. This proceeded from a boatswain's mate, who, standing at the gangway, was thus honoring the captain's return after his long and perilous absence.

Starting point is 07:05:17 The captain then slowly mounted the ladder, and gravely marching through a lane of sight, boys, so-called, all in their best bibs and tuckers, and who stood making sly faces behind his back, was received by all the lieutenants in a body, their hats in their hands, and making a prodigious scraping and bowing, as if they had just graduated at a French dancing school. Meanwhile, preserving an erect, inflexible, and ramrod carriage, and slightly touching his chapeau, the captain made his ceremonious way to the cabin, disappearing behind the scenes like the pasteboard ghost in Hamlet. But these ceremonies are nothing to those in homage of the Commodore's arrival,

Starting point is 07:06:00 even should he depart and arrive 20 times a day. Upon such occasions, the whole Marine Guard, except the sentries on duty, are marshaled on the quarterdeck, presenting arms as the Commodore passes them, while their commanding officer gives the military salute with his sword as if making Masonic signs. Meanwhile, the boson himself, not a bosun's mate, is keeping up a persevering whistling with his silver pipe, for the Commodore is never greeted with the rude whistle of a boson's subaltern. That would be positively insulting. All the lieutenants and midshipmen, besides the captain himself, are drawn up in a phalanx and off-hat together,

Starting point is 07:06:43 and the sideboys, whose number is now increased to ten or twelve, make an imposing, display at the gangway. While the whole brass band elevated upon the poop, strike up, see the conquering hero comes. At least this was the tune that our captain always hinted by a gesture to the captain of the band whenever the Commodore arrived from shore. It conveyed a complimentary appreciation on the captain's part of the Commodore's heroism during the late war. To return to the gig. As I did not relish the idea of being a sort of body servant to Captain Claret, since his gigmen were often called upon to scrub his cap and floor and perform other duties for him, I made it my particular business to get rid of my appointment in his boat as soon as possible,

Starting point is 07:07:34 and the next day after receiving it succeeded in procuring a substitute who was glad of the chance to fill the position I so much undervalued. And thus, with our counterfeitationation interlikes and dislikes, most of us men of wars men harmoniously dovetailed into each other, and by our very points of opposition, unite in a clever whole like the parts of a Chinese puzzle. But as in a Chinese puzzle, many pieces are hard to place, so there are some unfortunate fellows who can never slip into their proper angles, and thus the whole puzzle becomes a puzzle indeed, which is the precise condition of the greatest puzzle in the world, this man-of-war world itself.

Starting point is 07:08:20 End of Chapter 39. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 40 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Libravox. VARVox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 07:08:52 White Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 40 Some of the ceremonies in a man of war unnecessary and injurious. The ceremonials of a man of war, some of which have been described in the preceding chapter, may merit a reflection or two. The general usages of the American Navy are founded upon the usages that prevailed in the Navy of monarchical England more than a century ago, nor have they been materially altered since.

Starting point is 07:09:27 And while both England and America have become greatly liberalized in the interval, while shore pomp in high places has come to be regarded by the more intelligent masses of men as belonging to the absurd, ridiculous, and mock heroic, while that most truly August of all the majesties of Earth, the President of the United States, may be seen entering his residence with his umbrella under his arm, and no brass band or military guard at his heels, and unostentatiously taking his seat by the side of the meanest citizen in a public conveyance, while this is the case, there still lingers in American men of war all the stilted etiquette and childish parade of the old-fashioned Spanish court of Madrid.

Starting point is 07:10:16 Indeed, so far as the things that meet the eye are concerned, an American Commodore is by far a greater man than the president of 20 millions of Freeman. But we plain people ashore might very willingly be content to leave these Commodores in the unmolested possession of their gilded penny whistles, rattles, and giggas, since they seem to take so much pleasure in them, were it not that all this is attended by consequences to their subordinates in the last degree to be deplored? While hardly anyone will question that a naval officer should be surrounded by circumstances calculated to impart a requisite dignity to his position, it is not the less certain that,

Starting point is 07:11:01 by the excessive pomp he at present maintains, there is naturally and unavoidably generated a feeling of servility and debasement in the hearts of most of the seamen who continually behold a fellow mortal flourishing over their heads like the archangel Michael with a thousand wings. And as in degree, this same pomp is observed toward their inferiors by all the grades of commissioned officers, even down to amid shipment. The evil is proportionately multiplied. It would not at all diminish a proper respect for the officers and subordination to their authority among the seamen were all this idle parade only ministering to the arrogance of the officers

Starting point is 07:11:47 without at all benefiting the state, completely done away. But to do so, we voters and lawgivers ourselves must be no respecters of persons. That saying about leveling upward and not downward may seem very fine to those who cannot see its self-involved absurdity, but the truth is that to gain the true level in some things, we must cut downward, for how can you make every sailor a commodore, or how raise the valleys without filling them up

Starting point is 07:12:19 with the superfluous tops of the hills? Some discreet but democratic legislation in this matter is much to be desired, and by bringing down naval officers and these things at least without affecting the legitimate dignity and authority, we shall correspondingly elevate the common sailor without relaxing the subordination in which he should by all means be retained.

Starting point is 07:12:47 End of Chapter 40. Recording by James K. White Chula Vista Chapter 41 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 07:13:10 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 41, A Man of War Library. Nowhere does time pass more heavily than with most men of war's men

Starting point is 07:13:35 on board their craft in harbor. One of my principal antidotes against Aung Wee in Rio was reading. There was a public library on board, paid for by government, and entrusted to the custody of one of the Marine corporals, a little dried-up man of a somewhat literary turn. He had once been a clerk in a post office ashore, and, having been long accustomed to hand over letters when called for, he was now just the man to hand over books.

Starting point is 07:14:06 He kept them in a large cask on the birth deck, and when seeking a particular volume, had to capsize it like a barrel of potatoes. This made him very cross and irritable, as most all librarians are, who had the selection of these books, I do not know, but some of them must have been selected by Arch Chaplain, who so pranced on Coleridge's high German horse. Mason Good's Book of Nature, a very good book to be sure, but not precisely adapted to Terry tastes, was one of these volumes. And Machiavel's Art of War, which was very dry fighting, and a folio of Tillotson's sermons, the best of reading for divines, indeed, but with little relish for a Maine Topman. And Locke's essays, incomparable essays, everybody knows, but Miseries. reading at sea. And Plutarch's lives, super-excellent biographies, which pit Greek against Roman in beautiful style, but then, in a sailor's estimation, not to be mentioned with the lives of the admirals, and Blair's lectures, university edition, a fine treatise on rhetoric,

Starting point is 07:15:24 but having nothing to say about nautical phrases, such as splicing the main brace, passing agamining, putting in the dolphin, and making a carac bend. Besides numerous and valuable but unreadable tomes that might have been purchased cheap at the auction of some college professor's library. But I found ample entertainment in a few choice old authors, whom I stumbled upon in various parts of the ship among the inferior officers.

Starting point is 07:15:54 One was Morgan's history of Algiers, a famous old quarto, abounding in picturesque narratives of quarter, corsairs, captives, dungeons, and sea fights, and making mention of a cruel old day who, toward the latter part of his life, was so filled with remorse for his cruelties and crimes that he could not stay in bed after four o'clock in the morning, but had to rise in great trepidation and walk off his bad feelings till breakfast time. And another venerable Octavo, containing a certificate from Sir Christopher Wren to its authenticity, entitled Knox's captivity in

Starting point is 07:16:31 in Ceylon, 1681, abounding in stories about the devil, who was superstitiously supposed to tyrannize over that unfortunate land. To mollify him, the priests offered up buttermilk, redcocks, and sausages, and the devil ran roaring about in the woods, frightening travelers out of their wits. In so much that the islanders bitterly lamented to Knox that their country was full of devils, and consequently there was no hope for their eventual well-being. Knox swears that he himself heard the devil roar, though he did not see his horns. It was a terrible noise, he says, like the baying of a hungry mastiff. Then there was Walpole's letters, very witty, pert, and polite,

Starting point is 07:17:19 and some odd volumes of plays, each of which was a precious casket of jewels of good things, shaming the trash nowadays passed off for dramas, containing the Jew of Malta, Old Fortunatus, the City Madam, Volpone, the Alchemist, and other glorious old dramas of the age of Marlowe and Johnson, and that literary Damon and Pythius, the magnificent mellow old Beaumont and Fletcher, who have sent the long shadow of their reputation side by side with Shakespeare's, far down the endless veil of posterity. And may that shadow never be less,

Starting point is 07:17:58 but as for St. Shakespeare may his never be more, lest the commentators arise, and settling upon his sacred text like unto locusts, devour it clean-up, leaving never a dot over an eye. I diversified this reading of mine by borrowing Moor's Loves of the Angels from Rosewater, who recommended it as the charmingest of volumes, and a Negro songbook containing Sittin' on a rail, gumbo squash, and gem along Josie from Broadbitt, a street anchor man. The sad taste of this old tar in admiring such vulgar stuff was much denounced by Rosewater, whose own predilections were of a more elegant nature, as evinced by his exalted opinion of the literary merits of the loves of the angels. I was by no means the only reader of books on board the Never Sink.

Starting point is 07:18:55 Several other sailors were diligent readers, though their studies did not lie in the way of Bell's letters. Their favorite authors were such as you may find at the bookstalls around Fulton Market. They were slightly physiological in their nature. My book experiences on board of the frigate proved an example of a fact which every book lover must have experienced before me, namely that, though,

Starting point is 07:19:19 Public libraries have an imposing air, and doubtless contain invaluable volumes, yet somehow, the books that prove most agreeable, grateful, and companionable, are those we pick up by chance here and there, those which seem put into our hands by providence, those which pretend to little, but abound and much. End of Chapter 41. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 42 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 07:20:01 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 42 K. K. war in harbor. Reading was by no means the only method adopted by my shipmates in whiling away the long, tedious hours in harbor. In truth, many of them could not have read had they wanted to ever so much. In early youth, their primers had been sadly neglected. Still, they had other pursuits.

Starting point is 07:20:47 Some were experts at the needle, and employed their time in making elaborate shirts, stitching picturesque eagles and anchors, and all the stars of the Federated States in the collars thereof, so that when they at last completed and put on these shirts, they may be said to have hoisted the American colors. Others excelled in tattooing or pricking, as it is called in a man of war. Of these prickers, two had long been celebrated in their way as consummate masters of the art. each had a small box full of tools and coloring matter, and they charged so high for their services that at the end of the cruise they were supposed to have cleared upward of $400. They would prick you to order a palm tree or an anchor, a crucifix, a lady, a lion, an eagle, or anything else you

Starting point is 07:21:44 might want. The Roman Catholic sailors on board had at least the crucifix pricked on their arms, and for this reason. If they chanced to die in a Catholic land, they would be sure of a decent burial in consecrated ground, as the priest would be sure to observe the symbol of Mother Church on their persons. They would not fare as Protestant sailors dying in Kayao, who are shoved under the sands of St. Lorenzo, a solitary volcanic island in the harbor,

Starting point is 07:22:17 overrun with reptiles, their heretical bodies not being permitted to repose, in the more genial loam of Lima. And many sailors, not Catholics, were anxious to have the crucifix painted on them, owing to a curious superstition of theirs. They affirm some of them that if you have that mark tattooed upon all four limbs,

Starting point is 07:22:40 you might fall overboard among 775,000 white sharks, all dinnerless, and not one of them would so much as dare to smell at your little finger. We had one foretopman on board, who, during the entire cruise, was having an endless cable pricked round and round his wrist, so that when his frock was off, he looked like a capstan with a hawser coiled round about it. This foretopman paid 18 pence per link for the cable, besides being on the smart the whole cruise, suffering the effects of his repeated puncturings. So he paid very dear for his cable.

Starting point is 07:23:20 One other mode of passing time while in port was cleaning and polishing your bright work, for it must be known that in men of war, every sailor has some brass or steel of one kind or another to keep in high order, like housemaids, whose business it is to keep well polished, the knobs on the front door railing, and the parlor grates. Accepting the ring bolts, eye bolts, and belaying pins scattered about the decks, This bright work, as it is called, is principally about the guns, embracing the monkey tails of the caranades, the screws, prickers, little irons, and other things. The portion that fell to my own share I kept in superior order, quite equal in polish to Rogers' best cutlery. I received the most extravagant encomiums from the officers, one of whom offered to match me against any brazier or brass,

Starting point is 07:24:22 polisher in her British Majesty's Navy. Indeed, I devoted myself to the work body and soul, and thought no pains too painful and no labor too laborious to achieve the highest attainable polish possible for us poor lost sons of Adam to reach. Upon one occasion, even when woolen rags were scarce, and no burned brick was to be had from the ship's yeoman, I sacrificed the corners of my woolen shirt and used some dentrifice I had as substitutes for rags and burned brick. The dentrifice operated delightfully and made the threading of my caronade screw shine and grin again, like a set of false teeth in an eager arous hunter's mouth. Still another mode of passing time was arraying yourself in your best togs

Starting point is 07:25:17 and promenading up and down the gun deck, admiring the shore scenery from the portholes, which, in an amphitheatrical bay like Rio, belted about by the most varied and charming scenery of hill, dale, moss, meadow, court, castle, tower, grove, vineyard, aqueduct, palace, square, island, fort, is very much like lounging round a circular cosmarama and ever in a nun lazily peeping through the glasses here and there.

Starting point is 07:25:49 Oh, there is something worth living for, even in our man-of-war world, and one glimpse of a bower of grapes, though a cable's length off, is almost satisfaction for dining off a shank bone salted down. This promenading was chiefly patronized by the Marines, and particularly by Colbrook, a remarkably handsome and very gentlemanly corporal among them, him. He was a complete ladies' man, with fine black eyes, bright red cheeks, glossy jet whiskers, and a refined organization of the whole man. He used to array himself in his regimentals, and saunter about like an officer of the Coldstream guards strolling down to his club in St. James's.

Starting point is 07:26:38 Every time he passed me, he would heave a sentimental sigh and hum to himself the girl I left behind. me. This fine corporal afterward became a representative in the legislature of the state of New Jersey, for I saw his name returned about a year after my return home. But, after all, there was not much room while in port for promenading, at least on the gun deck, for the whole larboard site is kept clear for the benefit of the officers, who appreciate the advantages of having a clear stroll for and aft. And they well know that the sailors had much better be crowded together on the other side than that the set of their own coat-tails should be impaired by brushing against their tarry trousers. One other way of killing time while in port is playing checkers, that is,

Starting point is 07:27:33 when it is permitted, for it is not every Navy captain who will allow such a scandalous proceeding. But, as for Captain Claret, though he did like his glass of Madeira uncommonly well, and was an undoubted descendant from the hero of the Battle of the Brandywine, and though he sometimes showed a suspiciously flushed face when superintending in person, the flogging of a sailor for getting intoxicated against his particular orders, yet I will say for Captain Claret that, upon the whole, he was rather indulgent to his crew, so long as they were perfectly docile. He allowed them to play checkers as much as they pleased.

Starting point is 07:28:16 More than once I have known him, when going forward to the forecastle, pick his way carefully among scores of canvas checker cloths spread upon the deck, so as not to tread upon the men. The checkermen and Man of Warsmen included. But in a certain sense they were both one, for as the sailors used their checkermen,

Starting point is 07:28:38 so at quarters their officers used these men of warsmen. But Captain Claret's leniency in permitting checkers on board his ship might have arisen from the following little circumstance, confidentially communicated to me. Soon after the ship had sailed from home, checkers were prohibited, whereupon the sailors were exasperated against the captain, and one night, when he was walking round the forecastle,

Starting point is 07:29:06 Bim, came an iron belaying pin past his ears, and while he was dodging that, Bim, came another, from the other side, so that it being a very dark night and nobody to be seen, and it being impossible to find out the trespassers, he thought it best to get back into his cabin as soon as possible. Some time after, just as if the belaying pens had nothing to do with it, It was indirectly rumored that the checker boards might be brought out again, which, as a philosophical shipmate observed, showed that Captain Claret was a man of a ready understanding, and could understand a hint as well as any other man, even when conveyed by several pounds of iron. Some of the sailors were very precise about their checker cloths, and even went so far that they would not let you play with them unless you first washed your hands, especially if so be you. had just come from tarring down the rigging. Another way of beguiling the tedious hours is to get a cozy seat somewhere and fall into as snug a little reverie as you can. Or if a seat is not to be had,

Starting point is 07:30:21 which is frequently the case, then get a tolerably comfortable stand-up against the bulwarks and begin to think about home and bread and butter, always inseparably connected to a wander, which will very soon bring delicious tears into your eyes. For everyone knows what a luxury is grief, when you can get a private closet to enjoy it in, and no Paul prize intrude. Several of my sure friends, indeed, when suddenly overwhelmed by some disaster,

Starting point is 07:30:51 always make a point of flying to the first oyster cellar, and shutting themselves up in a box with nothing but a plate of stewed oysters, some crackers, the caster, and a decanter of old port. Still another way of killing time in harbor is to lean over the bulwarks and speculate upon where, under the sun, you are going to be that day next year,

Starting point is 07:31:17 which is a subject full of interest to every living soul, so much so that there is a particular day of a particular month of the year, which, from my earliest recollections, I have always kept the run of, so that I can even now tell just, where I was on that identical day of every year passed since I was 12 years old. And when I am all alone, to run over this almanac in my mind is almost as interesting as to read your own diary and far more interesting than to peruse a table of logarithms on a rainy afternoon.

Starting point is 07:31:55 I always keep the anniversary of that day with lamb and peas and a pint of sherry, for it comes in spring, but when it came round in the never sink, I could get neither lamb, peas, nor sherry. But perhaps the best way to drive the hours before you for in hand is to select a soft plank on the gun deck and go to sleep, a fine specific which seldom fails unless, to be sure, you have been sleeping all the 24 hours beforehand. Whenever employed in killing time in harbor, I have lifted myself up on my elbow and looked around me, and seen so many of my shipmates all employed at the same common business, all under lock and key, all hopeless prisoners like myself, all under martial law, all dieting on salt beef and biscuit, all in one uniform, all yawning, gaping, and stretching in concert.

Starting point is 07:32:58 It was then that I used to feel a certain love and affection for them, grounded, doubtless, on a fellow feeling. And though, in a previous part of this narrative, I have mentioned that I used to hold myself somewhat aloof from the mass of semen on board the never sink, and though this was true, and my real acquaintances were comparatively few, and my intimates still fewer, yet to tell the truth, it is quite impossible to live so long. with 500 of your fellow beings, even if not of the best families in the land, and with morals that would not be spoiled by further cultivation, it is quite impossible, I say, to live with 500

Starting point is 07:33:43 of your fellow beings, be they who they may, without feeling a common sympathy with them at the time, and ever after cherishing some sort of interest in their welfare. The truth of this was curiously corroborated by a rather equivocal acquaintance of mine, who, among the men, went by the name of Shakings. He belonged to the forehold, wince of a dark night he would sometimes emerge to chat with the sailors on deck. I never liked the man's looks. I protest it was a mere accident that gave me the honor of his acquaintance,

Starting point is 07:34:20 and generally I did my best to avoid him when he would come skulking like a jailbird out of his den into the liberal open air of the sky. Nevertheless, the anecdote this holder told me is well worth preserving, more especially the extraordinary frankness evinced in his narrating such a thing to a comparative stranger. The substance of his story was as follows. Shakings, it seems, had once been a convict in the New York State's prison at Sing Sing, where he had been for years confined for a crime which he gave me his solemn word of honor he was wholly innocent of.

Starting point is 07:35:00 He told me that, after his term had expired, and he went out into the world again, he never could stumble upon any of his old Sing Sing Associates without dropping into a public house and talking over old times. And when fortune would go hard with him, and he felt out of sorts and incensed it matters and things in general, he told me that at such time he almost wished he was back again in Sing Sing, where he was relieved from all anxieties about what he should eat and drink and was supported, like the President of the United States and Prince Albert, at the public charge. He used to have such a snug little cell, he said, all to himself, and never felt afraid of

Starting point is 07:35:44 housebreakers, for the walls were uncommonly thick, and his door was securely bolted for him, and a watchman was all the time walking up and down in the passage, while he had, himself was fast asleep and dreaming. To this, in substance, the holder added that he narrated this anecdote because he thought it applicable to a man of war, which he scandalously asserted to be a sort of state prison afloat. Concerning the curious disposition to fraternize and be sociable, which this shakings mentioned as characteristic of the convicts liberated from his old homestead at Sing it may well be asked whether it may not prove to be some feeling, somehow akin to the reminiscent impulses which influence them, that shall hereafter fraternally reunite all us mortals, when we shall

Starting point is 07:36:39 have exchanged this state's prison man-of-war world of ours for another and a better. From the foregoing account of the great difficulty we had in killing time while in port, it must not be inferred that on board of the Never Sink in Rio, there was literally no work to be done. At long intervals the launch would come alongside with water casks to be emptied into iron tanks in the hold. In this way, nearly 50,000 gallons as chronicled in the books of the master's mate, were decanted into the ship's bowels, a 90-day's allowance. With this huge Lake Ontario in us, the mighty Never Sink might be said to resemble the united continent of the eastern hemisphere, floating in a vast ocean herself, and having a Mediterranean floating in her. End of Chapter 42.

Starting point is 07:37:40 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 43 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 43. Smuggling in a Man of War It is in a good degree, owing to the idleness just described, that, while lying in harbor,

Starting point is 07:38:25 the man-of-war's man is exposed to the most temptations and gets into his saddest scrapes. For though his vessel be anchored a mile from the shore, and her sides are patrolled by centuries, night and day, yet these things cannot entirely prevent the seductions of the land from reaching him. The prime agent in working his calamities in port is his old arch-enemy, the ever-devilish god of grog. immured as the man-of-war's man is serving out his weary three years in a sort of sea newgate from which he cannot escape either by the roof or burrowing underground he too often flies to the bottle to seek relief from the intolerable ennui of nothing to do and nowhere to go his ordinary government allowance of spirits one gill per diem is not enough to give a sufficient to his listless senses he He pronounces his grog basely watered. He scouts at it as thinner than muslin.

Starting point is 07:39:31 He craves a more vigorous nip at the cable, a more sturdy swig at the Halliards. And if opium were to be had, many would steep themselves a thousand fathoms down in the densest fumes of that oblivious drug. Tell him that the delirium tremens and the mania apotu lie in ambush for drunkards, he will say to you,

Starting point is 07:39:54 let them bear down upon me then before the wind. Anything that smacks of life is better than to feel Davy Jones' chestlit on your nose. He is reckless as an avalanche, and though his fall destroy himself and others, yet a ruinous commotion is better than being frozen fast in unendurable solitudes. No wonder, then, that he goes all lengths to procure the thing he craves. No wonder that he pays the most exorbitant prices, breaks through all law and braves the ignominious lash itself rather than be deprived of his stimulus.

Starting point is 07:40:33 Now concerning no one thing in a man-of-war are the regulations more severe than respecting the smuggling of grog and being found intoxicated. For either offense, there is but one penalty invariably enforced, and that is the degradation of the gangway. All conceivable precautions are taken by most frigate executives to guard against the secret admission of spirits into the vessel. In the first place, no shoreboat whatever is allowed to approach a man-of-war in a foreign harbor without permission from the officer of the deck. Even the bumboats, the small craft licensed by the officers to bring off fruit for the sailors to be bought out of their own money,

Starting point is 07:41:18 These are invariably inspected before permitted to hold intercourse with the ship's company. And not only this, but every one of the numerous ships' boats kept almost continually plying to and from the shore, are similarly inspected, sometimes each boat 20 times in the day. This inspection is thus performed. The boat being decried by the quartermaster from the poop, she is reported to the deck officer, who, thereupon summons the man master at arms, the ship's chief of police. This functionary now stations himself at the gangway, and as the boat's crew one by one come up the side, he personally overhauls them, making them take

Starting point is 07:42:02 off their hats, and then, placing both hands upon their heads, draws his palms slowly down to their feet, carefully feeling all unusual protuberances. If nothing suspicious is felt, the man is let pass, and so on till the whole boat's crew, averaging about 16 men, are examined. The chief of police then descends into the boat and walks from stem to stern, eyeing it all over, and poking his long rattan into every nook and cranny. This operation concluded, and nothing found, he mounts the ladder, touches his hat to the deck officer, and reports the boat clean, whereupon she is hauled out to the booms.

Starting point is 07:42:47 thus it will be seen that not a man of the ship's company ever enters the vessel from shore without it being rendered next to impossible apparently that he should have succeeded in smuggling anything those individuals who are permitted to board the ship without undergoing this ordeal are only persons whom it would be preposterous to search such as the commodore himself the captain lieutenants etc and gentlemen and ladies coming as visitors for anything to be clandestinely thrust through the lower port-holes at night is rendered very difficult from the watchfulness of the quartermaster inhaling all boats that approach long before they draw alongside and the vigilance of the sentries posted on platforms overhanging the water whose orders are to fire into a strange boat which after being warned to withdraw should still persist in drawing nigh moreover thirty-two pound shots are slung to ropes and suspended over the boughs to drop a hole into and sink any small craft which spite of all precautions by strategy should succeed in getting under the boughs with liquor by night indeed the whole power of martial law is enlisted in this matter and every one of the numerous officers of the ship besides his general zeal in enforcing the regulations acids to that that a personal feeling, since the sobriety of the men abridges his own cares and anxieties. How, then, it will be asked, in the face of an argos-eyed police, and in defiance even of bayonets

Starting point is 07:44:29 and bullets, do men of war's men contrive to smuggle their spirits? Not to enlarge upon minor stratagems every few days detected and rendered knot, such as rolling up in a handkerchief, a long, slender skin of grog, like a sausage, and in that manner, ascending to the deck out of a boat just from shore, or openly bringing on board coconuts and melons procured from a knavish bumboat filled with spirits instead of milk or water. We will only mention here two or three other modes

Starting point is 07:45:01 coming under my own observation. While in Rio, a foretopman belonging to the second cutter paid down the money and made an arrangement with a person encountered at the palace landing, shore, to the following effect. Of a certain moonless night, he was to bring off three gallons of spirits in skins, and moor them to the frigate's anchor buoy some distance from the vessel, attaching something heavy to sink them out of sight. In the middle watch of the night, the four-topmen slips out of his hammock, and by creeping along in the shadows,

Starting point is 07:45:40 eludes the vigilance of the master-at-arms and his mates, gains a porthole, and softens Lovers himself into the water almost without creating a ripple the centuries marching to and fro on their overhanging platform above him He is an expert swimmer and paddles along under the surface every now and then rising a little and lying motionless on his back to breathe Little but his nose exposed the buoy gained he cuts the skins adrift Ties them round his body and in the same adroit manner makes good his return this feat is very seldom attempted for it needs the utmost caution address and dexterity and no one but a super expert burglar and faultless leander of a swimmer could achieve it from the greater privileges which they enjoy the forward officers that is the gunner boson etc have much greater opportunities for successful smuggling than the common seaman coming alongside one night in a cutter yarn our boson in some inexplicable way, contrived to slip several skins of brandy through the

Starting point is 07:46:52 airport of his own stateroom. The feat, however, must have been perceived by one of the boat's crew, who immediately, on gaining the deck, sprung down the ladders, stole into the boson's room, and made away with the prize, not three minutes before the rightful owner entered to claim it. though from certain circumstances the thief was known to the aggrieved party yet the latter could say nothing since he himself had infringed the law but the next day in the capacity of captain of the ship's executioners yarn had the satisfaction it was so to him of standing over the robber at the gangway for being found intoxicated with the very liquor the boatswain himself had smuggled the man had been condemned to a flogging. This recalls another instance, still more illustrative, of the nodded, trebly intertwisted villainy, accumulating at a sort of compound interest in a man-of-war. The coxswain of the Commodore's barge takes his crew apart one by one and cautiously

Starting point is 07:48:01 sounds them as to their fidelity, not to the United States of America, but to himself. three individuals whom he deems doubtful, that is, faithful to the United States of America, he procures to be discharged from the barge, and men of his own selection are substituted, for he is always an influential character, this coxswain of the Commodore's barge. Previous to this, however, he has seen to it well that no temperance men, that is, sailors who do not draw their government ration of grog, but take the money for it, he has seen to it that none of these balkers are numbered among his crew. Having now proved his men, he divulges his plan to the assembled body. A solemn oath of

Starting point is 07:48:51 secrecy is obtained, and he waits the first fit opportunity to carry into execution his nefarious designs. At last it comes. One afternoon, the barge carries the Commodore across the bay to a fine waterside settlement of nobleman's seats called Praia Grande. The Commodore is visiting a Portuguese Marquise, and the pair linger long over their dinner in an arbor in the garden. Meanwhile, the coxswain has liberty to roam about where he pleases. He searches out a place where some choice red-eye, brandy, is to be had, purchases six large bottles and conceals them among the trees. Under the pretense of filling the boat keg with water, which is always kept in the barge to refresh the crew,

Starting point is 07:49:43 he now carries it off into the grove, knocks out the head, puts the bottles inside, re-heads the keg, fills it with water, carries it down to the boat, and audaciously restores it to its conspicuous position in the middle, with its bunghole up. When the Commodore comes down to the beach and they pull off for the ship, the coxon, in a loud voice, commands the nearest man to take that bung out of the keg, that precious water will spoil.

Starting point is 07:50:14 Arrived alongside the frigate, the boat's crew are overhauled, as usual, at the gangway, and nothing being found on them are passed. The master at arms now descending into the barge and finding nothing suspicious reports it clean, having put his finger into the open bung of the keg and tasted that the water was pure. The barge is ordered out to the booms, and Deep Knight is waited for, ere the coxswain assays to snatch the bottles from the keg. But unfortunately, for the success of this masterly smuggler, one of his crew is a weak-pated fellow, who, having drank somewhat freely ashore, goes about the gun-deck, throwing out profound, tipsy hints concerning some unutterable proceeding on the ship's anvil. a knowing old sheet-anchorman an unprincipled fellow putting this that and the other together ferrets out the mystery and straightway resolves to reap the goodly harvest which the coxon has sowed he seeks him out takes him to one side and addresses him thus coxon you have been smuggling off some red eye which at this moment is in your barge at the booms now coxon i have stationed two of my messmates at the port-holes

Starting point is 07:51:34 on that side of the ship, and if they report to me that you or any of your bargemen offer to enter that barge before morning, I will immediately report you as a smuggler to the officer of the deck. The coxswain is astounded, for to be reported to the deck officer as a smuggler would inevitably procure him a sound flogging and be the disgraceful breaking of him as a petty officer, receiving $4 a month beyond his pay as an able seaman. he attempts to bribe the other to secrecy by promising half the profits of the enterprise but the sheet anchorman's integrity is like a rock he is no mercenary to be bought up for a song the coxon therefore is forced to swear that neither himself nor any of his crew shall enter the barge before morning this done the sheet anchorman goes to his confidants and arranges his plans in a word he succeeds in introducing the six brandy bottles into the ship, five of which he sells at $8 a bottle, and then with the

Starting point is 07:52:41 sixth, between two guns, he secretly regales himself and Confederates, while the helpless coxen, stifling his rage, bitterly eyes them from afar. Thus, though they say that there is honor among thieves, there is little among man-of-war smugglers. End of Chapter 43 Recording by James K. White Chula Vista Chapter 44 of White Jacket or

Starting point is 07:53:15 The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Libravox.org Recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 44. A knave in office in a man of war. The last smuggling story now

Starting point is 07:53:46 about to be related also occurred while we lay in Rio. It is the more particularly presented, since it furnishes the most curious evidence of the almost incredible corruption pervading nearly all ranks in some men of war. For some days, the number of intoxicated sailors collared and brought up to the mast by the master at arms, to be reported to the deck officers previous to a flogging at the gangway, had, in the last degree, excited the surprise and vexation of the captain and senior officers. So strict were the captain's regulations concerning the suppression of grog-smuggling, and so particular had he been in charging the matter upon all the lieutenants, and every understrapper official in the frigate, that he was wholly at a loss how so large.

Starting point is 07:54:36 a quantity of spirits could have been spirited into the ship in the face of all these checks, guards, and precautions. Still, additional steps were adopted to detect the smugglers, and Bland, the Master at Arms, together with his corporals, were publicly harangued at the mast by the captain in person and charged to exert their best powers in suppressing the traffic. crowds were present at the time and saw the master-at-arms touch his cap in obsequious homage as he solemnly assured the captain that he would still continue to do his best as indeed he said he had always done he concluded with a pious ejaculation expressive of his personal abhorrence of smuggling and drunkenness and his fixed resolution so help him heaven to spend his last wink in sitting up by night to spy out all deeds of darkness.

Starting point is 07:55:36 I do not doubt you, Master at Arms, returned the captain. Now go to your duty. This Master at Arms was a favorite of the captains. The next morning, before breakfast, when the market boat came off, that is, one of the ship's boats regularly deputed to bring off the daily fresh provisions for the officers, When this boat came off, the master at arms, as usual, after carefully examining both her and her crew, reported them to the deck officer to be free from suspicion. The provisions were then hoisted out, and among them came a good-sized wooden box addressed to Mr. Blank purser of the United States ship Never Sink.

Starting point is 07:56:23 Of course, any private matter of this sort destined for a gentleman of the ward rule, was sacred from examination, and the Master at Arms commanded one of his corporals to carry it down into the purser's stateroom. But recent occurrences had sharpened the vigilance of the deck officer to an unwanted degree, and, seeing the box going down the hatchway, he demanded what that was and whom it was for. All right, sir, said the Master at Arms, touching his cap, stores for the purser, sir. Let it remain on deck, said the lieutenant. Mr. Montgomery, calling a midshipman, asked the purser whether there is any box coming off for him this morning.

Starting point is 07:57:08 Aye, aye, sir, said the middy, touching his cap. Presently, he returned, saying that the purser was ashore. Very good, then, Mr. Montgomery, have that box put into the brig with strict orders to the sentry not to suffer anyone to touch it. had I not better take it down into my mess, sir, till the purser comes off, said the master at arms deferentially. I have given my orders, sir, said the lieutenant, turning away. When the purser came on board, it turned out that he knew nothing at all about the box.

Starting point is 07:57:44 He had never so much as heard of it in his life. So it was again brought up before the deck officer, who immediately summoned the master at arms. break open that box. Certainly, sir, said the Master at Arms, and wrenching off the cover, 25 brown jugs like a litter of 25 brown pigs, were found snugly nestled in a bed of straw. The smugglers are at work, sir, said the Master at Arms, looking up.

Starting point is 07:58:13 Uncork and tasted, said the officer. The Master at Arms did so, and, smacking his lips after a puzzled fashion, was a little doubtful, it was American whiskey or Holland gin, but he said he was not used to liquor. Brandy, I know it by the smell, said the officer, returned the box to the brig. Aye, aye, sir, said the master at arms, redoubling his activity. The affair was at once reported to the captain, who, incensed at the audacity of the thing,

Starting point is 07:58:45 adopted every plan to detect the guilty parties. Inquiries were made ashore, but by whom the box had been brought down to the market boat, there was no finding out. Here the matter rested for a time. Some days after, one of the boys of the mizzen top was flogged for drunkenness, and, while suspended in agony at the gratings, was made to reveal from whom he had procured his spirits. The man was called and turned out to be an old superannuated marine, one Scriggs, who did, the cooking for the Marine sergeants and masters at arms mess. This Marine was one of the most villainous-looking fellows in the ship with a squinting pick-lock gray eye and hang-dog gallows gate.

Starting point is 07:59:35 How such a most unmartial vagabond had insinuated himself into the Honorable Marine Corps was a perfect mystery. He had always been noted for his personal uncleanliness, and among all hands for and aft had the reputation of being a notorious old miser who denied himself the few comforts and many of the common necessaries of a man-of-war life. Seeing no escape, Scriggs fell on his knees before the captain and confessed the charge of the boy, observing the fellow to be in an agony of fear at the sight of the boatswain's mates and their lashes and all the striking parade of public punishment, the captain must have thought this a good opportunity, for completely pumping him of all his secrets.

Starting point is 08:00:23 This terrified Marine was at length forced to reveal his having been for some time an accomplice in a complicated system of underhand villainy, the head of which was no less a personage than the indefatigable chief of police, the master at arms himself. It appeared that this official had his confidential agents ashore

Starting point is 08:00:45 who supplied him with spirits and in various boxes, packages and bundles, addressed to the purser and others, brought them down to the frigate's boats at the landing. Ordinarily, the appearance of these things for the purser and other wardroom gentlemen occasioned no surprise. For almost every day some bundle or other is coming off for them, especially for the purser. And as the master at arms was always present on these occasions, it was an easy matter for him to hurry the smuggled liquor out of sight,

Starting point is 08:01:17 and under pretense of carrying the box or bundle down to the Persher's room, hide it away upon his own premises. The miserly Marine Scriggs, with the pick-lock eye, was the man who clandestinely sold the spirits to the sailors, thus completely keeping the master at arms in the background. The liquor sold at the most exorbitant prices, at one time reaching twelve dollars the bottle in cash, and $30 a bottle in orders upon the purser to be honored upon the frigate's arrival home.

Starting point is 08:01:52 It may seem incredible that such prices should have been given by the sailors, but when some men of wars men crave liquor and it is hard to procure, they would almost barter ten years of their lifetime for but one solitary tot if they could. The sailors who became intoxicated with the liquor thus smuggled on board by the master at arms were in almost numberless instances officially seized by that functionary and scourged at the gangway. In a previous place it has been shown how conspicuous apart the master at arms enacts at this scene. The ample profits of this iniquitous business were divided between all the parties concerned in it, "'Scriggs, the Marine, coming in for one-third.

Starting point is 08:02:43 "'His cook's mess-chest being brought on deck, "'four canvas bags of silver were found in it, "'amounting to a sum, something short of as many hundred dollars. "'The guilty parties were scourged, double-ironed, "'and for several weeks were confined in the brig under a century, "'all but the master-at-arms, "'who was merely cashiered and imprisoned for a time, "'with bracelets at his wrists.

Starting point is 08:03:09 upon being liberated he was turned adrift among the ship's company and by way of disgracing him still more was thrust into the waste the most inglorious division of the ship Upon going to dinner one day, I found him soberly seated at my own mess, and at first I could not but feel some very serious scruples about dining with him. Nevertheless, he was a man to study and digest, so upon a little reflection, I was not displeased at his presence. It amazed me, however, that he had wormed himself into the mess, since so many of the other messes had declined the honor, until at last I ascertained that he had induced a mess made of ours, a distant relation of his,

Starting point is 08:03:58 to prevail upon the cook to admit him. Now, it would not have answered for hardly any other mess in the ship to have received this man among them, for it would have torn a huge rent in their reputation. But our mess, A-number-1, the 42-pounder club, was composed of so fine a set of fellows, so many captains of tops and quartermasters, men of undeniable mark on board ship, of long-established standing and consideration on the gun deck, that, with impunity, we could do so many equivocal things utterly inadmissible for the messes of inferior pretension.

Starting point is 08:04:39 Besides, though we all aboard the monster of sin itself, yet from our social superiority, highly-rarified education in our lofty top, and large and liberal sweep of the aggregate of things, we were, in a good degree, free from those useless personal prejudices and galling hatreds against conspicuous sinners, not sin, which so widely prevail among men of warped understandings and unchristian and uncharitable hearts. No, the superstitions and dogmas concerning sin had not laid their withering maxims upon our hearts. We perceived how that evil was but good disguised, and a knave, a saint in his way, how that in other planets, perhaps, what we deem wrong may there be deemed right.

Starting point is 08:05:32 Even as some substances, without undergoing any mutations in themselves, utterly change their color according to the light thrown upon them. We perceived that the anticipated millennium must have begun upon the morning the first words were created, and that, taken all in all, our man-of-war world itself was as eligible a round, stern craft, as any, to be found in the Milky Way. And we fancied that, though some of us of the gun-deck, were at times condemned to sufferings and blights and all manner of tribulation and anguish, Yet no doubt, it was only our misapprehension of these things that made us take them for woeful pains instead of the most agreeable pleasures. I have dreamed of a sphere, says Penzella, where to break a man on the wheel is held the most exquisite of delights you can confer upon him, where for one gentleman in any way to vanquish another is accounted an everlasting dishonor,

Starting point is 08:06:36 where to tumble one into a pit after death and then throw cold clods upon his upturned face is a species of contumely only inflicted upon the most notorious criminals but whatever we messmates thought in whatever circumstances we found ourselves we never forgot that our frigate had as it was was homeward bound such at least were our reveries at times though sorely jarred now and then by events that took our philosophy aback for after all philosophy that is the best wisdom that has ever in any way been revealed to our man-of-war world is is but a slew and a mire, with a few tufts of good footing here and there. But there was one man in the mess who would have not to do with our philosophy, a churlish, ill-tempered, unphilosophical, superstitious old bear of a quarter-gunner, a believer in Toffat, for which he was accordingly preparing himself. Priming was his name, but methinks I have spoken of him before.

Starting point is 08:07:47 Besides, this bland, the master at arms, was no vulgar dirty knave. In him, to modify Burke's phrase, vice seemed, but only seemed, to lose half its seeming evil by losing all its apparent grossness. He was a neat and gentlemanly villain, and broke his biscuit with a dainty hand. There was a fine polish about his whole person, and a pliant, insinuating style in his conversation that was socially quite irresistible. Save my noble captain, Jack Chase, he proved himself the most entertaining. I had almost said the most companionable man in the mess.

Starting point is 08:08:33 Nothing but his mouth that was somewhat small, moorish-arched, and wickedly delicate, and his snaky black eye that at times shone like a dark lantern in a jeweler shop at midnight, betoken the accomplished scoundrel within. But in his conversation, there was no trace of evil, nothing equivocal. He studiously shunned an indelicacy, never swore, and chiefly abounded in passing puns and witticisms, varied with humorous contrasts between ship and shore life, and many agreeable and racy anecdotes, very tastefully narrated. In short, in a merely psychological point of view,

Starting point is 08:09:15 at least, he was a charming black leg. Assure, such a man might have been an irreproachable mercantile swindler circulating in polite society. But he was still more than this. Indeed, I claim for this master at arms a lofty and honorable niche in the Newgate calendar of history. His intrepidity, coolness, and wonderful self-possession in calmly resigning himself to a fate that thrust him from an office in which

Starting point is 08:09:45 he had tyrannized over 500 mortals, many of whom hated and loathed him, passed all belief. His intrepidity, I say, in now fearlessly gliding among them, like a disarmed swordfish among ferocious white sharks, this surely bespoke no ordinary man. While in office, even his life had often been secretly attempted by the seaman whom he had brought to the gangway. Of dark nights, they had dropped shot down the hatchways. destined to damage his pepper box, as they phrased it. They had made ropes with a hangman's noose at the end

Starting point is 08:10:21 and tried to lassele him in dark corners. And now he was adrift among them, under notorious circumstances of superlative villainy, at last dragged to light, and yet he blandly smiled, politely offered his cigar holder to a perfect stranger, and laughed and chatted to right and left, as if springy, buoyant, and elastic,

Starting point is 08:10:44 with an angelic conscience, and sure of kind friends wherever he went, both in this life and the life to come. While he was lying ironed in the brig, gangs of the men were sometimes overheard whispering about the terrible reception they would give him when he should be set at large. Nevertheless, when liberated, they seemed confounded by his erect and cordial assurance,

Starting point is 08:11:11 his gentlemanly sociability and fearless companionableness. From being an implacable policeman, vigilant, cruel and remorseless in his office, however polished in his phrases, he was now become a disinterested, sauntering man of leisure, winking at all improprieties, and ready to laugh and make merry with anyone. Still, at first, the men gave him a wide berth and returned scowls for his smiles. But who can forever resist the very devil himself? when he comes in the guise of a gentleman, free, fine, and frank.

Starting point is 08:11:50 Though Goethe's pious Margaret hates the devil in his horns and harpooner's tail, yet she smiles and nods to the engaging fiend in the persuasive, winning, oily, wholly, harmless Mephistopheles. But, however it was,

Starting point is 08:12:08 I, for one, regarded this master at arms with mixed feelings of detestation, pity, admiration, and something opposed to enmity. I could not but abominate him when I thought of his conduct, but I pitied the continual gnawing which, under all his deftly don disguises, I saw lying at the bottom of his soul. I admired his heroism in sustaining himself so well under such reverses, and when I thought how arbitrary the articles of war are in defining a man of war vivid,

Starting point is 08:12:43 villain, how much undetected guilt might be sheltered by the aristocratic awning of our quarter-deck, how many florid pursers, ornaments of the wardroom, had been legally protected in defrauding the people. I could not but say to myself, well, after all, though this man is a most wicked one indeed, yet is he even more luckless than depraved. Besides, a studied observation of Bland convinced me that he was an organic and irreclaimable scoundrel who did wicked deeds as the cattle browsed the herbage, because wicked deeds seemed the legitimate operation of his whole infernal organization. Phrenologically, he was without a soul.

Starting point is 08:13:29 Is it to be wondered at that the devils are irreligious? What then, thought I? Who is to blame in this matter? For one, I will not take the day of judgment upon me by authoritatively pronouncing upon the essential criminality of any man-of-war's man. And Christianity has taught me that, at the last day, man-of-war's men will not be judged

Starting point is 08:13:54 by the Articles of War, nor by the United States statutes at large, but by immutable laws, ineffably beyond the comprehension of the Honorable Board of Commodores and Navy-Cobes. commissioners. But though I will stand by even a man-of-war thief, and defend him from being seized up at the gangway, if I can, remembering that my savior once hung between two thieves, promising one life eternal, yet I would not, after the plain conviction of a villain, again let him entirely loose to prey upon honest seamen, four and aft all three decks. But this did, Captain Claret, and though the thing may not perhaps

Starting point is 08:14:36 be credited, nevertheless, here it shall be recorded. After the master at arms had been adrift among the ship's company for several weeks, and we were within a few days' sale of home, he was summoned to the mast and publicly reinstated in his office as the ship's chief of police. Perhaps Captain Claret had read the memoirs of Vidoch and believed in the old saying, set a rogue to catch a rogue. Or perhaps he was a man of very tender feelings, highly susceptible to the soft emotions of gratitude, and could not bear to leave in disgrace a person who, out of the generosity of his heart, had about a year previous, presented him with a rare snuffbox, fabricated from a sperm whale's tooth, with a curious silver hinge,

Starting point is 08:15:26 and cunningly wrought in the shape of a whale. Also, a splendid gold-mounted cane of a costly Brazilian wood, with a gold plate bearing the captain's name and rank in the service, the place in time of his birth, and with a vacancy underneath, no doubt providentially left for his heirs to record his decease. Certain it was that some months previous to the master at arms disgrace, he had presented these articles to the captain with his best love and compliments, and the captain had received them and seldom went ashore without the cane and never took snuff but out of that box. With some captains, a sense of propriety might have induced them to return these presents when the generous donor had proved himself

Starting point is 08:16:17 unworthy of having them retained. But it was not Captain Claret who would inflict such a cutting wound upon any officer's sensibilities. Though long-established naval customs had habituated him to scourging the people upon an emergency. Now, had Captain Claret deemed himself constitutionally bound to decline all presence from his subordinates, the sense of gratitude would not have operated to the prejudice of justice. And as some of the subordinates of a man-of-war captain are apt to invoke his good wishes and mollify his conscience by making him friendly gifts, it would perhaps have been an excellent thing for him to adopt the plan pursued by the President of the United States

Starting point is 08:17:06 when he received a present of lions and Arabian chargers from the Sultan of Muscat. Being forbidden by his sovereign lords and masters, the imperial people, to accept of any gifts from foreign powers, the President sent them to an auctioneer, and the proceeds were deposited in the treasury. In the same manner, when Captain Crizzan, Claret received his snuff-box and cane, he might have accepted them very kindly, and then sold them off to the highest bidder, perhaps to the donor himself, who in that case would never have tempted him again. Upon his return home, Bland was paid off for his full term, not deducting the period of his suspension. He again entered the service in his old capacity. As no further allusion

Starting point is 08:18:00 will be made to this affair, it may as well be stated now that for the very brief period elapsing between his restoration and being paid off in port by the purser, the master at arms conducted himself with infinite discretion, artfully steering between any relaxation of discipline which would have awakened the displeasure of the officers, and any unwise severity, which would have revived in tenfold force all the old grudges of the seaman under his command. never did he show so much talent and tact as when vibrating in this his most delicate predicament and plenty of cause was there for the exercise of his cunningest abilities for upon the discharge of our man-of-war's men at home should he then be held by them as an enemy as free and independent citizens they would waylay him in the public streets and take purple vengeance for all his iniquities past present and possible in the future. More than once a master at arms ashore has been seized by night by an exasperated crew and served as origin served himself or as his enemies served

Starting point is 08:19:13 Avald. But though, under extreme provocation, the people of a man of war have been guilty of the maddest vengeance, yet at other times they are very placable and milky-hearted, even to those who may have outrageously abused them. Many things in point might be related, but I forbear. This account of the master at arms cannot better be concluded than by denominating him, in the vivid language of the captain of the foretop, as the two ends and middle of the thrice-laid strand of a bloody rascal, which was intended for a terse, well-knit,

Starting point is 08:19:53 and all-comprehensive assertion without omission or reservation. It was also asserted that, had Toffett itself been raked with a fine-tooth comb, such another ineffable villain could not by any possibility have been caught. End of Chapter 44 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista Chapter 45 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 08:20:35 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 45. Publishing Poetry in a Man of War A day or two after our arrival in Rio, a rather amusing incident, occurred to a particular acquaintance of mine, young Limsford, the gun-deck barred. The great guns of an armed ship have blocks of wood, called Tompians, painted black, inserted in their muzzles to keep out the spray of the sea. These Tompians slip in and out very handily, like covers to butterfurkins.

Starting point is 08:21:28 By advice of a friend, Limsford, alarmed for the fate of his blood, box of poetry, had latterly made use of a particular gun on the main deck, in the tube of which he thrust his manuscripts by simply crawling partly out of the porthole, removing the Tompion, inserting his papers, tightly rolled, and making all snug again. Breakfast over, he and I were reclining in the main top, where, by permission of my noble master, Jack Chase, I had invited him. when, of a sudden, we heard a cannonading. It was our own ship.

Starting point is 08:22:09 Ah, said a topman, returning the shore salute they gave us yesterday. Oh, Lord, cried Lemsford, my songs of the sirens! And he ran down the rigging to the batteries, but just as he touched the gun deck, gun number 20, his literary strong box went off with a terrific report. Well, my afterguard Virgil, said Jack Chase to him as he slowly returned up the rigging. Did you get it?

Starting point is 08:22:38 You need not answer. I see you were too late. But never mind, my boy, no printer could do the business for you better. That's the way to publish White Jacket, turning to me. Fire it right into him, every canto a 24-pound shot. Hull the blockheads whether they will or no. And mind you, Limsford, when your shot does the most execution, you hear the least from the foe. A killed man cannot even lisp.

Starting point is 08:23:07 Glorious Jack, cried Limsford, running up and snatching him by the hand. Say that again, Jack. Look me in the eyes. By all the homers, Jack, you have made my soul mount like a balloon. Jack, I'm a poor devil of a poet. Not two months before I shipped aboard here, I published a volume of poems, very aggressive on the world, Jack. Heaven knows what it cost. me. I published it, Jack, and the cursed publisher sued me for damages. My friends looked sheepish. One or two who liked it were non-committal. And as for the atal-pated mob and rabble, they thought they had found out a fool. Blast them, Jack. What they call the public is a monster, like the

Starting point is 08:23:51 idol we saw in O'Ihi with the head of a jackass, the body of a baboon, and the tail of a scorpion. I don't like that, said Jack. When I'm ashore, I myself am part of the public. You're pardoned, Jack, you are not. You are then a part of the people, just as you are aboard the frigate here. The public is one thing, Jack, and the people another. You are right, said Jack. Right as this leg.

Starting point is 08:24:22 Virgil, you are a Trump. You are a jewel, my boy. The public and the people. people. Aye, aye, my lads. Let us hate the one and cleave to the other. End of Chapter 45. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 46 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 08:25:04 recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville Chapter 46 The Commodore on the Poop and one of the people under the hands of the surgeon. A day or two after the publication of Limsford's Songs of the Sirens, a sad accident befell a messmate of mine,

Starting point is 08:25:33 one of the captains of the Mizanty. He was a fine little Scott, who, from the premature loss of the hair on the top of his head, always went by the name of Baldi. This baldness was no doubt, in great part, attributable to the same cause that early thens the locks of most man-of-war's men, namely the hard, unyielding and ponderous man-of-war and navy regulation tarpaulin hat, which, when new, is stiff enough to sit upon, and indeed in lieu of his thumb sometimes serves the common sailor for a bench now there is nothing upon which the commodore of a squadron more prides himself than upon the solarity with which his men can handle the sails and go through with all the evolutions pertaining thereto this is especially manifested in harbour when other vessels of his squadron are near and perhaps the armed ship

Starting point is 08:26:35 of rival nations. Upon these occasions, surrounded by his post-captain Satrapes, each of whom in his own floating island is king, the Commodore dominers overall, emperor of the whole Okan archipelago, yea, magisterial and magnificent as the Sultan of the Isles of Sulu. But even as so potent an emperor and Caesar to boot, as the great dawn of Germany, Charles V, was used to divert himself in his dotage by watching the gyrations of the springs and cogs of a long row of clocks, even so does an elderly Commodore while away his leisure in harbor by what is called exercising guns, and also exercising yards and sails, causing the various spars of all the ships under his command to be braced, topped, and cock-billed in concert,

Starting point is 08:27:35 while the Commodore himself sits something like King Canute, on an arm-chest on the poop of his flagship. But far more regal than any descendant of Charlemagne, more haughty than any mogul of the East, and almost mysterious and voiceless in his authority as the great spirit of the Five Nations, the Commodore deigns not to verbalize his commands, They are imparted by signal.

Starting point is 08:28:04 And as for old Charles V again, the gay-prank colored suits of cards were invented, to while away his dotage, even so, doubtless, must these pretty little signals of blue and red-spotted bunting have been devised to cheer the old age of all Commodores. By the Commodore's side stands the Signal midshipman, with a sea-green bag swung on his shoulder, as a sportsman wears his game bag, the signal book in one hand, and the signal spyglass in the other.

Starting point is 08:28:39 As this signal book contains the Masonic signs and tokens of the Navy, and would therefore be invaluable to an enemy, its binding is always bordered with lead, so as to ensure its sinking in case the ship should be captured. not the only book this that might appropriately be bound and lead, though there be many where the author and not the bookbinder furnishes the metal. As White Jacket understands it, these signals consist of variously colored flags, each standing for a certain number. Say there are ten flags, representing the cardinal numbers, the red flag number one, the blue flag number two,

Starting point is 08:29:26 the green flag number three and so forth, then by mounting the blue flag over the red, that would stand for number 21. If the green flag were set underneath, it would then stand for 2.13. How easy, then, by endless transpositions to multiply the various numbers that may be exhibited at the Misen Peak,

Starting point is 08:29:51 even by only three or four of these flags. To each number, a particular meaning is applied. Number 100, for instance, may mean beat to quarters. Number 150, all hands to grog. Number 2,000, strike top-gallant yards. Number 2110, see anything to windward? Number 2800, no. And as every man-of-war is furnished with a signal book,

Starting point is 08:30:25 where all these things are set down in order, therefore, though two American frigates almost perfect strangers to each other, came from the opposite poles, yet at a distance of more than a mile they could carry on a very liberal conversation in the air. When several men of war of one nation lie at anchor in one port, forming a wide circle round their lord and master the flagship, it is a very interesting sight to see them all obeying the Commodore,

Starting point is 08:30:56 orders, who, meanwhile, never opens his lips. Thus was it with us in Rio, and hereby hangs the story of my poor messmate, Bally. One morning, in obedience to a signal from our flagship, the various vessels belonging to the American squadron then in harbor, simultaneously loosened their sails to dry. In the evening, the signal was set to furl them. Upon such occasions, great rivalry exists between the first lieutenants of the different ships. They vie with each other, who shall first have his sails stowed on the yards. And this rivalry is shared between all the officers of each vessel,

Starting point is 08:31:43 who are respectively placed over the different topmen, so that the main mast is all eagerness to vanquish the foremast and the mizzenmast to vanquish them both. Stimulated by the shouts of their officers, the sailors throughout the squadron, exert themselves to the utmost. A loft, topman, lay out, furl, cried the first lieutenant of the never sink. At the word the men sprang into the rigging, and on all three masts were soon climbing about the yards in reckless haste to execute their orders.

Starting point is 08:32:20 Now, in furling topsails or courses, the point of honor and the hardest work is in the bunt, or middle of the yard. This post belongs to the first captain of the top. What are you about there, mizzen topmen? Roared the first lieutenant through his trumpet. Blank you, you are clumsy as Russian bears. Don't you see the main topmen are nearly off the yard? Bear a hand. Bear a hand or I'll stop your grog all round.

Starting point is 08:32:51 You, Baldi, are you going to sleep there in the bunt? While this was being said, poor Baldi, his hat off, his face streaming with perspiration, was frantically exerting himself, piling up the ponderous folds of canvas in the middle of the yard, ever and anon glancing at victorious Jack Chase hard at work at the main top sail yard before him. At last, the sail being well piled up, Baldi jumped with both feet into the bunt, holding on with one hand to the chain tie, and in that manner was violently treading down the canvas to pack it close. Blank you, Baldi, why don't you move, you crawling caterpillar? roared the first lieutenant.

Starting point is 08:33:43 Baldi brought his whole weight to bear on the rebellious sail, and in his frenzied heedlessness let go his hold on the tie. You, Baldi, are you afraid of falling? cried the first lieutenant. At that moment, with all his force, Baldi jumped down upon the sail. The bunt gasket parted, and a dark form dropped through the air. Lighting upon the top rim, it rolled off, and the next instant, with a horrid crash of all his bones,

Starting point is 08:34:20 Baldi came like a thunderbolt upon the deck. A board of most large men of war, there is a stout oaken platform about four feet square on each side of the quarter deck. You ascend to it by three or four steps. On top, it is railed in at the sides with horizontal brass bars. It is called the horse block,

Starting point is 08:34:49 and there the officer of the deck usually stands in giving his orders at sea. It was one of these horse blocks, now unoccupied, that broke poor Baldi's fall. He fell lengthwise across the brass bars, bending them into elbows and crushing the whole oaken platform, steps and all, right down to the deck in a thousand splinters. He was picked up for dead. and carried below to the surgeon. His bones seemed like those of a man broken on the wheel, and no one thought he would survive the night. But with the surgeon's skillful treatment, he soon promised recovery. Surgeon cuticle devoted all his science to this case.

Starting point is 08:35:38 A curious framework of wood was made for the maimed man, and placed in this, with all his limbs stretched out, Baldy lay flat on the floor of the sick bay for many weeks. Upon our arrival home, he was able to hobble ashore on crutches, but from a hail hardy man with bronze cheeks, he was become a mere dislocated skeleton, white as foam. But ere this, perhaps, his broken bones are healed and whole in the last repose of the man-of-war's man. Not many days after Baldi's accident in furling sails, in this same frenzied manner

Starting point is 08:36:21 under the stimulus of a shouting officer, a seaman fell from the main royal yard of an English line of battleship near us and buried his ankle bones in the deck, leaving two indentations there, as if scooped out by a carpenter's gouge. The royal yard forms across with a cross with the mast, and falling from that lofty cross in a line of battleship is almost like falling from

Starting point is 08:36:48 the cross of St. Paul's, almost like falling as Lucifer, from the wellspring of morning down to the fledgiton of night. In some cases, a man hurled thus from a yard, has fallen upon his own shipmates in the tops, and dragged them down with him to the same destruction with himself. Hardly ever will you hear of a man-of-war returning home after a cruise without the loss of some of her crew from aloft, whereas similar accidents in the merchant service, considering the much greater number of men employed in it, are comparatively few. Why mince the matter? The death of most of these man-of-war's men lies at the door of the souls of those officers, who, while safely standing on deck themselves, scruple not to sacrifice an immortal man or two in order to show off the excelling discipline of the ship. And thus do the people of the gun decks suffer that the Commodore on the poop may be glorified. End of Chapter 46.

Starting point is 08:37:58 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 47 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 47, An Auction in a Man of War Some allusion has been made to the weariness experienced by the Man of War's men while lying at anchor,

Starting point is 08:38:49 but there are scenes now and then that serve to relieve it. Chief among these are the purser's auctions, taking place while in harbor. Some weeks, or perhaps months, after a sailor dies in an armed vessel, his bag of clothes is in this manner sold, and the proceeds transatlese. transferred to the account of his heirs or executors. One of these auctions came off in Rio, shortly after the sad accident of Baldi. It was a dreamy, quiet afternoon,

Starting point is 08:39:25 and the crew were listlessly lying around when suddenly the boatswain's whistle was heard, followed by the announcement, Do you hear there, four and aft? Purser's auction on the spar deck. At the sound, the sailors sprang to their feet and mustered round the mainmast. Presently up came the purser's steward, marshalling before him three or four of his subordinates, carrying several clothes bags which were deposited at the base of the mast.

Starting point is 08:39:59 Our purser's steward was a rather gentlemanly man in his way. Like many young Americans of his class, he had at various times, assumed the most opposite functions for a livelihood, turning from one to the other with all the facility of a lighthearted, clever adventurer. He had been a clerk in a steamer on the Mississippi River, an auctioneer in Ohio, a stock actor at the Olympic Theater in New York, and now he was purser's steward in the Navy. In the course of this diversified career, his natural wit and waggery, had been highly spiced and every way improved. And he had acquired the last and most difficult art of the Joker, the art of lengthening his own face, while widening those of his

Starting point is 08:40:53 hearers, preserving the utmost solemnity while setting them all in a roar. He was quite a favorite with the sailors, which, in a good degree, was owing to his humor. But likewise to his offhand, irresistible romantic theatrical manner of addressing them. With a dignified air, he now mounted the pedestal of the main-top-sail-sheet bits, imposing silence by a theatrical wave of his hand. Meantime, his subordinates were rummaging the bags and assorting their contents before him. Now, my noble hearties, he began, we will open this auction by offering to your impartial impartial competition a very superior pair of old boots, and so saying he dangled aloft

Starting point is 08:41:43 one clumsy cowhide cylinder almost as large as a fire bucket as a specimen of the complete pair. What shall I have now, my noble tars, for this superior pair of sea boots? Where's the other boot? cried a suspicious-eyed waster. I remember them air boots. They were old bobs, the quarter-gunners. There was two on a too. I want to see the other boot. My sweet and pleasant fellow, said the auctioneer with his blandest accents, the other boot is not just at hand, but I give you my word of honor that it in all respects corresponds to the one you hear see. It does, I assure you. And I solemnly guarantee my noble seafaring fensibles, he added turning round upon all, that the other boot is the exact

Starting point is 08:42:36 counterpart of this. Now then, say the word, my fine fellows. What shall I have? Ten dollars did you say? Politely bowing toward some indefinite person in the background. No, ten cents, responded a voice. Ten cents, ten cents, gallant sailors, for this noble pair of boots, exclaimed the auctioneer with affected horror. I must close the auction, my Tars of Columbia. This will never do. But let's have another bid now, come, he added coaxingly and soothingly. What is it? One dollar? One dollar then? One dollar? Going at one dollar? Going? Going? Just see how it vibrates, swinging the boot to and fro. This superior pair of sea boots vibrating at one dollar. Wouldn't pay for the nails in their heels. Going, going, gone. And down went the boots. Ah, what a sacrifice. What a sacrifice. What a sacrifice.

Starting point is 08:43:36 seaside, tearfully eyeing the solitary fire bucket, and then glancing round the company for sympathy. A sacrifice indeed, exclaimed Jack Chase, who stood by, Pursor Stewart, you are Mark Antony over the body of Julius Caesar. So I am, so I am, said the auctioneer, without moving a muscle. And look, he exclaimed, suddenly seizing the boot and exhibiting it on high. Look, my noble Tars, if you have tears, prepare to shed them now. You all do know this boot. I remember the first time ever old Bob put it on.

Starting point is 08:44:15 Twas on a winter evening off Cape Horn between the starboard caranades. That day his precious grog was stopped. Look, in this place a mouse has nibbled through. See what a rent some envious rat has made? Through this another filed, and as he plucked his cursed rasp away, mark how the bootleg gaped. This was the unkindest cut of all. But whose are the boots?

Starting point is 08:44:40 Suddenly assuming a business-like air. Yours? Yours? Yours? But not a friend of the lamented bob stood by. Tars of Columbia, said the auctioneer imperatively. These boots must be sold, and if I can't sell them one way, I must sell them another.

Starting point is 08:45:01 How much a pound now for this superior? pair of old boots. Going by the pound now. Remember, my gallant sailors. What shall I have? One cent, do I hear? Going now at one cent a pound? Going, going, going, going, going, gone. Whose are they? Yours, captain of the waist? Well, my sweet and pleasant friends, I will have them weighed out to you when the auction is over. In like manner, all the contents of the bags were disposed of, embracing old frocks, trousers, and jackets, the various sums for which they went, being charged to the bidders on the books of the purser. Having been present at this auction, though not a purchaser, and seeing with what facility

Starting point is 08:45:48 the most dismantled old garments went off through the magical cleverness of the accomplished auctioneer, the thought occurred to me that if ever I calmly and positively decided to to dispose of my famous white jacket, this would be the very way to do it. I turned the matter over in my mind a long time. The weather in Rio was genial and warm, and that I would ever again need such a thing as a heavy quilted jacket, and such a jacket as the white one, too, seemed almost impossible. Yet I remembered the American coast, and that it would probably be autumn when we should arrived there. Yes, I thought of all that, to be sure. Nevertheless, the ungovernable whim

Starting point is 08:46:39 seized me to sacrifice my jacket and recklessly abide the consequences. Besides, was it not a horrible jacket? To how many annoyances had it subjected me, how many scrapes had it dragged me into, nay, had it not once jeopardized my very existence? and I had a dreadful presentiment that, if I persisted in retaining it, it would do so again. Enough. I will sell it, I muttered, and so muttering, I thrust my hands further down in my waistband and walked the main top in the stern concentration of an inflexible purpose. Next day, hearing that another auction was shortly to take place, I repaired to the office of the purser's steward, with whom I was upon rather friendly terms. After vaguely and delicately hinting at the

Starting point is 08:47:33 object of my visit, I came roundly to the point and asked him whether he could slip my jacket into one of the bags of clothes next to be sold, and so dispose of it by public auction. He kindly acquiesced, and the thing was done. In due time, all hands were again summoned round the main mast. The purser's steward mounted his post and the ceremony began. Meanwhile, I lingered out of sight, but still within hearing, on the gun deck below, gazing up, unperceived at the scene. As it is now so long ago, I will hear frankly make confession that I had privately retained the services of a friend, Williams, the Yankee pedagogue and peddler, whose business it would be to linger near the scene of the auction, and if the bids,

Starting point is 08:48:26 on the jacket loitered to start it roundly himself, and if the bidding then became brisk, he was continually to strike in with the most pertinacious and infatuated bids, and so exasperate competition into the maddest and most extravagant overtures. A variety of other articles, having been put up, the white jacket was slowly produced, and held high aloft between the auctioner's thumb and forefinger, was, submitted to the inspection of the discriminating public. Here it behooves me once again to describe my jacket, for as a portrait taken at one period of life will not answer for a later stage, much more this jacket of mine undergoing so many changes needs to be painted again

Starting point is 08:49:17 and again in order truly to present its actual appearance at any given period. A premature old age, had now settled upon it. All over it bore melancholy sears of the masoned-up pockets that had once trenched it in various directions. Some parts of it were slightly mildewed from dampness. On one side several of the buttons were gone, and others were broken or cracked, while, alas, my many mad endeavors to rub it black on the decks had now imparted to the whole garment an exceedingly untidy appearance. Such as it was, with all its faults, the auctioneer displayed it. You, venerable sheet-anchorman, and you, gallant foretopmen, and you, my fine wasters, what do you say now for this superior old jacket?

Starting point is 08:50:13 Buttons and sleeves, lining, and skirts, it must this day be sold without reservation. How much for it, my gallant tars of Columbia? Say the word and how much. My eyes, exclaimed a foretopman. Don't that air a bunch of old swabs belong to Jack Chase's pet? Aren't that the white jacket? The white jacket, cried 50 voices in response. The white jacket.

Starting point is 08:50:42 The cry ran for and aft the ship like a slogan, completely overwhelming the solitary voice of my private friend Williams, while all hands gazed at it with straining eyes, wondering how it came among the bags of deceased mariners. Aye, noble Tars, said the auctioneer, you may well stare at it. You will not find another jacket like this on either side of Cape Horn, I assure you. Why, just look at it.

Starting point is 08:51:09 How much now? Give me a bid. But don't be rash. Be prudent. Be prudent, men. Remember your purse's accounts, and don't be betrayed into extravagant bids. "'Perser's steward,' cried Grummet, one of the quarter-gunners, slowly shifting his quid from one cheek to the other, like a ballast stone. "'I won't bid on that air bunch of old swabs unless you put up ten pounds of soap with it.' "'Don't mind that old fellow,' said the auctioneer.

Starting point is 08:51:41 "'How much for the jacket, my noble tars?' "'Jacket,' cried a dandy bone-polisher of the gun-room. "'The sailmaker was to tailor then. how many fathoms of canvas in it, purser's steward? How much for this jacket, reiterated the auctioneer emphatically. Jacket do you call it? cried a captain of the hold. Why not call it a whitewashed man-of-war schooner? Look at the portholes to let in the air of cold nights.

Starting point is 08:52:13 A regular herring net chimed in, grummit. Gives me the fever nager to look at it, echoed a mizentop. "'Silence!' cried the auctioneer. "'Start it now. Start it, boys. Anything you please, my fine fellows, it must be sold. "'Come, what ought I to have on it now?' "'Why, Pursor Stewart,' cried a wester, "'you ought to have new sleeves, a new lining, and a new body on it, "'before you try to shove it off on a greenhorn.'

Starting point is 08:52:43 "'What are you bussing that air garment for?' cried an old sheet-ancherman. Don't you see it's a uniform mustering jacket, three buttons on one side and none on the other? Silence, again, cried the auctioneer. How much my sea-fensibles for this superior old jacket? Well, said Grummet, I'll take it for cleaning rags at one cent. Oh, come, give us a bid. Say something, Columbians. Well, then, said Grummet, all at once bursting at a day. genuine indignation. If you want us to say something, then heave that bunch of old swabs overboard,

Starting point is 08:53:25 say I, and show us something worth looking at. No one will give me a bid then? Very good. Here, shove it aside. Let's have something else there. While this scene was going forward and my white jacket was thus being abused, how my heart swell within me. Thrice was I on the point of rushing out of my hiding place and bearing it off from derision. But I lingered, still flattering myself that all would be well, and the jacket fined a purchaser at last. But no, alas, there was no getting rid of it, except by rolling a 42-pound shot in it, and committing it to the deep. But though, in my desperation, I had once contemplated something of that sort, yet I had now become unaccountably averse to it from certain involuntary superstitious considerations.

Starting point is 08:54:20 If I sink my jacket, thought I, it will be sure to spread itself into a bed at the bottom of the sea, upon which I shall sooner or later recline a dead man. So, unable to conjure it into the possession of another, and withheld from bearing it out of sight forever, my jacket stuck to me like the fatal shirt on Nessus. End of Chapter 47. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 48 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 08:55:07 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 48. Purser, Purser's steward, and Postmaster in a Man of War. As the Pursor's steward so conspicuously figured at the unsuccessful auction of my jacket, it reminds me of how important a personage that official is on board of all men of war.

Starting point is 08:55:48 He is the right-hand man and confidential deputy and secretary. clerk of the purser, who entrusts to him all his accounts with the crew, while in most cases he himself, snug and comfortable in his stateroom, glances over a file of newspapers instead of overhauling his ledgers. Of all the non-combatants of a man of war, the purser, perhaps, stands foremost in importance. Though he is but a member of the gun-room mess, yet usage seems to assign him a conventional station somewhat above that of his equals in Navy rank, the chaplain, surgeon, and professor. Moreover, he is frequently to be seen in close conversation with the Commodore,

Starting point is 08:56:34 who, in the Never Sink, was more than once known to be slightly jocular with our purser. Upon several occasions also, he was called into the Commodore's cabin and remained closeted there for several minutes together. nor do I remember that there ever happened a cabinet meeting of the wardroom barons, the lieutenants, in the Commodore's cabin, but the purser made one of the party. Doubtless the important fact of the purser having under his charge all the financial affairs of a man of war imparts to him the great importance he enjoys. Indeed, we find in every government, monarchies and republics alike,

Starting point is 08:57:15 that the personage at the head of the finances invariably occupied, a commanding position. Thus, in point of station, the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is deemed superior to the other heads of departments. Also, in England, the real office held by the great Premier himself is, as everyone knows, that of First Lord of the Treasury. Now, under this high functionary of state, the official known as the purser's steward was head clerk of the frigate's fiscal affairs.

Starting point is 08:57:52 Upon the berth deck he had a regular counting room, full of ledgers, journals, and day books. His desk was as much littered with papers as any Pearl Street merchants, and much time was devoted to his accounts. For hours, together you would see him, through the window of his subterranean office, writing by the light of his perpetual lamp.

Starting point is 08:58:15 Ex officio, the purser's steward of most ships, is a sort of postmaster, and his office the post office. When the letter bags for the squadron, almost as large as those of the United States mail, arrived on board the Never Sink, it was the purser's steward that sat at his little window on the berth deck

Starting point is 08:58:35 and handed you your letter or paper, if any there were to your address. Some disappointed applicants among the sailors would offer to buy the epistles of their more fortunate shipmates, while yet the seal was unbroken. maintaining that the sole and confidential reading of a fond, long domestic letter from any man's home was far better than no letter at all.

Starting point is 08:59:01 In the vicinity of the office of the purser's steward are the principal storerooms of the purser, where large quantities of goods of every description are to be found. On board of those ships, where goods are permitted to be served out to the crew for the purpose of selling them ashore to raise money, More business is transacted at the office of a purser steward in one Liberty Day morning than all the dry goods shops in a considerable village would transact in a week. Once a month, with undeviating regularity, this official has his hands more than usually full. For once a month, certain printed bills called mess bills are circulated among the crew, and whatever you may want from the purser, be it tobacco, soap, duck, dungery, needles,

Starting point is 08:59:52 thread, knives, belts, calico, ribbon, pipes, paper, pens, hats, inks, shoes, socks, or whatever it may be, down it goes on the mess bill, which, being the next day returned to the office of the steward, the slops, as they are called, are served out to the men and charged to their accounts. lucky is it for man-of-war's men that the outrageous impositions to which but a very few years ago they were subjected from the abuses in this department of the service and the unscrupulous cupidity of men of the pursers lucky is it for them that now these things are in a great degree done away the pursers instead of being at liberty to make almost what they pleased

Starting point is 09:00:39 from the sale of their wares are now paid by regular stipends laid down by law. Under the exploded system, the profits of some of these officers were almost incredible. In one cruise up the Mediterranean, the purser of an American line of battleship was, on good authority, said to have cleared the sum of $50,000. Upon that, he quitted the service, and retired into the country. Shortly after, his three daughters, not very lovely, married extremely well. The ideas that sailors entertain of pursers is expressed in a rather inelegant but expressive saying of theirs. The purser is a conjurer. He can make a dead man chew tobacco, insinuating that the accounts of a dead man are sometimes subjected to post-mortem

Starting point is 09:01:32 charges. Among sailors, also, pursers commonly go by the name of nip-cheeses. No wonder that on board of the old frigate Java, upon her return from a cruise extending over a period of more than four years, $1,000 paid off 80 of her crew, though the aggregate wages of the 80 for the voyage must have amounted to about $60,000. Even under the present system, the purser of a line of battleship, for instance, is far better paid than any other officer, short of captain or Commodore. While the lieutenant commonly receives but $1,800, the surgeon of the fleet but $1,500, the chaplain, 1,200, the purser of a line of battleship receives $3,500. In considering his salary, however, his responsibilities are not to be overlooked.

Starting point is 09:02:29 They are by no means insignificant. There are pursers in the Navy whom the sailors exempt from the insinuations above mention, nor as a class are they so obnoxious to them now as formerly. For one, the florid old purser of the never sink, never coming into disciplinary contact with the semen, and being with all a jovial and apparently good-hearted gentleman, was something of a favorite with many of the crew. End of Chapter 48.

Starting point is 09:03:02 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 49 of White Jacket or the World in a man of war. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 49.

Starting point is 09:03:39 Rumors of a War and how they were received by the population of the Never Sink. While lying in the harbor of Kayao in Peru, certain rumors had come to us touching a war with England, growing out of the long-vexed northeastern boundary question. In Rio, these rumors were increased, and the probability of hostilities induced our Commodore to authorize proceedings that closely brought home to every man on board the Never Sink, his liability at any time to be killed at his gun. Among other things, a number of men were detailed to pass up the rusty cannonballs from the shot-lockers in the hold and scrape them clean for service.

Starting point is 09:04:26 The Commodore was a very neat gentleman and would not fire a dirty shot into his foe. It was an interesting occasion for a tranquil observer, nor was it altogether neglected. Not to recite the precise remarks made by the seaman while pitching the shot up the hatchet way from hand to hand like schoolboys playing ball ashore, it will be enough to say that, from the general drift of their discourse, jocular as it was, it was manifest that, almost to a man, they abhorred the idea of going into action. And why would they desire a war? Would their wages be raised? Not a cent. The prize money, though, ought to have been an inducement, but of all the rewards of virtue prize money is the most uncertain, and this the man-of-war's man knows.

Starting point is 09:05:21 What then has he to expect from war? What but harder work and harder usage than in peace? A wooden leg or arm, mortal wounds, and death? Enough, however, that by far the majority of the common sailors of the Never Sink were plainly concerned at the prospect of war and were plainly averse to it. But with the officers of the quarter-deck it was just the reverse. None of them, to be sure, in my hearing at least, verbally expressed their gratification, but it was unavoidably betrayed by the increased cheerfulness of their demeanor toward each other, their frequent fraternal conferences, and their unwonted animation for several days in issuing their orders.

Starting point is 09:06:07 the voice of mad jack always a belfry to hear now resounded like that famous bell of england great tom of oxford as for selvigy he wore his sword with a jaunty air and his servant daily polished the blade but why this contrast between the forecastle and the quarter-deck between the man-of-war's man and his officer because though war would equally jeopardize the lives of both, yet while it held out to the sailor no promise of promotion, and what is called glory, these things fired the breast of his officers. It is no pleasing task, nor a thankful one, to dive into the souls of some men, but there are occasions when, to bring up the mud from the bottom, reveals to us on what soundings we are, on what coast we adjoin. How were these officers to gain glory? How, but by a distinguished slaughtering of their fellow men.

Starting point is 09:07:13 How were they to be promoted? How, but over the buried heads of killed comrades and messmates? This hostile contrast between the feelings with which the common seaman and the officers of the Never Sink looked forward to this more than possible war is one of many instances that might be quoted to show the antagonism of their interests, the incurable antagonism in which they dwell. but can men whose interests are diverse ever hope to live together in a harmony uncoerced can the brotherhood of the race of mankind ever hope to prevail in a man-of-war where one man's bane is almost another's blessing by abolishing the scourge shall we do away tyranny that tyranny which must ever prevail where of two essentially antagonistic classes and perpetual contact one is immeasurably the stronger

Starting point is 09:08:08 Surely it seems all but impossible, and as the very object of a man-of-war, as its name implies, is to fight the very battles so naturally averse to the seamen, so long as a man-of-war exists, it must ever remain a picture of much that is tyrannical and repelling in human nature. Being an establishment much more extensive than the American Navy, the English-armed Marine furnishes a yet more striking example of this thing. especially as the existence of war produces so vast an augmentation of her naval force compared with what it is in time of peace it is well known what joy the news of bonaparte's sudden return from elba created among crowds of british naval officers who had previously been expecting to be sent ashore on half pay thus when all the world wailed these officers found occasion for thanksgiving i urge it not against them as men their feelings belong to their profession had they not been naval officers they had not been rejoicers in the midst of despair

Starting point is 09:09:20 when shall the time come how much longer will god postpone it when the clouds which at times gather over the horizons of nations shall not be hailed by any class of humanity and invoked to burst as a bomb. Standing navies as well as standing armies serve to keep alive the spirit of war, even in the meek heart of peace. In its very embers and smolderings, they nourish that fatal fire, and half-pay officers as the priests of Mars

Starting point is 09:09:52 yet guard the temple, though no God be there. End of Chapter 49. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 50 of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 09:10:26 Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 50 The Bay of All Beauties I have said that I must pass over Rio without a description, but just now such a flood of scented reminences steals over me that I must needs yield and recant as I inhale that musky air. More than 150 miles circuit of living green hills em bosoms a translucent expanse, so gemmed in by sierras of grass that among the Indian tribes the place was known as the hidden water. On all sides in the distance rise high conical peaks which at sunrise and sunset burn like vast

Starting point is 09:11:18 tapers and down from the interior through vineyards and forests flow radiating streams all emptying into the harbor. Talk not of Baja de Tos los Santos, the Bay of All Saints. For though that be a glorious haven, yet Rio is the Bay of All Rivers, the Bay of all Delights, the Bay of All Beuties. From circumjacent hillsides, untiring summer hangs perpetually in terraces of vivid verdure, and embossed with old mosses, convent and castle nestle in valley and glen. All around, deep inlets run into the green mountain land, and, overhung with wild highlands, more resemble Lockechatrines than Lake Lamont's.

Starting point is 09:12:12 And though Lockechatine has been sung by the bonneted Scott, and Lake Lamon by the coroneted Byron, yet here, in Rio, both the Locke and the lake, are but two wild flowers in a prospect that is almost unlimited. For behold, far away and away, stretches the broad blue of the water to yonder soft swelling hills of light green, backed by the purple pinnacles and pipes of the Grand Organ Mountains. Fitly so called, for in Thunder Time they roll cannonades down the bay,

Starting point is 09:12:48 drowning the blended base of all the cathedrals in Rio. Shout amain, exalt your voices, stamp your feet, jubilate organ mountains and roll your todayums round the world. What, though, for more than 5,500 years, this grand harbor of Rio lay hid in the hills, unknown by the Catholic Portuguese. Centuries ere Haydn performed before emperors and kings, these organ mountains played his oratorio of the creation, before the Creator himself. But Nervous Haydn could not have endured that caninating choir

Starting point is 09:13:31 since this composer of Thunderbolts himself died at last through the crashing commotion of Napoleon's bombardment of Vienna. But all mountains are Oregon Mountains, the Alps and the Himalayas, the Appalachian Chain, the Ural, the Andes, the Green Hills, and the White, all of them play anthems forever,

Starting point is 09:13:55 the Messiah and the United, and Samson and Israel in Egypt, and Saul and Judas Maccabeus, and Solomon, archipelago Rio. Air Noah on old Ararat anchored his ark, there lay anchored in you all these green, rocky aisles I now see. But God did not build on you, aisles, those long lines of batteries,

Starting point is 09:14:23 nor did our blessed Savior stand Godfather at the christening of yon frowning. fortress of Santa Cruz, though named in honor of himself the divine prince of peace. Amphitheatrical Rio. In your broad expanse might be held the resurrection and judgment day of the whole world's men of war, represented by the flagships of fleets, the flagships of the Phoenician armed galleys of Tyre and Sidon, of King Solomon's annual squadrons that sailed to Ofer, whence in after-times, perhaps, sailed the Acapulco fleets of the Spaniards, with golden ingots for ballasting, the flagships of all the Greek and Persian craft that exchanged the war-hug at Salamis.

Starting point is 09:15:11 Of all the Roman and Egyptian galleys that, eagle-like, with blood-dripping prows, beaked each other at actium. Of all the Danish keels of the Vikings, of all the mosquito craft of Abatuli, king of the Pilaz, when he went to vanquish Artensal. Of all the Venetian, Genoese, and papal fleets that came to the shock at Lepanto, of both horns of the crescent of the Spanish Armada, of the Portuguese squadron that, under the gallant gamma, chastised the moors, and discovered the Moluccas, of all the Dutch navies read by Van Tromp, and sunk by Admiral Hawk,

Starting point is 09:15:51 of the 47 French and Spanish sail of the line that for three months essayed to battered, down Gibraltar. Of all Nelson's 74s that thunder bolted off St. Vincent's at the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar, of all the frigate merchantmen of the East India Company, of Perry's warbriggs, sloops, and schooners that scattered the British armament on Lake Erie. Of all the Barbary corsairs captured by Bainbridge, of the war canoes of the Polynesian kings, Tamahamaha and Pomare, aye, one and all, with Commodore Noah for their Lord High Admiral, in this abounding bay of Rio these flagships might all come to anchor

Starting point is 09:16:35 and swing round in concert to the first of the flood. Rio is a small Mediterranean, and what was fabled of the entrance to that sea in Rio is partly made true, for here, at the mouth, stands one of Hercules's pillars, the Sugarloaf Mountain, 1,000 feet high, inclining over a little, like the leaning tower of Pisa. At its base crouch, like mastiffs, the batteries of Jose and Theodosia, while opposite you are menaced by a rock-founded fort.

Starting point is 09:17:12 The channel between, the sole inlet to the bay, seems but a biscuits toss over. You see naught of the land-lock sea within, till fairly in the strait. but then what a sight is beheld diversified as the harbor of constantinople but a thousandfold grander when the never sink swept in word was past aloftop men and furl to gallant sails and royals at the sound i sprang into the rigging and was soon at my perch how i hung over that main royal yard in a rapture high in air poised over that magnificent bay a new world to my ravished eyes, I felt like the foremost of a flight of angels, new-lighted upon earth, from some star in the Milky Way. End of Chapter 50. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 09:18:17 Chapter 51 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 51 One of the People has an audience with the Commodore and the captain on the quarterdeck. We had not lain in Rio long when, in the innermost recesses of the mighty

Starting point is 09:18:57 soul of my noble captain of the top, incomparable Jack Chase, the deliberate opinion was formed and rock-founded that our ship's company must have at least one day's liberty to go ashore ere we weighed anchor for home. Here it must be mentioned that, concerning anything of this kind, no sailor in a man-of-war ever presumes to be an agitator, unless he is of a rank superior to a mere able seaman. And no one short of a petty officer, that is, a captain of the top, a quarter-gunner, or boatswain's mate, ever dreams of being a spokesman to the supreme authority of the vessel in soliciting any kind of favor for himself and shipmates. After canvassing the matter thoroughly, with several old quartermasters and other dignified sea-fensibles, Jack had in hand, made his appearance one fine

Starting point is 09:19:57 evening at the mast, and, waiting till Captain Claret drew Nye, bowed and addressed him in his own offhand polished and poetical style. In his intercourse with the quarter-deck, he always presumed upon his being such a universal favorite. Sir, this Rio is a charming harbor, and we poor mariners, your trusty sea warriors, valiant captain, who, with you at their head, would board the rock of Gibraltar itself, and carry it by storm. We poor fellows, valiant captain, have gazed round upon this ravishing landscape till we can gaze no more. Will Captain Claret vouchsafe one day's liberty, and so assure himself of eternal felicity,

Starting point is 09:20:45 since in our flowing cups he will be ever after freshly remembered? As Jack thus rounded off with a snatch from Shakespeare, he saluted the captain with a gallant, flourish of his tarpaulin, and then, bringing the rim to his mouth, with his head bowed and his body thrown into a fine, negligent attitude, stood a picture of eloquent but passive appeal. He seemed to say, Magnanimous Captain Claret, we fine fellows and hearts of oak, throw ourselves upon your unparalleled goodness. And what do you want to go ashore for? asked the captain. evasively, and trying to conceal his admiration of Jack by affecting some haughtiness.

Starting point is 09:21:33 Uh, sir, sighed Jack, why do the thirsty camels of the desert desire to lap the waters of the fountain and roll in the green grass of the oasis? Are we not but just from the ocean, Sahara? And is not this Rio a verdant spot, noble captain? Surely you will not keep us always tethered at anchor, when a little more cable would admit of our cropping the herbage. And it is a weary thing, Captain Claret, to be imprisoned month after month on the gun deck,

Starting point is 09:22:06 without so much as smelling a citron. Ah, Captain Claret, what sings, sweet Waller? But who can always, on the billows lie? The watery wilderness yields no supply. Compared with such a prisoner, noble captain, happy, thrice happy, who, in battle slain, pressed in a treatise cause the Trojan pain. Pope's version, sir, not the original Greek. And so saying, Jack once more brought his hat-rim to his mouth, and slightly bending forward, stood mute.

Starting point is 09:22:47 At this juncture, the most serene Commodore himself happened to emerge from the after-gangway, his gilded buttons, epaulets, and the gold lace on his chapeau glittering in the flooding sunset. Attracted by the scene between Captain Claret and so well-known and admired a commoner as Jack Chase, he approached. And, assuming for the moment an air of pleasant condescension, never shown to his noble barons the officers of the warbroom, he said with a smile, Well, Jack, you and your shipmates are after some favor, I suppose. A day's liberty, is it not? Whether it was the horizontal setting sun streaming along the deck that blinded Jack, or whether it was in sun-worshipping homage of the mighty Commodore,

Starting point is 09:23:39 there is no telling. But just at this juncture, Noble Jack was standing reverentially holding his hat to his brow, like a man with weak eyes. Valiant Commodore. said he at last. This audience is indeed an honor undeserved. I almost sink beneath it. Yes, valiant Commodore, your sagacious mind has truly divined our object.

Starting point is 09:24:06 Liberty, sir. Liberty is indeed our humble prayer. I trust your honorable wound received in glorious battle, valiant Commodore, pains you less today than common. Ah, cunning Jack, cried the. the Commodore, by no means blind to the bold sortie of his flattery, but not at all displeased with it. In more respects than one, our Commodore's wound was his weak side. I think we must give them liberty, he added, turning to Captain Claret, who, thereupon waving Jack further off, fell into confidential discourse with his superior.

Starting point is 09:24:45 Well, Jack, we will see about it, at last, cried the Commodore advancing. I think we must let you go. To your duty, Captain of the Main Top, said the captain rather stiffly. He wished to neutralize somewhat the effect of the Commodore's condescension. Besides, he had much rather the Commodore had been in his cabin. His presence, for the time, affected his own supremacy in his ship. But Jack was no wise cast down by the captain's coldness.

Starting point is 09:25:18 He felt safe enough, so he proceeded to offer his acknowledgments. Kind gentlemen, he sighed, Your pains are registered where every day I turn the leaf to read, Macbeth, valiant Commodore and Captain, what the Thane says to the noble lords Ross and Angus. And long and lingering, bowing to the two noble officers, Jack backed away from their presence,

Starting point is 09:25:46 still shading his eyes with the broad rim of his hat. Jack Chase Forever, cried his shipmates as he carried the grateful news of liberty to them on the forecastle. Who can talk to Commodores like our matchless Jack? End of Chapter 51. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 52 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 09:26:26 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 52. Something Concerning Midshipman It was the next morning after matchless Jack's interview with the Commodore and Captain that a little incident occurred, soon forgotten by the crew at large, but a last morning. long remembered by the few seamen who were in the habit of closely scrutinizing everyday proceedings. Upon the face of it, it was but a common event, at least in a man of war, the flogging of a man at the gangway. But the undercurrent of circumstances in the case were of a nature that magnified

Starting point is 09:27:18 this particular flogging into a matter of no small importance. The story itself cannot here be related, it would not well bear recital, enough that the person flogged was a middle-aged man of the waist, a forlorn, broken-down, miserable object, truly one of those wretched landsmen sometimes driven into the Navy by their unfitness for all things else, even as others are driven into the workhouse. He was flogged at the complaint of a midshipman, and hereby hangs the drift of the thing. For though this was so ignoble immortal, yet his being scourged on this one occasion indirectly proceeded from the mere wanton spite and unscrupulousness of the midshipmen in question, a youth who was apt to indulge at times in undignified familiarities with some of the men,

Starting point is 09:28:14 who, sooner or later, almost always suffered from his capricious preferences. But the leading principle that was involved in this affair is far too mischievous to be lightly dismissed. In most cases, it would seem to be a cardinal principle with a Navy captain that his subordinates are disintegrated parts of himself, detached from the main body on special service, and that the order of the minutest midshipmen must be as deferentially obeyed by the seaman as if proceeding from the Commodore on the poop. This principle was once emphasized in a remarkable manner by the valiant and handsome Sir Peter Parker

Starting point is 09:28:58 upon whose death on a national arson expedition on the shores of Chesapeake Bay in 1812 or 1813, Lord Byron wrote his well-known stanzas. By the god of war, said Sir Peter to his sailors, I'll make you touch your hat to a midshipman's coat if it's only hung on a broomstick to dry. that the king, in the eye of the law, can do no wrong, is the well-known fiction of despotic states,

Starting point is 09:29:29 but it has remained for the navies of constitutional monarchies and republics to magnify this fiction, by indirectly extending it to all the quarter-deck subordinates of an arm-ship's chief magistrate. And, though judiciously unrecognized and unacknowledged by the officers themselves, yet this is the principle that pervades the fleet. This is the principle that is every hour acted upon, and to sustain which, thousands of seamen have been flogged at the gangway. However childish, ignorant, stupid, or idiotic a midshipman, if he but orders a sailor to perform even the most absurd action, that man is not only bound to render instant and unanswering obedience, but he would refuse at his peril.

Starting point is 09:30:20 And if having obeyed, he should then complain to the captain, and the captain, in his own mind, should be thoroughly convinced of the impropriety, perhaps of the illegality of the order. Yet in nine cases out of ten, he would not publicly reprimand the midshipman, nor by the slightest token admit before the complainant that, in this particular thing,

Starting point is 09:30:42 the midshipman had done otherwise than perfectly right. Upon a midshipman's complaining of a seaman to Lord Collingwood, when captain of a line of battleship, he ordered the man for punishment, and, in the interval, calling the midshipman aside, said to him, In all probability now, the fault is yours, you know. Therefore, when the man is brought to the mast, you would better ask for his pardon. Accordingly, upon the lad's public intercession, Collingwood, turning to the culprit, said, this young gentleman has pleaded so humanely for you that, in hope you feel a due gratitude to him for his benevolence, I will for this time overlook your offense.

Starting point is 09:31:26 This story is related by the editor of the Admiral's correspondence to show the Admiral's kind-heartedness. Now, Collingwood was, in reality, one of the most just, humane and benevolent admirals that ever hoisted a flag. For a sea officer, Collingwood was a man in a million, but if a man like him, swayed by old usages, could thus violate the commonest principle of justice, with however good motives at bottom, what must be expected from other captains not so eminently gifted with noble traits as Collingwood?

Starting point is 09:32:03 And if the core of American midshipmen is mostly replenished from the nursery, the counter, and the lap of unrestrained indulgence at home, and if most of them at least, by their impotency as officers in all important functions at sea, by their boyish and overweening conceit of their gold lace, by their overbearing manner toward the seaman, and by their peculiar aptitude to construe the merest trivialities of manner into set affronts against their dignity.

Starting point is 09:32:33 If by all this, they sometimes contract the ill will of the seaman, and if, in a thousand ways, the semen cannot be able to be able to, but betray it, how easy for any of these midshipmen, who may happen to be unrestrained by moral principle, to resort to spiteful practices in procuring vengeance upon the offenders in many instances to the extremity of the lash? Since, as we have seen, the tacit principle in the Navy seems to be that in his ordinary intercourse with the sailors, a midshipman can do nothing obnoxious to the public censure of his superiors. You fellow, I'll get you lick before long, is often heard from a midshipman to a sailor

Starting point is 09:33:18 who, in some way, not open to the judicial action of the captain, has chanced to offend him. At times you will see one of these lads, not five feet high, gazing up with inflamed eye at some venerable six-footer of a forecastleman, cursing and insulting him by every epithet deemed most scandalous and unendurable among men. Yet that man's indignant tongue is treblonotted by the law that suspends death itself over his head should his passion discharge the slightest blow at the boy worm that spits at his feet. But since what human nature is and what it must forever continue to be is well enough understood for most practical purposes, it needs no special example to prove that where the men's

Starting point is 09:34:07 merest boys indiscriminately snatched from the human family are given such authority over mature men, the results must be proportionable in monstrousness to the custom that authorizes this worse than cruel absurdity. Nor is it unworthy of remark that while the noblest-minded and most heroic sea officers, men of the topmost stature, including Lord Nelson himself, have regarded flogging in the Navy with the deepest concern, and not without weighty scruples touching its general necessity, still, one who has seen much of midshipmen can truly say that he has seen but few midshipmen who were not enthusiastic advocates and admirers of scourging.

Starting point is 09:34:52 It would almost seem that they themselves, having so recently escaped the posterior discipline of the nursery and the infant school, are impatient to recover from those smarting reminiscences by mincing the backs of full-grown American freemen. It should not be omitted here that the midshipmen in the English Navy are not permitted to be quite so imperious as in the American ships. They are divided into three, I think, probationary classes of volunteers instead of being at once advanced to a warrant.

Starting point is 09:35:27 Nor will you fail to remark, when you see an English cutter officered by one of those volunteers, that the boy does not so strut and slap his dirk-hilt with a Bobadil air and anticipatingly feel of the place where his warlike whiskers are going to be, and sputter out oaths so at the men, as is too often the case with the little boys wearing Best Bauer anchors on their lapels in the American Navy. Yet it must be confessed that at times you see midshipmen who are noble little fellows, and not at all disliked by the crew. Besides three gallant youths, one black-eyed little lad in particular in the never sink was such a one. From his diminutiveness, he went by the name of boat-plug among the seamen.

Starting point is 09:36:16 Without being exactly familiar with them, he had yet become a general favorite, by reason of his kindness of manner and never cursing them. It was amusing to hear some of the older tritons invoke blessings upon the youngster when his kind tones fell on their weather-beaten ears. Ah, good luck to you, sir, touching their hats to the little man. You have a soul to be saved, sir. There was a wonderful deal of meaning involved in the latter sentence. You have a soul to be saved is the phrase which a man-of-war's man

Starting point is 09:36:50 peculiarly applies to a humane and kind-hearted officer. It also implies that the majority of quarter-deck officers are regarded by them in such a light that they deny to them the possession of souls. Ah, but these plebeians sometimes have a sublime vengeance upon patricians. Imagine an outcast old sailor seriously cherishing the purely speculative conceit that some bully in epaulets who orders him to and fro like a slave is of an organization immeasurably inferior to himself, must at last perish with the brutes, while he goes to his immortality in heaven. But from what has been said in this chapter, it must not be inferred that a midshipman leads a lord's life in a man of war. Far from it. He lords it over those below him,

Starting point is 09:37:45 while lorded over himself by his superiors. It is as if with one hand a schoolboy snapped his fingers at a dog and at the same time received upon the other the discipline of the ushers feral. and though by the American Articles of War, a Navy captain cannot of his own authority legally punish amid shipment otherwise than by suspension from duty, the same as with respect to the wardroom officers. Yet this is one of those sea statutes which the captain, to a certain extent, observes or disregards at his pleasure. Many instances might be related of the petty mortifications and official insults inflicted by some captains upon their midshipmen, far more severe in one sense than the old-fashioned punishment of sending them to the masthead,

Starting point is 09:38:34 though not so arbitrary as sending them before the mast, to do duty with the common sailors, a custom in former times pursued by captains in the English Navy. Captain Claret himself had no special fondness for midshipmen. A tall, overgrown young midshipmen about 16,000, years old, having fallen under his displeasure, he interrupted the humble apologies he was making by saying, Not a word, sir, I'll not hear a word. Mount the netting, sir, and stand there till you are ordered to come down. The midshipmen obeyed, and in full sight of the entire ship's company, Captain Claret promenaded to and fro below his lofty perch,

Starting point is 09:39:19 reading him a most aggravating lecture upon his alleged misconduct. To a lad of sensibility, such treatment must have been almost as stinging as the lash itself would have been. It is to be remembered that wherever these chapters treat of midshipmen, the officers known as past midshipmen, are not at all referred to. In the American Navy, these officers form a class of young men who, having seen sufficient service at sea as midshipmen, to pass an examination before a board of Commodores, are promoted, to the rank of past midshipmen, introductory to that of lieutenant. They are supposed to be qualified to do duty as lieutenants, and in some cases temporarily

Starting point is 09:40:05 serve as such. The difference between a past midshipman and a midshipman may also be inferred from their respective rates of pay. The former, upon sea service, receives $750 a year, the latter $400. There were no past midshipman. and the Never Sink. End of Chapter 52. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 53 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 09:40:48 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville Chapter 53 Seafaring Persons peculiarly subject to being under the weather The effects of this upon a man-of-war captain

Starting point is 09:41:14 It has been said that some midshipmen in certain cases are guilty of spiteful practices against the man-of-war's man But as these midshipmen are presumed to have received the liberal and lofty breeding of gentlemen it would seem all but incredible that any of their core could descend to the paltreness of cherishing personal malice against so conventionally degraded a being as a sailor. So, indeed, it would seem. But when all the circumstances are considered, it will not appear extraordinary that some of them

Starting point is 09:41:52 should thus cast discredit upon the warrants they wear. title and rank and wealth and education cannot unmake human nature. The same in Cabin Boy and Commodore. Its only differences lie in the different modes of development. At sea, a frigate houses and homes 500 mortals in a space so contracted that they can hardly so much as move but they touch. Cut off from all those outward passing things which assure employ the eyes, tongues, and thoughts of landsmen,

Starting point is 09:42:29 the inmates of a frigate are thrown upon themselves and each other, and all their ponderings are introspective. A morbidness of mind is often the consequence, especially upon long voyages, accompanied by foul weather, calms, or headwinds. Nor does this exempt from its evil influence any rank on board. Indeed, high station only ministers to it the more. since the higher the rank in a man of war, the less companionship. It is an odious, unthankful, repugnant thing to dwell upon a subject like this.

Starting point is 09:43:07 Nevertheless, be it said that, through these jaundiced influences, even the captain of a frigate is, in some cases, indirectly induced to the infliction of corporal punishment upon a seaman. Never sail under a navy captain whom you suspect of being dyspeptic or constitutional prone to hypochondria. The manifestation of these things is sometimes remarkable. In the earlier part of the cruise, while making a long, tedious run from Mazatlan to Kayao on the main, baffled by light headwinds and frequent intermittent calms when all hands were heartily worried by the torrid monotonous sea, a good-natured foretopman by the name of Candy, quite a character

Starting point is 09:43:54 in his way, standing in the waist among a crowd of seaman, touched me and said, Do you see the old men there, White Jacket, walking the poop? Well, don't he look as if he wanted to flog someone? Look at him once. But to me, at least, no such indications were visible in the deportment of the captain, though his thrashing the arm chest with the slack of the spanker outhaul looked a little suspicious. But anyone might have been doing that to pass away a calm. "'Depend on it,' said the topman. "'He must somehow have thought I was making sport of him a while ago, "'when I was only taking off old priming, the gunner's mate.

Starting point is 09:44:36 "'Just look at him once, white jacket, "'while I make-believe coil this here rope. "'If there aren't a dozen in that air captain's top lights, "'my name is Horse Marine. "'If I could only touch my tile to him now "'and take my Bible oath on it, "'that I was only taking off priming, and not him, He wouldn't have such hard thoughts of me.

Starting point is 09:44:56 But that can't be done. He'd think I meant to insult him. Well, it can't be helped. I suppose I must look out for a baker's dozen after long. I had an incredulous laugh at this, but two days afterward, when we were hoisting the main top-mess stunsel, and the lieutenant of the watch was reprimanding the crowd of seamen at the hauliards for their laziness,

Starting point is 09:45:20 for the sale was but just crawling up to its place, owing to the languor of the men induced by the heat. The captain, who had been impatiently walking the deck, suddenly stopped short, and darting his eyes among the seamen, suddenly fixed them, crying out, You, candy, and be damned to you, you don't pull an ounce, you blackguard. Stand up to that gun, sir. I'll teach you to be grinning over a rope that way

Starting point is 09:45:47 without lending your pound of beef to it. Bosen's mate, where's your colt? Give that man a dozen. removing his hat, the boatswain's mate looked into the crown aghast. The coiled rope usually worn there was not to be found, but the next instant it slid from the top of his head to the deck. Picking it up and straightening it out, he advanced toward the sailor. Sir, said Candy, touching and retouching his cap to the captain,

Starting point is 09:46:17 I was pulling, sir, as much as the rest, sir. I was indeed, sir. Stand up to that gun, cried the captain. Captain. Bosn's mate, do your duty. Three stripes were given when the captain raised his finger. You, blank, do you dare stand up to be flogged with your hat on? Take it off, sir, instantly. Footnote. The phrase here used I have never seen either written or printed and should not like to be the first person to introduce it to the public. End footnote. Candy dropped it on deck. Now go on, boson's mate. and the sailor received his dozen.

Starting point is 09:46:59 With his hand to his back, he came up to me where I stood among the bystanders, saying, Oh, Lord, oh, Lord, that Bosons mate too had a spite again me. He always thought it was me that set afloat that yarn about his wife in Norfolk. Oh, Lord, just run your hand under my shirt, will you, white jacket? There. Didn't he have a spite again me to raise such bars as them?

Starting point is 09:47:24 and my shirt all cut to pieces, too. Aren't it, white jacket? Damn me, but these coltings puts the tin in the purser's pocket. Oh, Lord, my back feels as if there was a red-hot gridiron lashed to it. But I told you so. A widow's curse on him, say I. He thought I meant him and not priming. End of Chapter 53.

Starting point is 09:47:51 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. of White Jacket or the World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 54 The people are given liberty.

Starting point is 09:48:32 In intervals of mild benevolence, or yielding to mere politic dictates, kings and commodores relax the yoke of servitude, they should see to it well that the concessions seem not too sudden or unqualified, for in the commoner's estimation that might argue feebleness or fear. Hence it was, perhaps, that though noble Jack had carried the day captive in his audience at the mast, yet more than 36 hours elapsed ere anything official was heard of the liberty his shipmates so earnestly coveted. Some of the people began to growl and grumble. It's turned out all gammon, Jack, said one.

Starting point is 09:49:14 Blast the Commodore, cried another. He bamboozled you, Jack. Lay on your oars a while, answered Jack, and we shall see. We've struck for liberty and liberty will have. I'm your tribune, boys. I'm your Rienzi. The Commodore must keep his word. Next day, about breakfast time, a mighty whistling and piping was heard at the main hatchway, and presently the Bosen's voice was heard. Do you hear there, four and a half, all you starboard quarter watch, get ready to go ashore

Starting point is 09:49:48 on liberty? In a paroxysm of delight, a young mizentotman standing by at the time, whipped the tarpaulin from his head and smashed it like a pancake on the deck. Liberty! he shouted, leaping down into the berth deck after his bag. At the appointed hour, the quarter watch mustered round the capstan, at which stood our first lord of the treasury and paymaster general, the purser, with several goodly buckskin bags of dollars piled up on the capstan. He helped us all round to half a handful or so, and then the boats were manned, and like so many,

Starting point is 09:50:26 esther hazies, we were pulled ashore by our shipmates. All their lives, lords may live in listless state, but give the commoners a holiday, and they outlawed the Commodore himself. The ship's company were divided into four sections or quarter-watches, only one of which were on shore at a time, the rest, remaining to garrison the frigate, the term of liberty for each being 24 hours. With Jack Chase and a few other discreet and gentlemanly topmen, I went ashore on the first day with the first quarter watch. Our own little party had a charming time. We saw many fine sights, fell in, as all sailors must, with dashing adventures.

Starting point is 09:51:13 But though not a few good chapters might be written on this head, I must again forbear. For in this book I have nothing to do with the shore further than to glance at it now and then from the water. My man-of-war world alone must supply me with the staple of my matter. I have taken an oath to keep afloat to the last letter of my narrative. Had they all been as punctual as Jack Chase's party, the whole quarter-watch of Liberty Men had been safe on board the frigate

Starting point is 09:51:43 at the expiration of the 24 hours. But this was not the case, and during the entire day succeeding, the midshipmen and others were engaged in ferreting them out of their hiding places on shore. and bringing them off in scattered detachments to the ship. They came in all imaginable stages of intoxication, some with blackened eyes and broken heads, some still more severely injured, having been stabbed in frays with the Portuguese soldiers.

Starting point is 09:52:12 Others unharmed were immediately dropped on the gun deck between the guns, where they lay snoring for the rest of the day. As a considerable degree of license is invariably permitted to man of war's men just off liberty, and as Man of Wars men well know this to be the case, they occasionally avail themselves of the privilege to talk very frankly to the officers when they first crossed the gangway, taking care, meanwhile, to reel about very industriously, so that there shall be no doubt about their being seriously intoxicated, and altogether non-copos for the time. And though but few of them have caused to feign intoxication, yet some individuals may be suspected of enacting a studied

Starting point is 09:52:58 part upon these occasions. Indeed, judging by certain symptoms, even when really inebriated, some of the sailors must have previously determined upon their conduct, just as some persons who, before taking the exhilarating gas, secretly make up their minds to perform certain mad feats while under its influence, which feats consequently come to pass precisely as if the actors were not accountable for them. For several days, while the other quarter watches were given liberty, the Never Sink presented a sad scene. She was more like a madhouse than a frigate. The gun deck resounded with frantic fights, shouts, and songs. All visitors from shore were kept at a cable's length. These scenes, however, are nothing to those which have repeatedly been enacted in American

Starting point is 09:53:51 men of war upon other stations. But the custom of introducing women on board in harbor is now pretty much discontinued, both in the English and American Navy, unless a ship, commanded by some dissolute captain, happens to lie in some faraway outlandish port in the Pacific or Indian Ocean. The British line of battleship Royal George, which in 1782 sunk at her anchors at Spithead, carried down 300 English women among the 1,000 souls that were drowned on that memorable morning. When, at last, after all the mad tumult and contention of liberty, the reaction came, our frigate presented a very different scene. The men looked jaded and wan, lethargic and lazy,

Starting point is 09:54:41 and many an old mariner with hand upon abdomen called upon the flagstaff to witness that there were more hot coppers in the never sink than those in the ship's galley. Such are the lamentable effects of suddenly and completely releasing the people of a man-of-war from arbitrary discipline. It shows that, to such, liberty at first, must be administered in small and moderate quantities, increasing with the patient's capacity, to make good use of it. Of course, while we lay in Rio, our officers frequently went ashore for pleasure and, as a general thing, conducted themselves with propriety. But it is a sad thing to say that, as for Lieutenant Mad Jack, he enjoyed himself so delightfully for three consecutive days in the town that upon returning to the ship, he sent his card to the surgeon with his compliments, begging him to drop into his state room

Starting point is 09:55:40 the first time he happened to pass that way in the wardroom. But one of our surgeons' mates, a young medico of fine family but slender fortune, must have created by far the strongest impression among the Adalgals of Rio. He had read Don Quixote, and, instead of curing him of his quixotism, as it ought to have done,

Starting point is 09:56:03 it only made him still more quixotic. Indeed, there are some some natures concerning whose moral maladies the grand maxim of Mr. Similia semilibus curantuhahneman does not hold true, since, with them, like cures not like, but only aggravates like. Though, on the other hand, so incurable are the moral maladies of such persons that the antagonist maxim Contraria contraris curantar often proves equally false. Of a warm tropical day, this surgeon's mate must-needs go ashore in his blue cloth boat cloak, wearing it with a gallant Spanish toss over his cavalier shoulder.

Starting point is 09:56:50 By noon, he perspired very freely, but then his cloak attracted all eyes, and that was huge satisfaction. Nevertheless, his being knock-kneed and spavined of one leg sorely impaired the effect of this idalgo cloak, which, by the way, was somewhat rusty in front, where his chin rubbed against it, and a good deal bedraggled all over from his having used it as a counterpane off Cape Horn. As for the midshipman, there was no knowing what their mamas would have said to their conduct in Rio. Three of them drank a good deal too much, and when they came on board, the captain ordered them to be sewed up in their hammocks to cut short their obstreperous capers till sober. this shows how unwise it is to allow children yet in their teens to wander so far from home it more especially illustrates the folly of giving them long holidays in a foreign land full of seductive dissipation

Starting point is 09:57:51 port for men claret for boys cried dr johnson even so men only should drink the strong drink of travel boys should still be kept on milk and water at home middies you may despise your mother's leading strings but they are the man ropes my lads by which many youngsters have steadied the giddiness of youth and saved themselves from lamentable falls and middies know this that as infants being too early put on their feet grow up bandy-legged and curtailed of their fair proportions even so my dear middies does it morally prove with some of you who prematurely are sent off to sea these admonitions are solely addressed to the more diminutive class of midshipmen those under five feet high and under seven stone in weight truly the records of the steerages of men of war are full of most melancholy examples of early dissipation disease disgrace and death answer ye shades of fine boys who in the soils of all climes the round world over far away sleep from your homes mothers of men if your hearts have been cast down when your boys have fallen in the way of temptations ashore how much more bursting your grief did you know that those boys were far from your arms cabined and cribbed in by all manner of iniquities but this some of you cannot believe it is perhaps well that it is so but hold them fast all those who have not yet weighed their anchors for the navy round and round hitch over hitch, bind your leading strings on them, and clenching a ring bolt into your chimney jam,

Starting point is 09:59:41 more your boys fast to that best of harbors, the hearthstone. But if youth be giddy, old age is stayed, even as young saplings in the litheness of their limbs tossed to their roots in the fresh morning air. But stiff and unyielding with age, mossy trunks never bend. With pride and pleasure, he had said that, as for our old Commodore, though he might treat himself to as many Liberty Days as he pleased, yet throughout our stay in Rio, he conducted himself with the utmost discretion. But he was an old, old man, physically a very small man. His spine was as an unlocked musket barrel, not only attenuated, but destitute of a solitary cartridge, and his ribs were

Starting point is 10:00:31 as the ribs of a weasel. Besides, he was Commodore of the fleet, Supreme Lord of the Commons in Blue. It be seamed him, therefore, to erect himself into an en sample of virtue and show the gun-deck what virtue was. But alas, when virtue sits high aloft on a frigate's poop, when virtue is crowned in the cabin a Commodore,

Starting point is 10:00:56 when virtue rules by compulsion and dominers over vice as a slave, Then virtue, though her mandates be outwardly observed, bears little interior sway. To be efficacious, virtue must come down from aloft, even as our blessed Redeemer came down to redeem our whole man-of-war world, to that end, mixing with its sailors and sinners as equals. End of Chapter 54. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 55 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War

Starting point is 10:01:39 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 55. Midshipman entering the Navy. early. The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen

Starting point is 10:02:13 enter the Navy suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations. A very general modern impression seems to be that in order to learn the profession of a sea officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early. To a certain extent, this may be a mistake. Other professions involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of 21, or even at a later period of life. It was only about the middle of the 17th century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct. Previous to that epic, the King's officers commanded indifferently either by sea or by land. Robert Blake, perhaps one of the most accomplished and certainly one of the most successful

Starting point is 10:03:08 admirals that ever hoisted a flag, was more than half a century old, 51 years, before he entered the naval service or had ought to do professionally with a ship. He was of a studious turn, and after leaving Oxford, resided quietly on his estate, a country gentleman, till his 42nd year, soon after which he became connected with the parliamentary army. The historian Clarendon says of him, he was the first man that made it manifest that the science, seamanship, might be attained in less time than was imagined, and doubtless it was to his sure sympathies

Starting point is 10:03:50 that the well-known humanity and kindness which Blake evinced in his intercourse with the sailors is in a large degree to be imputed. midshipmen sent into the Navy at a very early age are exposed to the passive reception of all the prejudices of the quarter-deck in favor of ancient usages however useless or pernicious. Those prejudices grow up with them and solidify with their very bones. As they rise in rank, they naturally carry them up, whence the inveterate repugnance of many Commodores and captains

Starting point is 10:04:27 to the slightest innovations in the service, however saliatory they may appear to landsmen. It is hardly to be doubted that in matters connected with the general welfare of the Navy, government has paid rather too much deference to the opinions of the officers of the Navy, considering them as men almost born to the service, and therefore far better qualified to judge

Starting point is 10:04:53 concerning any and all questions touching it than people on shore. But in a nation under a liberal constitution, it must ever be unwise to make too distinct and peculiar the profession of either branch of its military men. True, in a country like ours, nothing is at present to be apprehended of their gaining political rule, but not a little is to be apprehended concerning their perpetuating or creating abuses among their subordinates, unless civilians have full cognizance of their admissible. administrative affairs, and account themselves competent to the complete overlooking and ordering them.

Starting point is 10:05:34 We do wrong when we in any way contribute to the prevailing mystification that has been thrown about the internal affairs of the National Sea Service. Hitherto, those affairs have been regarded even by some high-state functionaries as things beyond their insight, altogether too technical and mysterious, to be fully comprehended by landsmen. And this it is, that has perpetuated in the Navy many evils that otherwise would have been abolished in the general amelioration of other things. The army is sometimes remodeled, but the Navy goes down from generation to generation almost untouched and unquestioned, as if its code were infallible and itself a piece of perfection that no statesman could

Starting point is 10:06:24 improve. When a Secretary of the Navy ventures to innovate upon its established customs, you hear some of the Navy officers say, what does this landsman know about our affairs? Did he ever head a watch? He does not know Starboard from Larboard, Gert Line from Backstay. While we deferentially and cheerfully leave to Navy officers the sole conduct of making and shortening sail, tacking ship, and performing other nautical maneuvers, as may seem to them best, let us beware of abandoning to their discretion those general municipal regulations touching the well-being of the great body of men before the mast. Let us beware of being too much influenced by their opinions and matters where it is but natural to suppose that their long-established

Starting point is 10:07:17 prejudices are enlisted. End of Chapter 55. by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 56 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville.

Starting point is 10:07:57 Chapter 56 A Shore Emperor On Board a Man of War While we lay in Rio We sometimes had company from shore But an unforeseen honor awaited us One day the young emperor

Starting point is 10:08:15 Don Pedro the second And sweet Making a circuit of the harbor And visiting all the men of war in rotation At last, condescendingly visited the Never Sink. He came in a splendid barge

Starting point is 10:08:29 rowed by thirty african slaves who after the brazilian manner in concert rose upright to their oars at every stroke then sank backward again to their seats with a simultaneous groan he reclined under a canopy of yellow silk looped with tassels of green the national colors at the stern waved the brazilian flag bearing a large diamond figure in the centre emblematical perhaps of the mines of precious stone in the interior, or it may be a magnified portrait of the famous Portuguese diamond itself, which was found in Brazil in the district of De Hucco on the banks of the Rio Belmonte. We gave them a grand salute, which almost made the ship's live oak knees knocked together with the tremendous concussions. We manned the yards and went through a long ceremonial of paying the emperor homage. Republicans are often more courteous to royalty than royalists themselves, but doubtless this springs from a noble

Starting point is 10:09:37 magnanimity. At the gangway, the emperor was received by our Commodore in person, arrayed in his most resplendent coat and finest French epaulets. His servant had devoted himself to polishing every button that morning with rotten stone and rags. Your sea air is a sworn foe to metallic glosses. Whence it comes that the swords of sea officers have, of late, so rusted in their scabbards that they are with difficulty drawn. It was a fine sight to see this emperor and Commodore complimenting each other. Both were Chapo de Brasse, and both continually waved them.

Starting point is 10:10:20 By instinct, the emperor knew that the venerable personage before him was as much a monarch afloat as he himself was ashore. Did not our Commodore carry the sword of state by his side? For though not born before him, it must have been a sword of state, since it looked far too lustrous to have been his fighting sword. That was not but a limber steel blade with a plain, serviceable handle, like the handle of a slaughterhouse knife. Whoever saw a star when the noon sun was in sight?

Starting point is 10:10:53 But you seldom see a king without satellites. In the suite of the youthful emperor came a princely train, so brilliant with gems that they seemed just emerged from the mines of the real Belmonte. You have seen cones of crystallized salt? Just so flashed these Portuguese barons, marquises, vicomts, and counts, were it not for their titles, and being seen in the train of their lord, you would have sworn they were eldest sons of jewelers all, who had run away with their father's cases on the their backs. Contrasted with these lamplusters of barons of Brazil how waned the gold

Starting point is 10:11:33 lace of our barons of the frigate, the officers of the gunroom, and compared with the long, jewel-hilted rapiers of the marquises, the little dirks of our cadets of noble houses, the middies, looked like gilded tin-penny nails in their girdles. But there they stood, Commodore and Emperor, lieutenants and Marquises, middies and pages, the brazen band on the poop struck up, the Marine Guard presented arms,

Starting point is 10:12:02 and high aloft, looking down on this scene, all the people vigorously hurrahed. A topman next to me on the main royal yard removed his hat and diligently manipulated his head in honor of the event. But he was so far out of sight in the clouds

Starting point is 10:12:19 that this ceremony went for nothing. A great pity it was that, in addition to all these honors, that admirer of Portuguese literature Vicomte Stringford of Great Britain, who I believe once went out ambassador extraordinary to the Brazils, it was a pity that he was not present on this occasion to yield his tribute of A Stanza to Braganza. For our royal visitor was an undoubted Braganza, allied to nearly all the great families of Europe. His grandfather, John the 6th, had been king of Portugal. His own sister, Maria, was now its queen. He was indeed a distinguished young gentleman, entitled to high consideration,

Starting point is 10:13:05 and that consideration was most cheerfully accorded him. He wore a green dress coat with one regal morning star at the breast and white pantaloons. In his chapeau was a single bright golden-hued feather of the imperial toucan fowl, a magnificent omnivorous broad-billed banded bird of prey, a native of Brazil. Its perch is on the loftiest trees whence it looks down upon all humbler fowls, and hawk-like flies at their throats. The toucan once formed part of the savage regalia of the Indian Kakikis of the country, and upon the establishment of the empire, was symbolically retained by the Portuguese sovereigns. His imperial majesty was yet in his youth, rather corpulent, if anything,

Starting point is 10:13:59 with a carefree, pleasant face and a polite, indifferent, and easy address. His manners, indeed, were entirely unexceptionable. Now here, thought I, is a very fine lad, with very fine prospects before him. He is supreme emperor of all these Brazils. He has no stormy night-watches to stand, he can lay a bed of mornings just as long as he pleases. Any gentleman in Rio would be proud of his personal acquaintance, and the prettiest girl in all South America would deem herself honored with the least glance from the acutest angle of his eye. Yes, this young emperor will have a fine time of his life,

Starting point is 10:14:43 even so long as he condescends to exist. Everyone jumps to obey him, and see, as I live, there is an old nobleman in his suit. The Marquis Descartes, they call him, old enough to be his grandfather, who, in the hot son, is standing bareheaded before him while the emperor carries his hat on his head.

Starting point is 10:15:06 I suppose that old gentleman now, said a young New England tar beside me, would consider it a great honor to put on his royal majesty's boots, and yet white jacket, if yonder emperor and I were to strip and jump overboard for a bath, It would be hard telling which was of the blood royal when we should once be in the water.

Starting point is 10:15:27 Look you, Don Pedro II, he added. How do you come to be emperor? Tell me that. You cannot pull as many pounds as I on the main topsil howliards. You are not as tall as I. Your nose is a pug and mine is a cut water. And how do you come to be a brigand with that thin pair of spars? A brigand indeed. "'Braganza, you mean,' said I, willing to correct the rhetoric of so fierce a Republican,

Starting point is 10:15:56 and by so doing, chastise his censoriousness. "'Briganza, bragger, it is,' he replied, "'and a bragger indeed. "'See that feather in his cap? "'See how he struts in that coat? "'He may well wear a green one topmates. "'He's a green-looking suave at the best.' "'Hush, Jonathan,' said I.

Starting point is 10:16:19 there's the first duff looking up. Be still. The emperor will hear you. And I put my hand on his mouth. Take your hand away, white jacket, he cried. There's no law up aloft here. I say you, emperor, you greenhorn in the green coat there. Look, you, you can't raise a pair of whiskers yet.

Starting point is 10:16:41 And see what a pair of homeward bounders I have on my jowls. Don't Pedro, eh? What's that, after all? but plain Peter. Reckoned a shabby name in my country. Damn me, white jacket. I wouldn't call my dog, Peter. Clap a stopper in your jaw tackle, will you?

Starting point is 10:17:00 cried Ringbolt, the sailor on the other side of him. You'll be getting us all into Darby's for this. I won't trice up my red rag for nobody, retorted Jonathan. So you had better take a round turn with yours, Ringbolt, and let me alone, or I'll fetch you such a swat over your figurehead. you'll think a long wharf truck horse kicked you with all four shoes on one hoof, you emperor, you counter-jumping son of a gun. Cock your weather eye up aloft here, and see your betters.

Starting point is 10:17:31 I say, topmates, he ain't any emperor at all. I'm the rifle emperor. Yes, by the Commodore's boots, they stole me out of my cradle here in the Palace of Rio and put that green horn in my place. I, you timberhead, you, I'm Don Pedro the same. second, and by good rights you ought to be a main topman here with your fist in a tar bucket. Look you, I say, that crown of yours ought to be on my head, or if you don't believe that, just heave it into the ring once and see who's the best man.

Starting point is 10:18:03 What's this hurrah's nest here aloft? cried Jack Chase, coming up the tegallant rigging from the top sail yard. Can't you behave yourself, royal yardman, when an emperor's on board? "'It's this here, Jonathan,' answered Ringbolt. "'He's been black guarding the young knob in the green coat there. "'He says Don Pedro stole that hat.' "'How?' "'Crown,' he means, Noble Jack,' said a topman. "'Jonathan don't call himself an emperor, does he?' asked Jack.

Starting point is 10:18:34 "'Yes,' cried Jonathan. "'That green horn standing there by the Commodore "'is sailing under false colors. "'He's an imposter, I say. He wears my crown.' Ha, ha, laughed Jack, now seeing into the joke and willing to humor it. Though I'm born a Britain, boys, yet by the mast, these dome padrals are all Perkin Warbecks. But I say, Jonathan, my lad, don't pipe your eye now about the loss of your crown, for look you, we all wear crowns, from our cradles to our graves,

Starting point is 10:19:05 and though in double derbies in the brig, the Commodore himself can't unking us. A riddle, noble Jack. Not a bit. Every man who has a soul to his foot has a crown to his head. Here's mine. And so saying, Jack, removing his tarpaulin, exhibited a bald spot just about the bigness of a crown piece on the summit of his curly and classical head.

Starting point is 10:19:35 End of Chapter 56. Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista. Chapter 57 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of Wend, war. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 57. The Emperor reviews the people at quarters. I begged their Royal Highness's pardons all round, but I had almost forgotten to chronicle the

Starting point is 10:20:25 fact that with the Emperor came several other royal princes, kings for aught we knew, since it was just after the celebration of the nuptials of a younger sister of the Brazilian monarch to some European royalty. Indeed, the Emperor and his suite formed a sort of bridal party, only the bride herself was absent. The first reception over, the smoke of the cannonating salute having cleared away, and the martial outburst of the brass band having also rolled off to leeward, the people were called down from the yards, and the drum beat to quarters. To quarters we went, and there we stood up by our iron bulldogs, while our royal and noble visitors promenaded along the batteries, breaking out into frequent exclamations at our warlike array, the extreme neatness of our garments, and above all,

Starting point is 10:21:23 the extraordinary polish of the bright work about the great guns and the marvelous whiteness of the decks. "'Khe gosto!' cried a marquise, with several dry goods, samples of ribbon, tallied with bright buttons hanging from his breast. "'Ke gloria!' cried a crooked, coffee-colored vicom, spreading both palms. "'Kae' aligria!' cried a little count, mincingly circumnavigating a shot-box. "'Kek contentamento e'e omey!' cried the emperor himself, complacently folding his royal arms and serenely gazing along our ranks.

Starting point is 10:22:05 "'Pleasure, glory, and joy. This was the burden of the three noble courtiers, and very pleasing indeed was the simple rendering of Don Pedro's imperial remark. "'I-I!' growled a grim rammer and sponger behind me. "'It's all devilish fine for you knobs to look at. "'But what would you say if you had to holy stone the deck yourselves "'and wear out your elbows and polishing this cursed old iron, "'besides getting a dozen at the gangway "'if you dropped a grease spot on deck in your mess?

Starting point is 10:22:38 "'I-I, devilish fine for you, but devilish dull for us.' "'In due time, the drumming. arms beat the retreat, and the ship's company scattered over the decks. Some of the officers now assumed the part of Ciceroons to show the distinguished strangers the bowels of the frigate concerning which several of them showed a good deal of intelligent curiosity. A guard of honor, detached from the Marine Corps, accompanied them, and they made the circuit of the berth deck where, at a judicious distance, the emperor peeped down into the cable

Starting point is 10:23:14 a very subterranean vault. The captain of the mainhold, who there presided, made a polite bow in the twilight and respectfully expressed a desire for his royal majesty to step down and honor him with a call. But with his handkerchief to his imperial nose, his majesty declined. The party then commenced the ascent to the spar deck, which, from so great a depth in a frigate, is something like getting up to the top of Bunker Hill Monument from the basement. While a crowd of people was gathered about the forward part of the booms, a sudden cry was heard from below. A lieutenant came running forward to learn the cause,

Starting point is 10:23:58 when an old sheet anchorman, standing by, after touching his hat, hitched up his waistbands and replied, I don't know, sir, but I'm thinking as how one of them our kings has been tumbling down the hatchway. And something like this, it turned out. In ascending one of the narrow ladders leading from the berth-deck to the gun-deck, the most noble Marquise of Silva, in the act of elevating the imperial coattails so as to protect them from rubbing against the newly painted combings of the hatchway, this noble Marquise's sword, being an uncommonly long one,

Starting point is 10:24:34 had caught between his legs and tripped him head over heels down into the forepassage. "'And they this!' "'Where are you going?' said his royal master, tranquilly peeping down toward the falling Marquise. "'And what did you let go of my coattails for?' he suddenly added in a passion, glancing round at the same time, to see if they had suffered from the unfaithfulness of his train-bearer. "'Oh, Lord!' sighed the captain of the foretop.

Starting point is 10:25:04 "'Who would be a Marquise of Silva?' Upon being assisted to the spar deck, the unfortunate Marquise was found to have escaped without serious harm. But from the marked coolness of his royal master, when the Marquise drew near to apologize for his awkwardness, it was plain that he was condemned to languish for a time under the royal displeasure. Shortly after, the Imperial Party withdrew, under another grand national salute. End of Chapter 57. Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista.

Starting point is 10:25:49 Chapter 58 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. by Herman Melville. Chapter 58

Starting point is 10:26:16 A Quarter-Dec officer before the mast As we were somewhat short-handed while we lay in Rio, we received a small draft of men from a United States sloop of war whose three years' term of service would expire about the time of our arrival in America. Under guard of an armed lieutenant and four-midshipmen, they came on board in the afternoon. They were immediately mustered in the Starboard Gangway

Starting point is 10:26:44 that Mr. Bridewell, our first lieutenant, might take down their names and assign them their stations. They stood in a mute and solemn row. The officer advanced with his memorandum book and pencil. My casual friend Shakings, the holder, happened to be by at the time. Touching my arm, he said, White Jacket, this here reminds me of Sing Sing, when a draft of fellows and derbies came on from the state prison at Auburn for a change of scene like, you know.

Starting point is 10:27:19 After taking down four or five names, Mr. Bridewell accosted the next man, a rather good-looking person, but from his haggard cheek and sunken eye, he seemed to have been in the sad habit all his life, of sitting up rather late at night. And though all sailors do certainly keep late hours enough, standing watches at midnight, yet there is no small difference between keeping late hours at sea and keeping late hours ashore. What's your name? asked the officer

Starting point is 10:27:49 of this rather rakish-looking recruit. Mandeville, sir, said the man, courteously touching his cap. You must remember me, sir, he added, in a low, confidential tone, strangely dashed with servility. We sailed together once in the old Macedonians, sir. I wore an epaulet then. We had the same state room, you know, sir. I'm your old chum,

Starting point is 10:28:15 Mandiville, sir, and he again touched his cap. I remember an officer by that name, said the first lieutenant emphatically, and I know you, fellow, but I know you henceforth for a common sailor. I can show no favoritism here. If you ever violate the ship's rules, you shall be flogged like any other seaman. I place you in the foretop. Go forward to your duty. It seemed this mandeville had entered the Navy when very young and had risen to be a lieutenant, as he said, but Brandy had been his bane. One night when he had the deck of a line of battleship in the Mediterranean, he was seized with a fit of mania a pochu, and being out of his senses for the time went below and turned into his birth,

Starting point is 10:29:08 leaving the deck without a commanding officer. For this unpardonable offense, he was broken. Having no fortune, and no other profession than the sea, upon his disgrace, he entered the merchant service as a chief mate. But his love of strong drink still pursuing him, he was again cashiered at sea and degraded before the mast by the captain. After this, in a state of intoxication, He re-entered the Navy at Pensacola as a common sailor,

Starting point is 10:29:39 but all these lessons, so biting bitter to learn, could not cure him of his sin. He had hardly been a week on board the Never Sink when he was found intoxicated with smuggled spirits. They lashed him to the gratings and ignominiously scourged him under the eye of his old friend and comrade, the first lieutenant. This took place while we lay in port,

Starting point is 10:30:04 which reminds me of the circumstance, that when punishment is about to be inflicted in harbor, all strangers are ordered ashore. And the centuries at the side have it in strict charge to wave off all boats drawing near. End of Chapter 58. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 10:30:32 Chapter 59 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 59. A Man of War Button divides two brothers. The conduct of Mandeville, in claiming the acquaintance of the First Lieutenant under such disreputable circumstances, was strongly contrasted by the behavior of another person on board, placed for a time in a somewhat similar situation.

Starting point is 10:31:20 Among the genteel youths of the afterguard was a lad of about 16, a very handsome young fellow with starry eyes, curly hair, of a golden color, and a bright, sunshiny complexion. He must have been the son of some goldsmith. He was one of the few sailors, not in the main top, whom I used to single out for occasional conversation. After several friendly interviews, he became quite frank and communicated certain portions of his history. There is some charm in the sea which induces most persons to be very communicative concerning themselves. We had lain in Rio but a day when I observed that this lad, whom I shall here call Frank, wore an unwonted expression of sadness mixed with apprehension. I questioned him as

Starting point is 10:32:14 to the cause, but he chose to conceal it. Not three days after, he abruptly accosted me on the gun deck, where I happened to be taking a promenade. I can't keep it to myself anymore, he said. I must have a confidant, or I shall go mad. What is the matter? said I, in alarm. Matter enough, look at this, and he handed me a torn half-sheet of an old New York Herald, putting his finger upon a particular word in a particular paragraph. It was the announcement of the sailing from the Brooklyn Navy Yard of a United States store ship with provisions for the squadron in Rio. It was upon a particular name in the list of officers and midshipmen

Starting point is 10:33:01 that Frank's fingers was placed. That is my own brother, said he. He must have got a reaffer's warrant since I left home. Now, White Jacket, what's to be done? i have calculated that the store-ship may be expected here every day my brother will then see me he and officer and i a miserable sailor that any moment may be flogged at the gangway before his very eyes heaven's white jacket what shall i do would you run do you think there is any chance to desert i won't see him by heaven with this sailor's frock on and he with the anchor button why frank said i i do not really see sufficient cause for this fit you're in. Your brother is an officer, very good, and you are nothing but a sailor, but that is no disgrace. If he comes on board here, go up to him and take him by the hand.

Starting point is 10:33:57 Believe me, he will be glad enough to see you. Frank started from his desponding attitude, and fixing his eyes full upon mine, with clasped hands, exclaimed, White Jacket, I have been from home nearly three years. In that time, I'm a little, I have never heard one word from my family, and though God knows how I love them, yet I swear to you that though my brother can tell me whether my sisters are still alive, yet rather than accost him in this lined frock, I would go ten centuries without hearing one syllable from home. Amazed at his earnestness and hardly able to account for it altogether, I stood silent a moment, then said, Why, Frank, this midshipman is your own brother, you say. Now, do you really think that your own flesh and blood is going to give himself airs over you simply because he sports large brass buttons on his coat?

Starting point is 10:34:54 Never believe it. If he does, he can be no brother, and ought to be hanged. That's all. Don't say that again, said Frank resentfully. My brother is a noble-hearted fellow. I love him as I love him as I. I do myself? You don't understand me, White Jacket. Don't you see that when my brother arrives, he must consort more or less with our chuckle-headed reefers on board here? There's that

Starting point is 10:35:21 Namby-pamby Miss Nancy of a white face, Stribbles, who the other day when Mad Jack's back was turned, ordered me to hand him the spyglass as if he were a Commodore. Do you suppose now I want my brother to see me a lackey abroad here? By heaven. and it is enough to drive one distracted. What's to be done? He cried fiercely. Much more passed between us, but all my philosophy was in vain.

Starting point is 10:35:50 And at last Frank departed, his head hanging down in despondency. For several days after, whenever the quartermaster reported a sail entering the harbor, Frank was foremost in the rigging to observe it. At length, one afternoon, a vessel drawing near, was reported to be the long-expected store ship.

Starting point is 10:36:12 I looked round for Frank on the spar deck, but he was nowhere to be seen. He must have been below, gazing out of a porthole. The vessel was hailed from our poop and came to anchor within a biscuit's toss of our batteries. That evening, I heard that Frank had ineffectually endeavored to get removed from his place as an oarsman in the first cutter, a boat which, from its size,

Starting point is 10:36:37 is generally employed with the launch in carrying ship stores. When I thought that, the very next day perhaps, this boat would be plying between the store ship and our frigate, I was at no loss to account for Frank's attempts to get rid of his oar and felt heartily grieved at their failure. Next morning, the bugler called away the first cutter's crew, and Frank entered the boat with his hat slouched over his eyes. Upon his return, I was all over the car.

Starting point is 10:37:07 all eagerness to learn what had happened, and as the communication of his feelings was a grateful relief, he poured his whole story into my ear. It seemed that, with his comrades, he mounted the store-ship's side and hurried forward to the forecastle. Then, turning anxiously toward the quarter-deck, he spied two midshipmen leaning against the bulwarks, conversing. One was the officer of his boat. was the other his brother? No, he was too tall, too large. Thank heaven, it was not him. And perhaps his brother had not sailed from home, after all.

Starting point is 10:37:48 There might have been some mistake, but suddenly the strange midshipman laughed aloud, and that laugh Frank had heard a thousand times before. It was a free, hearty laugh, a brother's laugh, but it carried a pang to the heart of poor, Frank. He was now ordered down to the main deck to assist in removing the stores. The boat being loaded, he was ordered into her, when, looking toward the gangway, he perceived the two midshipmen lounging upon each side of it so that no one could pass them without brushing their persons.

Starting point is 10:38:22 But again, pulling his hat over his eyes, Frank, darting between them, gained his oar. How my heart thumped, he said, when I actually felt him so near me. But I wouldn't look at him. No, I'd have died first. To Frank's great relief, the store ship at last moved further up the bay, and it fortunately happened that he saw no more of his brother while in Rio, and while there, he never in any way made himself known to him. End of Chapter 59. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista Chapter 60 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 10:39:12 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 60. A Man of Wars Man Shot at. There was a seaman belonging to the foretop. a messmate, though not a topmate of mine, and no favorite of the captains, who, for certain venial transgressions, had been prohibited from going ashore on liberty when the ship's company went.

Starting point is 10:39:52 Enraged at the deprivation, for he had not touched earth in upward of a year, he, some nights after, lowered himself overboard with the view of gaining a canoe attached by a rope to a Dutch galley at some cable's lengths distant. In this canoe, he proposed paddling himself ashore. Not being a very expert swimmer, the commotion he made in the water attracted the ear of the sentry on that side of the ship, who, turning about in his walk, perceived the faint white spot where the fugitive was swimming in the frigate's shadow. He hailed it, but no reply. Give the word or I fire! Not a word was heard. The next instant there was a red flash,

Starting point is 10:40:41 and, before it had completely ceased illuminating the night, the white spot was changed into crimson. Some of the officers returning from a party at the beach of the flamingos happened to be drawing near the ship in one of her cutters. They saw the flash and the bounding body it revealed. In a moment, the topman was dragged into the boat, a handkerchief was used for a tourniquet, and the wounded fugitive was soon on board the frigate. When the surgeon being called, the necessary attentions were rendered.

Starting point is 10:41:16 Now, it appeared that at the moment the sentry fired, the top men, in order to allude discovery, by manifesting the completest quietude, was floating on the water, straight and horizontal, as if reposing on a bed. As he was not far from the ship at the time, and the sentry was considerably elevated above him, pacing his platform on a level with the upper part of the hammock nettings, the ball struck with great force, with a downward obliquity, entering the right thigh just above the knee, and, penetrating some inches, glanced upward along the bone,

Starting point is 10:41:53 burying itself somewhere, so that it could not be felt by outward manipulation. There was no dusky discoloration to mark its internal track, as in the case when a partly spent ball obliquely hitting after entering the skin, courses on just beneath the surface, without penetrating further. Nor was there any mark on the opposite part of the thigh, to denote its place as when a ball forces itself straight through a limb, and lodges perhaps close to the skin on the other side. nothing was visible but a small, ragged puncture bluish about the edges

Starting point is 10:42:31 as if the rough point of a ten-penny nail had been forced into the flesh and withdrawn. It seemed almost impossible that through so small an aperture a musket bullet could have penetrated. The extreme misery and general prostration of the man caused by the great effusion of blood, though strange to say at first he said he felt no pain

Starting point is 10:42:55 from the wound itself, induced the surgeon, very reluctantly, to forego an immediate search for the ball to extract it, as that would have involved the dilating of the wound by the knife, an operation which at that juncture would have been almost certainly attended with fatal results. A day or two, therefore, was permitted to pass while simple dressings were applied. The surgeon of the other American ships of war in harbor occasionally visited the never sink, to examine the patient and incidentally to listen to the expositions of our own surgeon, their senior in rank. But Cadwallader Cudicle, who as yet has been but incidentally alluded to, now deserves a chapter by himself. End of Chapter 60. Recording by James K. White,

Starting point is 10:43:49 Chula Vista. Chapter 61 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 61. The Surgeon of the Fleet Kedwalader Cudicle MD and honorary member of

Starting point is 10:44:31 of the most distinguished colleges of surgeons, both in Europe and America, was our surgeon of the fleet, nor was he at all blind to the dignity of his position, to which, indeed, he was rendered peculiarly competent, if the reputation he enjoyed was deserved. He had the name of being the foremost surgeon in the Navy, a gentleman of remarkable science and a veteran practitioner. He was a small, withered man.

Starting point is 10:45:01 man, nearly, perhaps quite, 60 years of age. His chest was shallow, his shoulders bent, his pantaloons hung round skeleton legs, and his face was singularly attenuated. In truth, the corporeal vitality of this man seemed in a good degree to have died out of him. He walked abroad, a curious patchwork of life and death, with a wig, one glass eye, and a set of false teeth, while his voice was husky and thick. But his mind seemed undabilitated, as in youth, it shone out of his remaining eye with basilisk brilliancy. Like most old physicians and surgeons who have seen much service and have been promoted to

Starting point is 10:45:51 high professional place for their scientific attainments, this cuticle was an enthusiast in his calling. In private, he had once been heard to say, confidentially, that he would rather cut off a man's arm than dismember the wing of the most delicate pheasant. In particular, the Department of Morbid Anatomy was his peculiar love, and in his stateroom below, he had a most unsightly collection of Parisian casts in plaster and wax, representing all imaginable malformations of the human members, both organic and induced by disease.

Starting point is 10:46:33 Chief among these was a cast often to be met with in the anatomical museums of Europe and no doubt an unexaggerated copy of a genuine original. It was the head of an elderly woman with an aspect singularly gentle and meek, but at the same time wonderfully expressive of a gnawing sorrow never to be relieved. You would almost have thought at the face of some abbess for some unspeakable crime voluntarily sequestered from human society and leading a life of agonized penitence without hope. So marvelously sad and tearfully pitiable was this head. But when you first beheld it, no such emotions ever crossed your mind. All your eyes and all your horrified soul were fast, fascinated, and frozen by the sight of a hideous, crumpled horn. like that of a ram, downward growing out from the forehead, and partly shadowing the face. But as you gazed, the freezing fascination of its horribleness gradually waned, and then your whole heart burst with sorrow as you contemplated those aged features,

Starting point is 10:47:44 ashy pale and wan. The horn seemed the mark of a curse for some mysterious sin conceived and committed before the spirit had entered the flesh. Yet that sin seemed something imposed and not voluntarily sought. Some sin growing out of the heartless necessities of the predestination of things, some sin under which the sinner sank in sinless woe. But no pang of pain, not the slightest touch of concern, ever crossed the bosom of cuticle when he looked on this cast. It was immovably fixed to a bracket against the partition of his stateroom, so that it was the first object that greeted his eyes when he opened them from his nightly sleep. Nor was it to hide the face that upon retiring

Starting point is 10:48:35 he always hung his navy cap upon the upward curling extremity of the horn, for that obscured it but little. The surgeon's cot boy, the lad who made up his swinging bed and took care of his room, often told us of the horror he sometimes felt when he would find himself alone in his master's retreat. At times he was seized with the idea that cuticle was a preternatural being, and once entering his room in the middle watch of the night, he started at finding it enveloped in a thick, bluish vapor, and stifling with the odors of brimstone. Upon hearing a low groan from the smoke, with a wild cry he darted,

Starting point is 10:49:19 from the place, and, rousing the occupants of the neighboring state rooms, it was found that the vapor proceeded from smoldering bunches of Lucifer matches, which had become ignited through the carelessness of the surgeon. Cutical, almost dead, was dragged from the suffocating atmosphere, and it was several days' air he completely recovered from its effects. This accident took place immediately over the powder magazine. But as Cuticle, during his sickness, paid dearly enough for transgressing the laws prohibiting combustibles in the gunroom, the captain contented himself with privately remonstrating with him. Well knowing the enthusiasm of the surgeon for all specimens of morbid anatomy, some of the wardroom officers used to play upon his credulity,

Starting point is 10:50:12 though in every case Cuticle was not long in discovering their deceptions. Once, when they had some Sago pudding for dinner and cuticle chance to be ashore, they made up a neat parcel of this bluish-white, firm, jelly-like preparation, and, placing it in a tin box carefully sealed with wax, they deposited it on the gunroom table with a note purporting to come from an eminent physician in Rio, connected with the Grand National Museum on the Praca da Clamajau, begging leave to present the scientific senior cuticle with the donor's compliments, an uncommonly fine specimen of a cancer. Descending to the ward room, Cuticle spied the note and no sooner read it than clutching the case, he opened it and exclaimed,

Starting point is 10:51:05 Beautiful, splendid! I have never seen a finer specimen of this most interesting disease. What have you there, Surgeon Cuticle? said a Lus. Lieutenant advancing. Why, sir, look at it. Did you ever see anything more exquisite? Very exquisite, indeed. Let me have a bit of it, will you, cuticle? Let you have a bit of it, shriek the surgeon, starting back. Let you have one of my limbs? I wouldn't mar so large a specimen for a hundred dollars, but what can you want of it? You are not making collections.

Starting point is 10:51:41 I'm fond of the article, said the lieutenant. It's a fine, cold relish to bacon or ham. You know, I was in New Zealand last cruise, Cudicle, and got into sad dissipation there among the cannibals. Come, let's have a bit, if it's only a mouthful. Why, you infernal Fiji, shouted cuticle, eyeing the other with a confounded expression. You don't really mean to eat a piece of this cancer. Hand it to me and see whether I will not, was the reply. In God's name take it, cried the surgeon, putting the case into his hands and then standing with his own uplifted. "'Steward!' cried the lieutenant. "'The caster, quick!'

Starting point is 10:52:23 "'I always use plenty of pepper with this dish, surgeon. "'It's oyster.' "'Ah, this is really delicious,' he added, smacking his lips over a mouthful. "'Try it now, surgeon, and you'll never keep such a fine dish as this lying uneaten on your hands as a mere scientific curiosity.' Cuticle's whole countenance changed, and slowly walking up to the table he put his nose close to the ten case, then touched its contents with his finger and tasted it. Enough!

Starting point is 10:52:57 Buttoning up his coat, in all the tremblings of an old man's rage, he burst from the wardroom, and, calling for a boat, was not seen again for 24 hours. But though, like all other mortals, Cuticle was subject at times, to these fits of passion, at least under outrageous provocation, nothing could exceed his coolness when actually employed in his imminent vocation. Surrounded by moans and shrieks, by features distorted with anguish inflicted by himself, he yet maintained a countenance almost supernaturally calm, and unless the intense interest of the operation flushed his wan face

Starting point is 10:53:38 with a momentary tinge of professional enthusiasm, him. He toiled away, untouched by the keenest misery coming under a fleet surgeon's eye. Indeed, long habitation to the dissecting room and the amputation table had made him seemingly impervious to the ordinary emotions of humanity. Yet you could not say that cuticle was essentially a cruel-hearted man. His apparent heartlessness must have been of a purely scientific origin. It is not to be imagined even that Cuticle would have harmed a fly, unless he could procure a microscope powerful enough to assist him in experimenting on the minute vitals of the creature.

Starting point is 10:54:22 But, notwithstanding his marvelous indifference to the sufferings of his patience, and spite even of his enthusiasm in his vocation, not cooled by frosting old age itself, cuticle, on some occasions, would affect a certain disrelish of his profession and declaim against the necessity that forced a man of his humanity to perform a surgical operation.

Starting point is 10:54:47 Especially was it apt to be thus with him when the case was one of more than ordinary interest. In discussing it previous to setting about it, he would veil his eagerness under an aspect of great circumspection, curiously marred, however, by continual sallies of unsuppressible impatience. But the knife once in his hand, the compassionless surgeon himself, undisguised, stood before you. Such was Cadwallader Cudicle, our surgeon of the fleet.

Starting point is 10:55:24 End of Chapter 61. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 62 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 62. A Consultation of Man of War Surgeons

Starting point is 10:56:04 It seems customary for the surgeon of the fleet, when any important operation in his department is on the anvil, and there is nothing to absorb professional attention from it, to invite his brother's surgeons, if at hand at the time, to a ceremonious consultation upon it. And this, in courtesy his brother surgeons expect. In pursuance of this custom, then, the surgeons of the neighboring American ships of war were requested to visit the Never Sink in a body

Starting point is 10:56:37 to advise concerning the case of the Topman, whose situation had now become critical. They assembled on the half-deck and were soon joined by their respected senior, Cudicle. In a body they bowed as he approached, and accosted him with deferential regard. Gentlemen, said Cudicle, unostentatiously seating himself on a camp-stool, handed him by his cot-boy. We have here an extremely interesting case.

Starting point is 10:57:10 You have all seen the patient, I believe. At first I had hopes that I should have been, able to cut down to the ball and remove it. But the state of the patient forbade. Since then, the inflammation and sloughing of the part has been attended with a copious separation, great loss of substance, extreme debility, and emaciation. From this, I am convinced that the ball has shattered and deadened the bone, and now lies impacted in the medullary canal. In fact, there can be no doubt that the wound is incurable and that amputation is the only resource. But gentlemen, I find myself placed in a very delicate predicament.

Starting point is 10:57:55 I assure you I feel no professional anxiety to perform the operation. I desire your advice, and if you will now again visit the patient with me, we can then return here and decide what is best to be done. Once more, let me say that I feel no personal anxiety whatever to use the knife. the assembled surgeons listened to this address with the most serious attention and in accordance with their superior's desire now descended to the sick bay where the patient was languishing the examination concluded they returned to the half-deck and the consultation was renewed gentlemen began cuticle again seating himself you have now just inspected the limb you have seen that there is no resource but amputation And now, gentlemen, what do you say? Surgeon Bandage of the Mohawk, will you express your opinion?

Starting point is 10:58:51 The wound is a very serious one, said Bandage, a corpulent man with a high German forehead, shaking his head solemnly. Can anything save him but amputation? Demanded Cuticle. His constitutional debility is extreme, observed Bandage, but I have seen more dangerous cases. Surgeon Wedge of the Millay, said Cuticle and a pet, Be pleased to give your opinion, and let it be definitive, I entreat.

Starting point is 10:59:20 This was said with a severe glance toward bandage. If I thought, began Wedge, a very spare, tall man, elevating himself still higher on his toes, that the ball had shattered and divided the whole femur, including the greater and lesser trochanter, the linear aspera, the digital fosha, and the intertrocenteric, I should certainly be in favor of amputation. But that, sir, permit me to observe, is not my opinion.

Starting point is 10:59:52 Surgeon Sawyer of the Buccaneer, said Cutical, drawing in his thin lower lip with vexation, and turning to a round-faced, florid, frank, sensible-looking man, whose uniform coat very handsomely fitted him and was adorned with an unusual quantity of gold lace. Surgeon Sawyer of the Buccaneer. Let us now hear your opinion, if you please. Is not amputation the only resource, sir?

Starting point is 11:00:18 Excuse me, said Sawyer. I am decidedly opposed to it, for if hitherto the patient has not been strong enough to undergo the extraction of the ball, I do not see how he can be expected to endure a far more severe operation. As there is no immediate danger of mortification, and you say the ball cannot be reached without,

Starting point is 11:00:38 making large incisions, I should support him, I think, for the present, with tonics and gentle antiflogistics, locally applied. On no account would I proceed to amputation until further symptoms are exhibited. Surgeon Patella of the Algene, said cuticle in an ill-suppressed passion, abruptly turning round on the person addressed. Will you have the kindness to say whether you do not think that amputation is the only resource? Now, Patella was the youngest of the company, a modest man filled with a profound reverence for the science of cuticle,

Starting point is 11:01:17 and desirous of gaining his good opinion, yet not wishing to commit himself altogether by a decided reply, though, like Surgeon Sawyer, in his own mind, he might have been clearly against the operation. What have you remarked, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet, said Patella, respectfully hemming. Concerning the dangerous condition of the limb seems obvious enough.

Starting point is 11:01:42 Amputation would certainly be a cure to the wound, but then, as notwithstanding his present debility, the patient seems to have a strong constitution. He might rally, as it is, and by your scientific treatment, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet, bowing, be entirely made whole without risking an amputation. Still, it is a very critical case, and amputation may be indispensable,

Starting point is 11:02:07 and if it is to be performed, there ought to be no delay whatever. That is my view of the case, Mr. Surgeon of the fleet. Sergeant Patella, then, gentlemen, said Cuticle, turning round triumphantly, is clearly of opinion that amputation should be immediately performed. For my own part, individually, I mean, and without respect to the patient,

Starting point is 11:02:30 I am sorry to have it so decided. But this settlement, the question, gentlemen. In my own mind, however, it was settled before. At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, the operation will be performed. I shall be happy to see you all on the occasion and also your juniors, alluding to the absent assistant surgeons. Good morning, gentlemen. At 10 o'clock, remember. And cuticle retreated to the wardroom. End of Chapter 62. Recording by James K. White. Vista. Chapter 63 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 11:03:16 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 63. The Operation Next morning, at the appointed hour, the surgeons arrived in a body. They were accompanied by their juniors, young men ranging in age from 19 years to 30. Like the senior surgeons, these young gentlemen were arrayed in their blue navy uniforms, displaying a profusion of bright buttons and several broad bars of gold lace about the wristbands.

Starting point is 11:04:06 As in honor of the occasion, they had put on their bed. best coats. They looked exceedingly brilliant. The whole party immediately descended to the half-deck, where preparations had been made for the operation. A large garrison ensign was stretched across the ship by the main mast, so as completely to screen the space behind. This space included the whole extent aft to the bulkhead of the Commodore's cabin at the door of which the marine orderly paced, in plain sight, cutlass and hand. Upon two gun carriages dragged amid ships, the deathboard, used for burials at sea, was horizontally placed, covered with an old royal stunsel. Upon this occasion to do duty as an

Starting point is 11:04:57 amputation table, it was widened by an additional plank. Two matchtubs nearby placed one upon another at either end supporting another plank, distinct from the table, whereon was exhibited an array of saws and knives of various and peculiar shapes and sizes. Also, a sort of steel, something like the dinner table implement, together with long needles, crooked at the end for taking up the arteries, and large darning needles, thread, and beeswax for sewing up a wound. At the end, nearest the large table was a tin basin of water, surrounded by small sponges placed at mathematical intervals. From the long horizontal pole of a great gun-rammer, fixed in its usual place overhead, hung a number of towels with U.S. marked in the corners.

Starting point is 11:05:52 All these arrangements had been made by the surgeon's steward, a person whose important functions in a man-of-war will, in a future chapter, be entered upon at large. Upon the present occasion, he was bustling about, adjusting and readjusting the knives, needles, and carver, like an over conscientious butler, fidgeting over a dinner table just before the convivialists enter. But by far the most striking object to be seen behind the ensign was a human skeleton whose every joint articulated with wires. By a rivet at the apex of the skull, it hung dangling from a hammock hook fixed in a beam. above. Why this object was here will presently be seen, but why it was placed immediately at the foot of the amputation table, only surgeon cuticle can tell. While the final preparations were being made, cuticle stood conversing with the assembled surgeons and assistant surgeons, his invited

Starting point is 11:06:55 guests. Gentlemen, said he, taking up one of the glittering knives and artistically drawing the steel across it, gentlemen, though these scenes are very unpleasant and in some moods, I may say, repulsive to me, yet how much better for our patient to have the contusions and lacerations of his present wound, with all its dangerous symptoms, converted into a clean incision free from these objections, and occasioning so much less subsequent anxiety to himself and the surgeon. Yes, he added tenderly feeling the edge of his knife. Amputation is our only resource. Is it not so, Sergeant Patella, turning toward that gentleman, as if relying upon some sort of an assent, however clogged with conditions?

Starting point is 11:07:44 Certainly, said Patella, amputation is your only resource, Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet. That is, I mean, if you are fully persuaded of its necessity. The other surgeon said nothing, maintaining a somewhat reserved air, as if conscious that they had no positive authority in the case, whatever might be their own private opinions. But they seemed willing to behold, and, if called upon, to assist at the operation since it could not now be averted. The young men, their assistants, looked very eager and cast frequent glances of awe upon so distinguished a practitioner

Starting point is 11:08:23 as the venerable cuticle. They say he can drop a leg in one minute and ten seconds from the moment the knife touches it, whispered one of them to another. We shall see, was the reply, and the speaker clapped his hand to his fob to see if his watch would be forthcoming when wanted. Are you already here? demanded Cuticle, now advancing to his steward. Have not those fellows got through yet?

Starting point is 11:08:51 Pointing to three men of the carpenters gang who were placing bits of wood under the gun carriages supporting the central table. They are just through, sir. respectfully answered the steward, touching his hand to his forehead, as if there were a cap front there. Bring up the patient, then, said cuticle. Young gentlemen, he added, turning to the row of assistant surgeons. Seeing you here reminds me of the classes of students once under my instruction at the Philadelphia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Ah, those were happy days, he sighed, applying the extreme corner of his handkerchief to his glass eye.

Starting point is 11:09:30 Excuse an old man's emotions, young gentleman, but when I think of the numerous rare cases that then came under my treatment, I cannot but give way to my feelings. The town, the city, the metropolis, young gentleman, is the place for you students. At least in these dull times of peace when the Army and Navy furnished no inducements for a youth ambitious of rising in our honorable profession. Take an old man's advice, and if the war now threat to the war now between the states and Mexico should break out, exchange your Navy commissions for commissions in the Army. From having no military Marine herself,

Starting point is 11:10:09 Mexico has always been backward in furnishing subjects for the amputation tables of foreign navies. The cause of science has languished in her hands. The Army, young gentleman, is your best school. Depend upon it. You will hardly believe it, Surgeon Bandage, turning to that gentleman, but this is my first important case of surgery in a nearly three years cruise.

Starting point is 11:10:34 I have been almost wholly confined in this ship to doctor's practice prescribing for fevers and fluxes. True, the other day a man fell from the mizontop sail yard, but that was merely an aggravated case of dislocations and bones splintered and broken. No one, sir, could have made an amputation of it, without severely contusing his conscience. and mine, I may say a gentleman, without ostentation, is peculiarly susceptible. And so saying, the knife and carver touchingly dropped to his sides, and he stood for a moment fixed in a tender reverie,

Starting point is 11:11:11 but a commotion being heard beyond the curtain. He started, and briskly crossing and recrossing the knife and carver, exclaimed, Ali, here comes our patient. Surgeons, this side of the table, if you please. Young gentlemen, a little further off, I beg. "'Steward, take off my coat so. "'My neckerchief now. "'I must be perfectly unencumbered, surgeon Patella,

Starting point is 11:11:36 "'or I can do nothing whatever.' "'These articles being removed, "'he snatched off his wig, "'placing it on the gun-deck capstan, "'then took out his set of false teeth "'and placed it by the side of the wig, "'and lastly, putting his forefinger "'to the inner angle of his blind eye,

Starting point is 11:11:55 "'spirited out the glass optic, with professional dexterity, and deposited that also next to the wig and false teeth. Thus divested of nearly all inorganic appurtenances, what was left of the surgeon slightly shook itself, to see whether anything more could be spared to advantage. Carpenter's mates, he now cried, will you never get through with that job? Almost through, sir, just through, they replied,

Starting point is 11:12:24 staring round in search of the strange, unearthly voice, that addressed them, for the absence of his teeth had not at all improved the conversational tones of the surgeon of the fleet. With natural curiosity, these men had purposely been lingering to see all they could. But now, having no further excuse, they snatched up their hammers and chisels, and like the stage builders decamping from a public meeting at the 11th hour, after just completing the rostrum in time for the first speaker, the Carpenter's gang withdrew. the broad ensign now lifted revealing a glimpse of the crowd of man-of-war's men outside and the patient born in the arms of two of his messmates entered the place he was much emaciated weak as an infant and every limb visibly trembled or rather jarred like the head of a man with the palsy as if an organic and involuntary apprehension of death had seized the wounded leg its nervous motions were so violent that one

Starting point is 11:13:27 one of the messmates was obliged to keep his hand upon it. The topman was immediately stretched upon the table. The attendants, steadying his limbs when slowly opening his eyes, he glanced about at the glittering knives and saws, the towels and sponges, the armed sentry at the Commodore's cabin door, the row of eager-eyed students, the meager death's head of a cuticle, now with his shirt-sleeves rolled up upon his withered arms, and knife in hand, and finally his eyes settled in horror upon the skeleton,

Starting point is 11:14:02 slowly vibrating and jingling before him with the slow, slight roll of the frigate in the water. I would advise perfect repose of your every limb, my man, said cuticle addressing him. The precision of an operation is often impaired by the inconsiderate restlessness of the patient. But if you consider, my good fellow, he added, in a patronizing and almost sensual, sympathetic tone, and slightly pressing his hand on the limb. If you consider how much better it is to live with three limbs than to die with four, and especially if you but knew to what torments both sailors and soldiers were subjected before the time of Celsius, owing to the lamentable ignorance of surgery then prevailing,

Starting point is 11:14:46 you would certainly thank God from the bottom of your heart that your operation has been postponed to the period of this enlightened age, blessed with a bell, a bow, a bow, Brody and a lolly. My man, before Celsius's time, such was the general ignorance of our noble science that, in order to prevent the excessive effusion of blood, it was deemed indispensable to operate with a red-hot knife, making a professional movement toward the thigh, and pour scalding oil upon the parts, elevating his elbow, as if with a teapot in his hand, still further to sear them, after amputation had been performed.

Starting point is 11:15:26 He is fainting, said one of his messmates. Quick, some water. The steward immediately hurried to the topman with the basin. Cuticle took the topman by the wrist, and, feeling it a while, observed, Don't be alarmed, men, addressing the two messmates. He'll recover presently. This fainting very generally takes place. And he stood for a moment, tranquilly eyeing the patient.

Starting point is 11:15:53 Now, the surgeon of the fleet and the topman presented a specter. which, to a reflecting mind, was better than a churchyard sermon on the mortality of man. Here was a sailor who, four days previous, had stood erect, a pillar of life, with an arm like a royal mast, and a thigh like a windlass. But the slightest conceivable finger touch of a bit of crooked trigger had eventuated in stretching him out more helpless than an hour-old babe with a blasted thigh, utterly drained of its brawn. And who was it that now stood over him like a superior being, and as if clothed himself with the attributes of immortality, indifferently discoursed of carving up his broken flesh and thus piecing out his abbreviated days? Who was it that in capacity of

Starting point is 11:16:43 surgeon seemed enacting the part of a regenerator of life? The withered, shrunken, one-eyed, toothless, hairless cuticle, with a trunk half-eastern, half-eastern, dead, a memento mori to behold. And while in those soul-sinking and panic-striking premonitions of speedy death which almost invariably accompany a severe gunshot wound, even with the most intrepid spirits, while thus drooping and dying, this once robust Topman's eye was now waning in his head like a Lapline moon being eclipsed in clouds. CUTicle, who for years had still lived in his withered tabernacle of a body,

Starting point is 11:17:25 Cutical, no doubt sharing in the common self-delusion of old age, Cutical must have felt his hold of life as secure as the grim hug of a grizzly bear. Verily, life is more awful than death, and let no man, though his live heart beat in him like a cannon, let him not hug his life to himself. for in the predestinated necessities of things that bounding life of his is not a wit more secure than the life of a man on his deathbed. Today we inhale the air with expanding lungs

Starting point is 11:17:58 and life runs through us like a thousand niles. But tomorrow we may collapse in death and all our veins be dry as the brook Kedron in a drought. And now, young gentleman, said cuticle, turning to the assistant surgeons, While the patient is coming to, permit me to describe to you the highly interesting operation I am about to perform. Mr. Surgeon of the Fleet, said Surgeon Bandage. If you are about to lecture, permit me to present you with your teeth.

Starting point is 11:18:29 They will make your discourse more readily understood. And so saying, Bandage with a bow, placed the two semicircles of ivory into cuticle's hands. Thank you, Surgeon Bandage, said Cuticle, and slipped the ivory into its place. in the first place now young gentleman let me direct your attention to the excellent preparation before you i have had it unpacked from its case and set up here from my state room where it occupies the spare birth and all this for your express benefit young gentleman this skeleton i procured in person from the hontarian department of the royal college of surgeons in london it is a masterpiece of art but we have no time to examine it now delicacy forbids that I should amplify at a juncture like this, casting an almost benignant glance toward the patient, now beginning to open his eyes. But let me point out to you upon this thigh bone, disengaging it from the skeleton, with a gentle twist,

Starting point is 11:19:31 the precise place where I proposed to perform the operation. Here, young gentleman, here is the place. You perceive it as very near the point of articulation with the trunk. Yes, interposed surgeon wedge, rising on his toes. Yes, young gentleman, the point of articulation with the acetabulum of the os ennomenetum.

Starting point is 11:19:54 Where's your bell on bones, Dick? whispered one of the assistants to the student next to him. Wedge has been spending the whole morning over it, getting out the hard names. Surgeon Wedge, said Cuticle, looking round severely, we will dispense with your commentaries

Starting point is 11:20:11 if you please at present. Now, young gentleman, you cannot but perceive that the point of operation being so near the trunk and the vitals, it becomes an unusually beautiful one, demanding a steady hand and a true eye, and after all the patient may die under my hands. Quick, steward, water, water, he's fainting again, cried the two messmates. Don't be alarmed for your comrade, men, said cuticle turning round. I tell you, it is not an uncommon thing for the patient to betray some emotion upon these occasions, most usually manifested,

Starting point is 11:20:46 by swooning. It is quite natural. It should be so. But we must not delay the operation. Steward? That knife. No, the next one. There. That's it. He is coming too, I think. Feeling the Topman's wrist. Are you all ready, sir? This last observation was addressed to one of the Never Sinks assistant surgeons, a tall, lank, cadaverous young man, arrayed in a sort of shroud of white canvas penned about his throat and completely enveloping his person. He was seated on a matchtub, the skeleton swinging near his head, at the foot of the table in readiness to grasp the limb

Starting point is 11:21:26 as when a plank is being severed by a carpenter and his apprentice. The sponges, Stewart, said Cuticle for the last time, taking out his teeth and drawing up his shirt sleeve still further. Then, taking the patient by the wrist, Stand by now, you messmates. Keep hold of his arms. Pin him down. Stuart, put your hand on the artery. I shall commence as soon as his pulse begins to, Now, now. Letting fall the wrist, feeling the thigh carefully and bowing over it an instant,

Starting point is 11:22:01 he drew the fatal knife unerringly across the flesh. As at first touched the part, the row of surgeons simultaneously dropped their eyes to the watches and their hands. while the patient lay, with eyes horribly distended, in a kind of waking trance. Not a breath was heard, but as the quivering flesh parted in a long, lingering gash, a spring of blood welled up between the living walls of the wounds, and two thick streams in opposite directions coursed down the thigh. The sponges were instantly dipped in the purple pool. Every face present was pinched to a point with suspense.

Starting point is 11:22:40 The limb writhed, the man shrieked, his messmates pinioned him, while round and round the leg went the unpitying cut. The saw, said cuticle. Instantly it was in his hand. Full of the operation, he was about to apply it when, looking up and turning to the assistant surgeons, he said, Would any of you young gentlemen like to apply the saw? A splendid subject. Several volunteered, when selecting one, Cuticle surrendered the instrument to him, saying, Don't be hurried now, be steady.

Starting point is 11:23:19 While the rest of the assistants looked upon their comrade with glances of envy, he went rather timidly to work, and Cutical, who was earnestly regarding him, suddenly snatched the saw from his hand. Away, butcher, you disgrace the profession. Look at me. For a few moments, the thrilling, rasping sound was heard, and then the topman seemed parted in twain at the hip, as the leg slowly slid into the arms of the pale gaunt man in the shroud, who at once made away with it and tucked it out of sight under one of the guns.

Starting point is 11:23:55 Surgeon Sawyer, now, said Cuticle, courteously turning to the surgeon of the Mohawk, Would you like to take up the arteries? They are quite at your service, sir. Do, Sawyer, be prevailed upon, said surgeon bandage. Sawyer complied, and while with some modesty he was conducting the operation, cuticle turning to the row of assistance said, Young gentlemen, we will now proceed with our illustration. Hand me that bone, steward, and taking the thigh bone in his still bloody hands and holding it conspicuously before his auditors,

Starting point is 11:24:30 the surgeon of the fleet began. Young gentlemen, you will perceive that precisely at this spot, here, to which I previously directed your attention at the corresponding spot precisely, the operation has been performed. About here, young gentleman, here, lifting his hand some inches from the bone, about here the great artery was. But you noticed that I did not use the tourniquet. I never do.

Starting point is 11:25:00 The forefinger of my steward is far better than a tourniquet, being so much more manageable, and leaving the smaller vexed. veins uncompressed. But I have been told, young gentleman, that a certain Signoroni, a surgeon of Seville, has recently invented an admirable substitute for the clumsy, old-fashioned tourniquet. As I understand it, it is something like a pair of calipers working with a small Archimedes screw, a very clever invention, according to all accounts. For the padded points at the end of the arches, arching his forefinger and thumb, can be so worked as to approximate in such a way as to,

Starting point is 11:25:40 but you don't attend to me, young gentleman, he added all at once starting. Being more interested in the active proceedings of Surgeon Sawyer, who was now threading a needle to sew up the overlapping of the stump, the young gentleman had not sculpted to turn away their attention altogether from the lecturer. A few moments more, and the topman, in a swoon, was removed below into the sick bay. As the curtain settled again after the patient had disappeared, cuticle, still holding the thigh bone of the skeleton in his ensanguined hands,

Starting point is 11:26:16 proceeded with his remarks upon it, and having concluded them, added, Now, young gentlemen, not the least interesting consequence of this operation will be the finding of the ball, which, in case of non-amputation, might have long eluded the most careful search. That ball, young gentleman, must have taken a most circuitous round, nor in cases where the direction is oblique is this at all unusual indeed the learned hinner gives us a most remarkable i had almost said an incredible case of a soldier's neck where the bullet entering at the part called adams apple yes said surgeon wedge elevating himself the pomem adami entering the point called adams apple continued cuticle severely emphasizing the last

Starting point is 11:27:07 two words. Ran completely round the neck, and, emerging at the same hole it had entered, shot the next man in the ranks. It was afterward extracted, says Renner from the second man, and pieces of the other's skin were found adhering to it. But examples of foreign substances being received into the body with a ball, young gentleman, are frequently observed. Being attached to a United States ship at the time, I happened to be near the spot of the Battle of Ayacucho in Peru. The day after the action I saw in the barracks of the wounded, a trooper who, having been severely injured in the brain, went crazy, and with his own holster pistol, committed suicide in the hospital. The ball drove inward a portion of his woolen nightcap. In the form of a cul-de-sac

Starting point is 11:27:56 doubtless, said the undaunted wedge. For once, Surgeon Wedge, you use the only term that can be employed. And let me avail myself of this opportunity to say to you, young gentleman, that a man of true science, expanding his shallow chest a little, uses but few hard words and those only when none other will answer his purpose, whereas the smatterer in science, slightly glancing toward Wedge, thinks that by mouthing hard words, he proves that he understands hard things. Let this sink deep in your minds, young gentleman, and, Surgeon Wedge. with a stiff bow, permit me to submit the reflection to yourself. Well, young gentleman, the bullet was afterward extracted by pulling upon the external parts of the

Starting point is 11:28:45 cul-de-sac, a simple but exceedingly beautiful operation. There is a fine example, somewhat similar, related in Guthrie, but of course you must have met with it in so well-known a work as his treatise upon gunshot wounds. When upward of twenty years ago, I was with Lord Kornhaw, Cochrane, then Admiral of the fleets of this very country, pointing shoreward out of a porthole. A sailor of the vessel to which I was attached during the blockade of Bahia had his leg. But by this time the fidgets had completely taken possession of his auditors, especially of these senior surgeons, and turning upon them abruptly, he added, But I will not detain you longer, gentlemen, turning round upon all the surgeons.

Starting point is 11:29:30 Your dinners must be waiting you on board your respective ships. But, Sergeant Sawyer, perhaps you may desire to wash your hands before you go. There is the basin, sir. You will find a clean towel on the rammer. For myself, I seldom use them, taking out his handkerchief. I must leave you now, gentlemen, bowing. Tomorrow at ten, the limb will be upon the table, and I shall be happy to see you all upon the occasion.

Starting point is 11:29:57 Who's there? Turning to the curtain. which then rustled. Please, sir, said the steward entering. The patient is dead. The body also, gentlemen, at ten precisely, said cuticle, once more turning round upon his guests. I predicted that the operation might prove fatal. He was very much run down.

Starting point is 11:30:19 Good morning. And cuticle departed. He does not surely mean to touch the body, exclaimed Surgeon Sawyer with much excitement. Oh, no, said Betella. That's only his way. he means doubtless that it may be inspected previous to being taken ashore for burial. The assemblage of gold-laced surgeons now ascended to the quarter-deck. The second cutter was called away by the bugler,

Starting point is 11:30:46 and, one by one, they were dropped aboard of their respective ships. The following evening, the messmates of the Topman rode his remains ashore and buried them in the ever-vernal Protestant cemetery, hard by the beach of the flamingos in plain sight from the bay. End of Chapter 63. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 64 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 11:31:24 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville Chapter 64 Man of War Trophies When the second cutter pulled about among the ships, dropping the surgeons aboard the American men of war here and there,

Starting point is 11:31:53 as a pilot boat distributes her pilots at the mouth of the harbor, she passed several foreign frigates, two of which, an Englishman and a Frenchman, had excited, not a little remarked, mark on board the never sink. These vessels often loosed their sails and exercised yards simultaneously with ourselves, as if desirous of comparing the respective efficiency of the cruise. When we were nearly ready for sea, the English frigate, weighing her anchor, made all sail with the sea breeze and began showing off her paces by gliding about among all the men of war in harbor, and particularly

Starting point is 11:32:34 by running down under the Never Sink's stern. Every time she drew near, we complimented her by lowering our ensign a little, and invariably she courteously returned the salute. She was inviting us to a sailing match, and it was rumored that, when we should leave the bay, our captain would have no objections to gratify her, for, be it known, the Neversink was accounted the fleetest keeled craft sailing under the American long pennant.

Starting point is 11:33:04 Perhaps this was the reason why the stranger challenged us. It may have been that a portion of our crew were the more anxious to race with this frigate, from a little circumstance which a few of them deemed rather galling. Not many cables-length distant from our Commodore's cabin lay the frigate president, with the Red Cross of St. George flying from her peak. As its name imported,

Starting point is 11:33:31 This fine craft was an American-born, but having been captured during the last war with Britain, she now sailed the salt seas as a trophy. Think of it, my gallant countryman, one and all, down the sea coast and along the endless banks of the Ohio and Columbia. Think of the twinges we sea patriots must have felt to behold the live oak of the Florida's and the pines of green main built into the oaken walls of Old England.

Starting point is 11:34:01 But to some of the sailors, there was a counterbalancing thought, as grateful as the other was galling. And that was that somewhere, sailing under the stars and stripes, was the frigate Macedonian, a British-born craft which had once sported the Battle Banner of Britain. It has ever been the custom to spend almost any amount of money in repairing a captured vessel in order that she may long survive to commemorate the heroism of the conqueror. Thus, in the English Navy, there are many Monsours of 74s, one from the Gaul. But we Americans can show but few similar trophies, though, no doubt we would much like to be able to do so. But I never have beheld any of the floating trophies without being reminded of a scene once witnessed in a pioneer village on the western bank of the Mississippi.

Starting point is 11:34:57 not far from this village where the stumps of aboriginal trees yet stand in the market-place some years ago lived a portion of the remnant tribes of the sioux indians who frequently visited the white settlements to purchase trinkets and cloths one florid crimson evening in july when the red-hot sun was going down in a blaze and i was leaning against a corner in my huntsman's frock lo there came stalking out of the crimson west a gigantic red man erect as a pine with his glittering tomahawk big as a broad axe folded in martial repose across his chest, moodily wrapped in his blanket, and striding like a king on the stage, he promenaded up and down the rustic streets, exhibiting on the back of his blanket a crowd of human hands,

Starting point is 11:35:48 rudely delineated and red. One of them seemed recently drawn. Who is this warrior? asked I, and why marches he here? And for what are these bloody hands? The warrior is the red, Red-hot coal, said a pioneer in moccasins by my side, he marches here to show off his last trophy. Every one of those hands attests a foe scalped by his tomahawk, and he has just emerged from Ben Browns,

Starting point is 11:36:17 the painter, who has sketched the last red hand that you see. For last night, this red-hot coal outburned the yellow torch, the chief of a band of the foxes. Poor savage, thought I. And is this the cause of your lofty gate? Do you straighten yourself to think that you have committed a murder when a chance-falling stone has often done the same? Is it a proud thing to topple down six feet perpendicular of immortal manhood though that lofty living tower needed perhaps 30 good growing summers to bring it to maturity?

Starting point is 11:36:54 Poor savage! And you account it so glorious, do you, to mutilate and destroy what God himself was more, than a quarter of a century and building? And yet, fellow Christians, what is the American frigate Macedonian, or the English frigate president, but as two bloody red hands painted on this poor savages blanket? Are there no Moravians in the moon that not a missionary has yet visited this poor pagan planet of ours to civilize civilization and Christianize Christendom? End of Chapter 64.

Starting point is 11:37:31 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 65 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. chapter sixty five a man-of-war race we lay in rio so long for what reason the commodore only knows

Starting point is 11:38:18 that a saying went abroad among the impatient sailors that our frigate would at last ground on the beef bones daily thrown overboard by the cooks but at last good tidings came all hands up anchor ahoi and bright and early in the morning up came our old iron as the sun rose in the east. The land breezes at Rio, by which alone vessels may emerge from the bay, is ever languid and faint. It comes from gardens of citrons and cloves spiced with all the spices of the tropic of Capricorn. And like that old exquisite,

Starting point is 11:38:59 Muhammad, who so much loved to snuff perfumes and essences and used to lounge out of the conservatories of Khadija, his wife, to give battle to the robust sons of Koresh. Even so, this real land breeze comes jaded with sweet-smelling savers to wrestle with the wild tartar breezes of the sea. Slowly we dropped and dropped down the bay, glided like a stately swan through the outlet, and were gradually rolled by the smooth sliding billows

Starting point is 11:39:32 brought out upon the deep. straight in our wake came the tall mainmast of the English fighting frigate terminating like a steepled cathedral in the bannered cross of the religion of peace and straight after her came the rainbow banner of France sporting God's token that no more would he make war on the earth both Englishmen and Frenchmen were resolved upon a race and we Yankees swore by our top sails and royals to sink their blazing banners that night among the southern constellations

Starting point is 11:40:06 we should daily be extinguishing behind us in our run to the north. I, said Mad Jack, St. George's banner shall be as the Southern Cross, out of sight, leagues down the horizon, while our gallant stars, my brave boys, shall burn all alone in the north, like the great bear at the pole. Come on, rainbow and cross. But the wind was long land. and faint, not yet recovered from its night's dissipation ashore, and noon advanced, with the sugar-loaf pinnacle in sight.

Starting point is 11:40:43 Now, it is not with ships as with horses, for though if a horse walk well and fast, it generally furnishes good token that he is not bad at a gallop. Yet the ship that in a light breeze is outstripped may sweep the stakes, so soon as a to-galant breeze enables her to strike into a canter. Thus fared it with us. First, the Englishman glided ahead and bluffly passed on. Then the Frenchman politely bade us adieu, while the old Never Sink lingered behind, railing at the effeminate breeze. At one time, all three frigates were irregularly abreast, forming a diagonal line, and so near were all three, that the stately officers on the poops stiffly salutes, by touching their caps, though refraining from any further civilities.

Starting point is 11:41:39 At this juncture, it was a noble sight to behold those fine frigates with dripping breast-hooks, all rearing and nodding in concert, and to look through their tall spars and wilderness of rigging that seemed like inextricably entangled gigantic cobwebs against the sky. Towards sundown the ocean pawed its white hoofs to the spur of its helter-skelter rider, a strong blast from the eastward, and, giving three cheers from decks, yards, and tops, we crowded all sail on St. George and St. Dennis. But it is harder to overtake than outstrip. Night fell upon us, still in the rear, still where the little boat was, which, at the 11th hour,

Starting point is 11:42:24 according to a rabbinical tradition, pushed after the ark of old Noah. It was a misty, cloudy night, and though at first hour, lookouts kept the chase in dim sight, yet at last so thick became the atmosphere that no sign of a strange spar was to be seen. But the worst of it was that, when last discerned, the Frenchman was broad on our weather bow and the Englishman gallantly leading his van. The breeze blew fresher and fresher, but with even our main royal set, we dashed along through a cream-colored ocean of illuminated foam. White jacket was then in the top, and it was glorious to look down and see our black hull, budding the white sea with its broad boughs like a ram. We must beat them

Starting point is 11:43:14 with such a breeze, dear Jack, said I to our noble captain of the top. But the same breeze blows for John Bull, remember, replied Jack, who, being a Britain, perhaps favored the Englishman more than the Never Sink. But how we boomed through the billows. cried Jack, gazing over the top rail. Then, flinging forth his arm, recited, A slope, and gliding on the leeward side, the bounding vessel cuts the roaring tide. Camelands, white jacket.

Starting point is 11:43:46 Camelons, did you ever read him? The Luciad, I mean. It's the man-of-war epic of the world, my lad. Give me gamma for a Commodore, say I. Noble Gamma. And Michael, White Jacket, did you ever read him? William Julius Michael? Camelan's translator? A disappointed man, though, White Jacket.

Starting point is 11:44:09 Besides his version of the Luciad, he wrote many forgotten things. Did you ever see his ballot of Comner Hall? No? Why, it gave Sir Walter Scott the hint of Kenilworth. My father knew Michael when he went to see on board the old Romney Man of War. How many great men have been sailors, White Jacket? They say Homer himself was once a tar, even as his hero Ulysses, was both a sailor and a shipwright. I'll swear Shakespeare was once a captain of the forecastle. Do you mind the first scene in the Tempest, white jacket?

Starting point is 11:44:46 And the world finder Christopher Columbus was a sailor, and so was Camoans, who went to sea with Gamma, else we had never had the Luciad white jacket. Yes, I've sailed over the very track that Canaan's. Camoans sailed, round the East Cape into the Indian Ocean. I've been in Don Jose's garden, too, in Macau, and bathed my feet in the blessed dew of the walks where Camoans wandered before me. Yes, White Jacket, and I have seen and sat in the cave at the end of the flowery winding way, where Camelans, according to tradition, composed certain parts of his Lusiad. Aye, Camelins was a sailor once. Then there's Falconer, whose shipwreck will never found her, though,

Starting point is 11:45:29 though he himself, poor fellow, was lost at sea in the Aurora frigate. Old Noah was the first sailor, and St. Paul, too, knew how to box the compass, my lad. Mind you, that chapter and axe? I couldn't spend the yarn better myself. Were you ever in Malta? They called it Melita in the Apostles Day. I have been in Paul's Cave there, White Jacket. They say a piece of it is good for a charm against shipwreck, but I never try. it. There's Shelley. He was quite a sailor. Shelly? Poor lad. A Percy, too.

Starting point is 11:46:08 But they ought to have let him sleep in his sailor's grave. He was drowned in the Mediterranean, you know, near Leghorn, and not burn his body as they did, as if he had been a bloody Turk. But many people thought him so, White Jacket, because he didn't go to Mass, and because he wrote Queen Mob. Trelawney was by at the burning, and he was an ocean. rover too. I, and Byron helped put a piece of a keel on the fire, for it was made of bits of a wreck, they say. One wreck burning another. And was not Byron a sailor, an amateur forecastleman, White

Starting point is 11:46:42 Jacket? So he was. Else, how bid the ocean he even fall in that grand, majestic way? I say, White Jacket, do you mind me? There never was a very great man yet who spent all his life inland. A snuff of the sea, my boy, is inspiration, and having been once out of sight of land has been the making of many a true poet and the blasting of many pretenders. For Jasee, there's no gammon about the ocean. It knocks the false keel right off a pretender's bows. It tells him just what he is and makes him feel it, too. A sailor's life, I say, is the thing to bring us mortals out. What does the Blessed Bible say? Don't it say that we main top men alone see the marvelous sights and wonders?

Starting point is 11:47:31 Don't deny the Blessed Bible now. Don't do it. How it rocks up here, my boy, holding onto a shroud. But it only proves what I've been saying. The sea is the place to cradle genius. He even fall, old sea. And you also, noble Jack, said I. What are you but a sailor?

Starting point is 11:47:53 You're merry, my boy, said Jack, looking up with a glance like that of a sentimental archangel doomed to drag out his eternity in disgrace. But mind you, White Jacket, there are many great men in the world besides Commodores and captains. I've that here, White Jacket, touching his forehead. Which, under happier skies, perhaps in you, solitary star there, peeping down from those clouds, might have made a homer of me. But fate is fate, white jacket, and we homers who happen to be captains of tops

Starting point is 11:48:29 must write our odes in our hearts and publish them in our heads. But look, the captain's on the poop. It was now midnight, but all the officers were on deck. Jib boom there, cried the lieutenant of the watch, going forward and hailing the headmost lookout. Do you see anything of those fellows now?

Starting point is 11:48:53 "'See nothing, sir.' "'See nothing, sir,' said the lieutenant, approaching the captain and touching his cap. "'Call all hands,' roared the captain. "'This keel shan't be beat while I stride it.' "'All hands were called, and the hammocks stowed in the nettings for the rest of the night, so that no one could lie between blankets. Now, in order to explain the means adopted by the captain to ensure us the race, it needs to be said of the Never Sink that, for some years after being launched, she was accounted

Starting point is 11:49:26 one of the slowest vessels in the American Navy. But it chanced upon a time that, being on a cruise in the Mediterranean, she happened to sail out of Port Mayan in what was then supposed to be very bad trim for the sea. Her bows were rooting in the water, and her stern kicking up its heels in the air. But, wonderful to tell, it was soon discovered that in this comical posture she sailed like a shooting star. She outstripped every vessel on the station. Thence forward all her captains on all cruises trimmed her by the head, and the Never Sink gained the name of a clipper. To return, all hands being called, they were now made use of by Captain Claret as make-wates to trim the ship scientifically to her most approved bearings.

Starting point is 11:50:20 Some were sent forward on the spar deck with 24-pound shot in their hands, and were judiciously scattered about here and there, with strict orders not to budge an inch from their stations, for fear of marring the captain's plans. Others were distributed along the gun and berth decks with similar orders, and, to crown all, several cannonade guns were unshipped from their carriages, and swung in their breachings from the beams of the main deck, so as to impart a sort of vibratory briskness and oscillating buoyancy to the frigate.

Starting point is 11:50:55 And thus, we 500 make-wates stood out that whole night, some of us exposed to a drenching rain in order that the never sink might not be beaten. But the comfort and consolation of all make-wates is as dust in the balance in the estimation of the rulers of our man-of-war world. The long, anxious night at last came to an end, and, with the first peep of day, the lookout on the jib-boom was hailed, but nothing was in sight.

Starting point is 11:51:29 At last it was broad day, yet still not a bow was to be seen in our rear, nor a stern in our van. Where are they? cried the captain. out of sight astern to be sure, sir, said the officer of the deck. Out of sight ahead to be sure, sir, muttered Jack Chase in the top. Precisely thus stood the question. Whether we beat them or whether they beat us,

Starting point is 11:52:00 no mortal can tell to this hour since we never saw them again. But for one, White Jacket will lay his two hands on the bow chasers of the Never Sink and take his ship's oath that we Yankees carried the day. End of Chapter 65. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 66 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 11:52:37 For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 66. Fun in a Man of War After the race, our Man of War Derby, we had many days fine weather, during which we continued running before the trades toward the north. Exilarated by the thought of being homeward bound, many of the seamen became joyous,

Starting point is 11:53:13 and the discipline of the ship, if anything, became a little relaxed. Many pastimes served to while away the dog watches in particular. These dog watches, embracing two hours in the early part of the evening, form the only authorized playtime for the crews of most ships at sea. Among other diversions at present licensed by authority in the NeverSink were those of single stick, sparring, hammer and anvil, and head bumping. All these were under the direct patronage of the captain, Otherwise, seeing the consequences they sometimes led to, they would undoubtedly have been strictly prohibited.

Starting point is 11:53:56 It is a curious coincidence that when a Navy captain does not happen to be an admirer of the Fistiana, his crew seldom amuse themselves in that way. Single stick, as everyone knows, is a delightful pastime which consists in two men standing a few feet apart and wrapping each other over the head with long poles. There is a good deal of fun in it so long as you are not hit, but a hit, in the judgment of discrete persons, spoils the sport completely. When this pastime is practiced by connoisseurs ashore, they wear heavy, wired helmets to break the force of the blows. But the only helmets of our tars were those with which nature had furnished them. They played with great gun-rammers.

Starting point is 11:54:46 Sparring consists in playing single-stick with bowing, bone poles instead of wooden ones. Two men stand apart and palmle each other with their fists, a hard bunch of knuckles permanently attached to the arms and made globular or extended into a palm at the pleasure of the proprietor. Till one of them, finding himself sufficiently thrashed, cries enough. Hammer and anvil is thus practiced by amateurs. Patient number one gets on all fours and stays so,

Starting point is 11:55:18 while patient number two is taken up by his arms and legs, and his base is swung against the base of patient number one, till patient number one, with the force of the final blow, is sent flying along the deck. Head bumping, as patronized by Captain Claret, consists in two Negroes, whites will not answer, budding at each other like rams. This pastime was an especial favorite with the captain.

Starting point is 11:55:47 In the dog watches, Rosewater and, and May Day were repeatedly summoned into the lee waste to tilt at each other for the benefit of the captain's health. May Day was a full-blooded bull negro, so the sailors called him, with a skull like an iron tea kettle, wherefore May Day much fancied the sport. But Rosewater, he was a slender and rather handsome mulatto and abhorred the pastime. Nevertheless, the captain must be obeyed, So, at the word, poor Rosewater was famed to put himself in a posture of defense, else Mayday would incontinently have bumped him out of a porthole into the sea. I used to pity poor Rosewater from the bottom of my heart,

Starting point is 11:56:35 but my pity was almost aroused into indignation at a sad sequel to one of these gladiatorial scenes. It seems that, lifted up by the unaffected, though verbally, unexpressed applause of the captain, Mayday had begun to despise Rosewater as a poltroon, a fellow all brains and no skull, whereas he himself was a great warrior, all skull and no brains. Accordingly, after they had been bumping one evening to the captain's content, Mayday confidentially told Rosewater that he considered him a nigger, which among some blacks has held a great term of reproach. fired at the insult

Starting point is 11:57:20 Rosewater gave May Day to understand that he utterly erred For his mother, a black slave Had been one of the mistresses of a Virginia planter belonging to one of the oldest families in that state Another insulting remark followed this innocent disclosure Retort followed retort in a word At last they came together in mortal combat The master at arms caught them in the act

Starting point is 11:57:45 and brought them up to the mast. The captain advanced. Please, sir, said poor Rosewater. It all came at air bumping. Mayday here aggravated me about it. Master at arms, said the captain. Did you see them fighting? Aye, sir, said the master at arms, touching his cap.

Starting point is 11:58:07 Rig the grading, said the captain. I'll teach you two men that, though I now and then permit you to play, I will have no fighting. Do your duty, Bosen's mate, and the Negroes were flogged. Justice commands that the fact of the captains not showing any leniency to May Day, a decided favorite of his, at least while in the ring, should not be passed over. He flogged both culprits in the most impartial manner. As in the matter of the scene at the gangway, shortly after the Cape Horn theatricals,

Starting point is 11:58:42 when my attention had been directed to the fact that the office had shipped their quarter-deck faces upon that occasion, I say it was seen with what facility a sea officer assumes his wanted severity of demeanor after a casual relaxation of it. This was especially the case with Captain Claret upon the present occasion. For any landsman to have beheld him in the lee-waist of a pleasant dog-watch with a genial good-humored countenance, observing the gladiators in the ring, now and then indulging in a playful remark, that landsman would have deemed Captain Claret the

Starting point is 11:59:21 indulgent father of his crew, perhaps permitting the excess of his kind-heartedness to encroach upon the appropriate dignity of his station. He would have deemed Captain Claret a fine illustration of those two well-known poetical comparisons between a sea-captain and a father, and between a sea-captain and the master of apprentices, instituted by those eminent maritime jurors, the noble lord's tenterdin and stole. But surely if there is anything hateful, it is this shipping of the quarter-deck face after wearing a merry and good-natured one.

Starting point is 12:00:00 How can they have the heart? Methinks if but once I smiled upon a man, never mind how much beneath me, I could not bring myself to condemn him to the shocking misery of the lash. O officers all around the world, if this quarter-deck face you wear at all, then never unship it for another, to be merely sported for a moment.

Starting point is 12:00:23 Of all insults, the temporary condescension of a master to a slave is the most outrageous and galling. That potentate, who most condescends, mark him well, for that potentate, if occasion come, will prove your uttermost tyrant. End of Chapter 66. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 67 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 12:01:05 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 67. White Jacket Arraigned at the mast. When, with five hundred others, I made one of the compelled spectators at the scourging of poor Rosewater, I little thought what fate had ordained for myself the next day. Poor mulatto, thought I, one of an oppressed race, they degrade you like a hound. Thank God I am a white. Yet I had seen whites also scourged, for black or white, all my shipmates

Starting point is 12:01:52 were liable to that. Still, there is something in us somehow that in the most degraded condition we snatch at a chance to deceive ourselves into a fancied superiority to others, whom we suppose lower in this scale than ourselves. Poor Rosewater, thought I, poor mulatto, heaven send you a release from your humiliation. To make plain the thing about to be related, it needs to repeat what has somewhere been previously mentioned, that in tacking ship, every seaman in a man of war has a particular station assigned him. What that station is should be made known to him by the first lieutenant, and when the word is passed to tack or where, it is every seaman's duty to be found at his post. But among the various numbers and stations given to me by the senior

Starting point is 12:02:48 lieutenant when I first came on board the frigate, he had altogether omitted informing me of my particular place at those times. And, up to the precise period now written of, I had hardly known that I should have had any special place then at all. For the rest of the men, they seemed to me to catch hold of the first rope that offered, as in a merchantman upon similar occasions. Indeed, I subsequently discovered that such was the state of discipline, in this one particular at least, that very few of the seamen could tell where their proper stations were, at tacking or wearing. All hands tack ship, hooy!

Starting point is 12:03:32 Such was the announcement made by the Bosen's mates at the hatchways the morning after the hard fate of rosewater. It was just eight bells, noon, and springing. from my white jacket, which I had spread between the guns for a bed on the main deck, I ran up the ladders, and, as usual, seized hold of the main brace, which 50 hands were streaming along forward. When Main Top Sail Hall was given through the trumpet, I pulled at this brace with such hardiness and goodwill that I almost flattered myself that my instrumentality in getting the frigate round on the other tack deserved a public vote of thanks,

Starting point is 12:04:13 and a silver tankard from Congress. But something happened to be in the way aloft when the yard swung round. A little confusion ensued. And with anger on his brow, Captain Claret came forward to see what occasioned it. No one to let go the weather lift of the main yard. The rope was cast off, however, by a hand, and the yards unobstructed came round. When the last rope was coiled away, the captain desired to know of the first lieutenant who it might be that was stationed at the weather, then the starboard, main lift.

Starting point is 12:04:51 With a vexed expression of countenance, the first lieutenant sent a midshipman for the station bill, when upon glancing it over, my own name was found put down at the post in question. At the time I was on the gun deck below and did not know of these proceedings, but a moment after, I heard the bosons' mates bawling my name at all the hatchways and along all three decks. It was the first time I had ever heard it so sent through the furthest recesses of the ship, and well-knowing what this generally betokened to other seamen, my heart jumped to my throat, and I hurriedly asked flute, the bosons made at the four hatchway, what was wanted of me. "'Captain wants ye at the mast,' he replied. "'Gon to flog ye, I guess.'

Starting point is 12:05:39 "'What for?' "'My eyes, you've been chalking your face, ain't ye?' "'What am I wanted for?' I repeated. But at that instant my name was again thundered forth by the other bosons mate, and flute hurried me away, hinting that I would soon find out what the captain desired of me. I swallowed down my heart in me as I touched the spar deck, for a single instant balanced myself on my best center, and then, wholly ignorant of what was going to be alleged against me, advanced to the dread tribunal

Starting point is 12:06:15 of the frigate. As I passed through the gangway, I saw the quartermaster rigging the gratings, the boatswain with his green bag of scourges, the master at arms ready to help off someone's shirt. Again, I made a desperate swallow of my whole soul in me, and found myself standing before Captain Claret. his flushed face obviously showed him in ill humor. Among the group of officers by his side was the first lieutenant, who, as I came aft, eyed me in such a manner, that I plainly perceived him to be extremely vexed at me for having been the innocent means of reflecting upon the manner

Starting point is 12:06:55 in which he kept up the discipline of the ship. Why were you not at your station, sir? asked the captain. What station do you mean, sir, said I. it is generally the custom with man-of-war's men to stand obsequiously touching their hat at every sentence they addressed to the captain but as this was not obligatory upon me by the articles of war i did not do so upon the present occasion and previously i had never had the dangerous honor of a personal interview with captain claret He quickly noticed my omission of the homage usually rendered him, and instinct told me that to a certain extent it set his heart against me. What station, sir, do you mean, said I? You pretend ignorance, he replied, it will not help you, sir. Glancing at the captain, the first lieutenant now produced the station bill, and read my name in connection with that of the starboard main lift.

Starting point is 12:07:56 Captain Claret, said I, "'It is the first time I ever heard of my being assigned to that post.' "'How was this, Mr. Bridewell?' he said, turning to the first lieutenant, with a fault-finding expression. "'It is impossible, sir,' said that officer, striving to hide his vexation. But this man must have known his station. "'I have never known it before this moment,' Captain Claret, said I. "'Do you contradict my officer?' he returned.

Starting point is 12:08:26 I shall flog you. I had now been on board the frigate upward of a year and remain unscourged. The ship was homeward-bound, and in a few weeks at most I would be a free man. And now, after making a hermit of myself in some things in order to avoid the possibility of the scourge, here it was, hanging over me for a thing utterly unforeseen, for a crime of which I was as utterly innocent. But all that was as not. I saw that my case was hopeless. My solemn disclaimer was thrown in my teeth,

Starting point is 12:09:03 and the Bosen's mate stood curling his fingers through the cat. There are times when wild thoughts enter a man's heart, when he seems almost irresponsible for his act and his deed. The captain stood on the weather side of the deck. Sideways, on an unobstructed line with him, was the opening of a man. of the Lee Gangway, where the side ladders are suspended in port. Nothing but a slight bit of senate's stuff served to rail in this opening, which was cut right

Starting point is 12:09:35 down to the level of the captain's feet, showing the far sea beyond. I stood a little to windward of him, and though he was a large, powerful man, it was certain that a sudden rush against him, along the slanting deck, would infallibly pitch him head foremost into the ocean, though he was so rushed, must needs go over with him. My blood seemed clotting in my veins. I felt icy cold at the tips of my fingers, and a dimness was before my eyes. But through that dimness, the boatswain's mate, scourge in hand, loomed like a giant, and Captain Claret and the blue seas seen through the opening at the gangway, showed with an awful vividness. I cannot analyze my heart,

Starting point is 12:10:21 though it then stood still within me, but the thing that swayed me to my purpose was not altogether the thought that Captain Claret was about to degrade me and that I had taken an oath with my soul that he should not. No, I felt my man's manhood so bottomless within me that no word, no blow, no scourge of Captain Claret could cut me deep enough for that. I but swung to an instinct in me the instinct diffused through all animated nature,

Starting point is 12:10:50 the same that prompts even a worm to turn under the heel. Locking souls with him, I meant to drag Captain Claret from this earthly tribunal of his to that of Jehovah and let him decide between us. No other way could I escape the scourge. Nature has not implanted any power in man that was not meant to be exercised at times, though too often our powers have been abused.

Starting point is 12:11:17 The privilege, inborn, and inalienable, that every man has of dying himself and inflicting death upon another was not given to us without a purpose. These are the last resources of an insulted and unendurable existence. To the grating, sir, said Captain Claret, do you hear?

Starting point is 12:11:38 My eye was measuring the distance between him and the sea. Captain Claret, said a voice advancing from the crowd. I turned to see who this might be, that audaciously interposed at a juncture like this. It was the same remarkably handsome and gentlemanly corporal of Marines, Colbrook, who has been previously alluded to in the chapter describing killing time in a man of war. I know that man, said Colbrook, touching his cap,

Starting point is 12:12:08 and speaking in a mild, firm, but extremely differential manner. And I know that he would not be found absent from his station if he knew where it was. This speech was almost unprecedented. Seldom or never before had a Marine dared to speak to the captain of a frigate in behalf of a seaman at the mast. But there was something so unastentatiously commanding in the calm manner of the man that the captain, though astounded, did not in any way reprimand him.

Starting point is 12:12:39 The very unusualness of his interference seemed Colbrook's protection. Taking heart, perhaps from Colbrook's example, Jack Chase interposed, and in a manly but carefully respectful manner, in substance repeated the corporal's remark, adding that he had never found me wanting in the top. The captain looked from Chase to Colbrook and from Colbrook to Chase, one, the foremost man among the seaman, the other the foremost man among the soldiers, then all round upon the packed and silent crew, and as if a slave to fate, though supreme captain of a frigate, he turned to the first lieutenant, made some indifferent remark, and saying to me, you may go, sauntered apt into his

Starting point is 12:13:27 cabin. While I, who, in the desperation of my soul, had but just escaped being a murderer and a suicide, almost burst into tears of Thanksgiving, where I stood. End of Chapter 67. by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 68 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 12:14:11 White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 68. a man-of-war fountain and other things. Let us forget the scourge and the gangway a while, and jot down in our memories a few little things pertaining to our man-of-war world. I let nothing slip, however, small, and feel myself actuated by the same motive, which has prompted many worthy old chroniclers

Starting point is 12:14:43 to set down the merest trifles concerning things that are destined to pass away entirely from the earth, and which, if not preserved in the nick of time, must infallibly perish from the memories of man. Who knows that this humble narrative may not hereafter prove the history of an obsolete barbarism? Who knows that, when men of war shall be no more, White Jacket may not be quoted to show to the people in the millennium

Starting point is 12:15:14 what a man of war was? God hastened the time, lo, ye years escorted hither, and bless our eyes ere we die. There is no part of a frigate where you will see more going and coming of strangers, and overhear more greetings and gossipings of acquaintances than in the immediate vicinity of the scuttlebutt, just forward of the main hatchway on the gun deck. The scuttlebutt is a goodly round, painted cap, standing on end and with its upper head removed showing a narrow circular shelf within where rest a number of ten cups for the accommodation of drinkers

Starting point is 12:15:57 central within the scuttlebut itself stands an iron pump which connecting with the immense water tanks in the hold furnishes an unfailing supply of the much admired pale ale first brewed in the brooks of the Garden of Eden and stamped with the brand of our old father Adam, who never knew what wine was. We are indebted to the old ventnor, Noah, for that. The scuttlebut is the only fountain in the ship, and here alone can you drink unless at your meals. Night and day and armed sentry paces before it, bayonet in hand, to see that no water is taken away except according to law. I wonder that they station no sentries at the portholes to see,

Starting point is 12:16:45 that no air is breathed, except according to Navy regulations. As 500 men come to drink at this scuttlebut, as it is often surrounded by officers' servants drawing water for their masters to wash, by the cooks of the range who hither come to fill their coffee pots, and by the cooks of the ship's messes to procure water for their duffs, the scuttlebut may be denominated the town pump of the ship, and would that my fine countryman Hawthorne of Salem had but served on board a man of war in his time that he might give us the reading of a rill from the scuttlebut. As in all extensive establishments, abbeys, arsenals, colleges, treasuries, metropolitan post offices and monasteries, there are many snug little niches wherein are ensconced certain superannuated

Starting point is 12:17:44 old pensioner officials, and, more especially, as in most ecclesiastical establishments, a few choice prebendary stalls are to be found, furnished with well-filled mangers and racks. So, in a man-of-war, there are a variety of similar snuggeries for the benefit of decrepit or rheumatic old tars. Chief among these is the office of mastmen. There is a stout rail on deck at the base of each mast, where a number of braces, lifts, and bunt lines are belayed to the pins. It is the sole duty of the mastman to see that these ropes are always kept clear to preserve his premises in a state of the greatest attainable neatness

Starting point is 12:18:32 and every Sunday morning to dispose his ropes in neat, flemish coils. The main mastman of the Never Sink was a very aged seaman who well deserved his comfortable birth. He had seen more than half a century of the most active service, and through all, had proved himself a good and faithful man. He furnished one of the very rare examples of a sailor in a green old age, for with most sailors, old age comes in youth, and hardship and vice carry them on an early beer to the grave. as in the evening of life and at the close of the day old abraham sat at the door of his tent biding his time to die so sits our old mastman on the coat of the mast glancing round him with patriarchal benignity And that mild expression of his sets off very strangely a face that has been burned almost black by the torrid suns that shone 50 years ago, a face that has seamed with three saber cuts. You would almost think this old mastman had been blown out of Vesuvius to look alone at his scarred blackened forehead, chin, and cheeks. but gaze down into his eye, and though all the snows of time have drifted higher and higher upon his brow,

Starting point is 12:19:58 yet deep down in that eye you behold an infantile, sinless look, the same that answered the glance of this old man's mother when first she cried for the babe to be laid by her side. That look is the fadeless, ever-infantile immortality within. The Lord Nelson's of the Sea, though but barons in the state, yet oftentimes prove more potent than their royal masters, and at such scenes as Trafalgar, dethroning this emperor and reinstating that, enact on the ocean the proud part of mighty Richard Neville, the king-making Earl of the land. And as Richard Neville entrenched himself in his moated old man-of-war castle of Warwick, which underground was traversed, with vaults, hewn out of the solid rock,

Starting point is 12:20:49 and intricate as the wards of the old keys of Calais, surrendered to Edward III. Even so do these King Commodores house themselves in their water-rimmed cannon-centric frigates oaken-dug, deck under deck, as cell under cell. And as the old middle-aged warders of Warwick, every night at curfew patrolled the battlements and dove down into the vaults to see that all lights were extinguished,

Starting point is 12:21:19 even so do the master at arms and ships corporals of a frigate preamble all the decks of a man of war blowing out all tapers but those burning in the legalized battle lanterns. Yea in these things so potent is the authority of these sea wardens that, though almost the lowest subalterns in the ship, yet should they find the senior lieutenant himself sitting up late in his state room reading Boutich's Navigator or Danton on gunpowder and firearms, they would infallibly blow the light out under his very nose,

Starting point is 12:21:54 nor durst that Grand Vizier resent the indignity. But unwittingly I have ennobled by grand historical comparisons this prying, pedophogging, Irish informer of a master at arms. You have seen some slim, slipshod housekeeper at midnight ferreting over a rambling old house in the country, startling at fancied witches and ghosts, yet intent on seeing every door bolted, every smoldering ember in the fireplaces smothered,

Starting point is 12:22:27 every loitering domestic abed, and every light made dark. This is the master at arms, taking his night rounds in a frigate. It may be thought that but little is seen of the Commodore in these chapters, and that since he so seldom appears on the stage, he cannot be so august a personage after all.

Starting point is 12:22:49 But the mightiest potentates keep the most behind the veil. You might tarry in Constantinople a month and never catch a glimpse of the sultan. The Grand Lama of Tibet, according to some accounts, is never beheld by the people. But if anyone doubts the majesty of a Commodore,

Starting point is 12:23:07 let him know that, according to 42 of the Articles of War, he is invested with a prerogative which, according to monarchical jurists, is inseparable from the throne, the plenary pardoning power. He may pardon all offenses committed in the squadron under his command. But this prerogative is only his while at sea, or on a foreign station, a circumstance peculiarly significant of the great difference between the stately absolutism of a Commodore enthroned on his poop in a foreign harbor and an unlaced commodore negligently reclining in an easy chair in the

Starting point is 12:23:49 bosom of his family at home. End of Chapter 68. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 69 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Lieberwax recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 69. Prayers at the Guns The Training Days or General Quarters, now and then taking place in our frigate, have already been described. Also, the Sunday devotions on the half-deck. But nothing has yet been

Starting point is 12:24:46 said concerning the daily morning and evening quarters when the men silently stand at their guns and the chaplain simply offers up a prayer. Let us now enlarge upon this matter. We have plenty of time, the occasion invites, for behold, the homeward-bound never sink bowls along over a jubilant sea. Shortly after breakfast, the drum beats to quarters, and among 500 men scattered over all three decks and engaged in all manner of ways that sudden rolling march is magical as the monetary sound to which every good mussulman at sunset drops to the ground whatsoever his hands might have found to do, and throughout all Turkey, the people in concert kneel toward their holy Mecca. The sailors run to and fro, some up the deck ladders, some down, to gain their respective stations in the shortest possible time.

Starting point is 12:25:48 In three minutes all is composed. One by one, the various officers stationed over the separate divisions of the ship, then approach the first lieutenant on the quarter-deck and report their respective men at their quarters. It is curious to watch their countenances at this time. A profound silence prevails, and emerging through the hatchway from one of the lower decks, a slender young officer appears, hugging his sword to his thigh, and advances through the long lanes of sailors at their guns, his serious eye all the time fixed upon the first lie, his first lieutenants, his polar star. Sometimes he assays a stately and graduated step, an erect and

Starting point is 12:26:34 martial bearing, and seems full of the vast national importance of what he is about to communicate. But when at last he gains his destination, you are amazed to perceive that all he has to say is imparted by a Freemason touch of his cap and a bow. He then turns and makes off to his division, perhaps passing several brother lieutenants, all bound on the same errand he himself has just achieved. For about five minutes, these officers are coming and going, bringing in thrilling intelligence, from all quarters of the frigate, most stoically received, however, by the first lieutenant.

Starting point is 12:27:17 With his legs apart, so as to give a broad foundation for the superstructure of his dignity, this gentleman stands stiff as a pike staff on the quarter-deck. One hand holds his saber and a pertinence altogether unnecessary at the time, and which he accordingly tucks, point backward under his arm, like an umbrella, on a sunshiny,

Starting point is 12:27:40 day. The other hand is continually bobbing up and down to the leather front of his cap in response to the reports and salute of his subordinates, to whom he never deigns to vouchsafe a syllable, merely going through the motions of accepting their news without bestowing thanks for their pains. This continual touching of caps between officers on board a man of war is the reason why you invariably notice that the glazed fronts of their caps look jaded, lackluster, and worn. Sometimes slightly oleagenous, though in other respects the cap may appear glossy and fresh. But as for the first lieutenant, he ought to have extra pay allowed to him, on account of his extraordinary outlays in cap fronts, for he it is to whom, all day long, reports of various

Starting point is 12:28:35 kinds are incessantly being made by the junior lieutenants, and no report is made by them, however trivial, but caps are touched on the occasion. It is obvious that these individual salutes must be greatly multiplied and aggregated upon the senior lieutenant, who must return them all. Indeed, when a subordinate officer is first promoted to that rank, he generally complains of the same exhaustion about the shoulder and elbow that Lafayette mourned over when, in visiting America, he did little else but shake the sturdy hands of patriotic farmers from sunrise to sunset. The various officers of divisions, having presented their respects and made good their return to

Starting point is 12:29:22 their stations, the first lieutenant turns round and, marching aft, endeavors to catch the eye of the captain in order to touch his own cap to that personage, and thereby, without adding a word of explanation, communicate the fact of all hands being at their guns. He is a sort of retort, or receiver general, to concentrate the whole sum of the information imparted to him and discharge it upon his superior at one touch of his cap front. But sometimes the captain feels out of sorts, or in ill humor, or is pleased to be somewhat capricious, or has a fancy to show a touch of his omnipotent supremacy. Or, peradventure, it has so happened that the first lieutenant has in some way peaked or offended him, and he is not unwilling to show a slight specimen of his dominion

Starting point is 12:30:18 over him, even before the eyes of all hands. At all events, only by some one of these suppositions can the singular circumstance be accounted for, that frequently Captain Claret would pertinaciously promenade up and down the poop, purposely averting his eye from the first lieutenant, who would stand below in the most awkward suspense, waiting the first wink from his superior's eye. Now I have him, he must have said to himself as the captain would turn toward him in his walk, now's my time, and up would go his hand to his cap. But alas, the captain was off again, and the men at the guns would cast sly winks at each other as the embarrassed lieutenant would bite his lips with suppressed vexation. Upon some occasions this scene would be repeated several times,

Starting point is 12:31:12 till at last Captain Claret, thinking that in the eyes of all hands, his dignity must by this time be pretty well bolstered, would stalk towards his subordinate, looking him full in the eyes. whereupon up goes his hand to the cap front, and the captain, nodding his acceptance of the report, descends from his perch to the quarterdeck. By this time, the stately commodore slowly emerges from his cabin, and soon stands leaning alone against the brass rails of the after-hatchway.

Starting point is 12:31:45 In passing him, the captain makes a profound salutation which his superior returns, in token that the captain is at perfect liberty to proceed with the ceremonies of the hour. Marching on, Captain Claret at last halts near the mainmast at the head of a group of the wardroom officers, and by the side of the chaplain. At a sign from his finger, the brass band strikes up the Portuguese hymn. This over, from Commodore to Hammockboy, all hands uncover,

Starting point is 12:32:18 and the chaplain reads a prayer. Upon its conclusion, the drum beats the retreat. and the ship's company disappear from the guns. At sea or in harbor, this ceremony is repeated every morning and evening. By those stationed on the quarter-deck, the chaplain is distinctly heard, but the quarter-deck gun division embraces but a tenth part of the ship's company, many of whom are below, on the main deck, where not one syllable of the prayer can be heard. This seemed a great misfortune, for I well knew myself how blessed and soothing it was to mingle twice every day in these peaceful devotions, and would the Commodore and Captain and smallest boy

Starting point is 12:33:03 unite in acknowledging Almighty God. There was also a touch of the temporary equality of the church about it, exceedingly grateful to a man-of-war's man like me. My carinade gun happened to be directly opposite the brass railing against which the Commodore invariably leaned at prayers. Brought so close together twice every day, for more than a year, we could not but become intimately acquainted with each other's faces. To this fortunate circumstance, it is to be ascribed that sometime after reaching home, we were able to recognize each other when we chanced to meet in Washington at a ball

Starting point is 12:33:44 given by the Russian minister, the Baron de Bodhisko. And though, while on board the frigate, the Commodore never in any manner personally addressed me, nor did I him, yet at the minister's social entertainment, we there became exceedingly chatty. Nor did I fail to observe among that crowd of foreign dignitaries and magnates from all parts of America that my worthy friend did not appear so exalted as when leaning in solitary state against the brass railing of. the Never Sinks quarter-deck. Like many other gentlemen, he appeared to the best advantage, and was treated with the most deference in the bosom of his home, the frigate. Our morning and evening quarters were agreeably diversified for some weeks by a little circumstance, which, to some of us at least, always seemed very pleasing. At Coyau, half of the Commodore's cabin had been hospitably yielded to the family of a certain aristocratic-looking magnate, who was going ambassador

Starting point is 12:34:52 from Peru to the court of the Brazils at Rio. This dignified diplomatist sported a long, twirling mustache that almost enveloped his mouth. The sailors said he looked like a rat with his teeth through a bunch of oakum, or a St. Yago monkey peeping through a prickly pear bush. He was accompanied by a very beautiful wife and a still more beautiful little daughter about six years old. Between this dark-eyed little gypsy and our chaplain, there soon sprung up a cordial love and good feeling, so much so that they were seldom apart.

Starting point is 12:35:32 And whenever the drum beat to quarters and the sailors were hurrying to their stations, this little seorita would outrun them all to gain her own quarters at the capstan, where she would stand by the chaplain's side, grasping his hand and looking up archly in his face. It was a sweet relief from the domineering sternness of our martial discipline, a sternness not relaxed even at our devotions before the altar of the common god of Commodore and Cabin Boy, to see that lovely little girl standing among the 32-pounders,

Starting point is 12:36:06 and now and then casting a wandering, commiserating glance at the array of grim semen around her. End of Chapter 69. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 70 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 12:36:47 White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. by Herman Melville Chapter 70 Monthly Muster Round the Capstan Besides General Quarters, and the regular morning and evening quarters for prayers on board the Never Sink, on the first Sunday of every month, we had a grand muster round the capstan, when we passed in solemn review before the captain and officers, who closely scanned our frocks and trousers,

Starting point is 12:37:20 to see whether they were according to the Navy cut. In some ships, every man is required to bring his bag and hammock along for inspection. This ceremony requires its chief solemnity, and to a novice is rendered even terrible by the reading of the articles of war by the captain's clerk before the assembled ship's company, who, in testimony of their enforced reverence for the code, stand bareheaded till the last sentence is pronounced.

Starting point is 12:37:56 To a mere amateur reader, the quiet perusal of these articles of war would be attended with some nervous emotions. Imagine then what my feelings must have been when, with my hat deferentially in my hand, I stood before my lord and master, Captain Claret, and heard these articles read as the law and gospel. the infallible, unappealable dispensation and code whereby I lived and moved and had my being on board of the United States ship never sink. Of some twenty offenses made penal that a seaman may commit, and which are specified in this code,

Starting point is 12:38:40 13 are punishable by death. Shall suffer death. This was the burden. of nearly every article read by the captain's clerk, for he seemed to have been instructed to omit the longer articles and only present those which were brief and to the point. Shall suffer death. The repeated announcement falls on your ear

Starting point is 12:39:07 like the intermittent discharge of artillery. After it has been repeated again and again, you listen to the reader as he deliberately begins a new paragraph. You hear him reciting the involved, but comprehensive and clear arrangement of the sentence, detailing all possible particulars of the offense described, and you breathlessly await whether that clause also is going to be concluded by the discharge of the terrible minute gun.

Starting point is 12:39:40 When, lo, it again booms on your ear, shall suffer death. No reservations, no reservations, no. contingencies, not the remotest promise of pardon or reprieve, not a glimpse of commutation of the sentence, all hope and consolation is shut out. Shall suffer death. That is the simple fact for you to digest, and it is a tougher morsel, believe White Jacket, when he says it, than a 42-pound cannonball. But there is a glimmering of an alternative to the sailor who infringes these articles. Some of them thus terminates shall suffer death, or such punishment as a court-martial shall a judge. But hence this at a penalty still more serious?

Starting point is 12:40:34 Perhaps it means death, or worse punishment. Your honors of the Spanish Inquisition Loyola and Torcomata produce, Reverend gentlemen, your most secret code, and match these articles. of war, if you can. Jack Ketch, you also are experienced in these things. Thou most benevolent of mortals who standest by us and hangest round our necks when all the rest of this world are against us, tell us, hangman, what punishment is this, horribly hinted at as being worse than death?

Starting point is 12:41:15 Is it upon an empty stomach to read the articles of war every morning for the term of one's natural life? Or is it to be imprisoned in a cell with its walls papered from floor to ceiling with printed copies in italics of these articles of war? But it needs not to dilate upon the pure bubbling milk of human kindness and Christian charity and forgiveness of injuries which pervade this charming document so thoroughly imbued as a Christian code with the benignant spirit of the sermon on the Mount. But as it is very nearly alike in the foremost states of Christendom, and as it is nationally set forth by those states, it indirectly becomes an index to the true condition of the present civilization of the world. As, month after month, I would stand

Starting point is 12:42:12 bareheaded among my shipmates and hear this document read, I have thought to myself, well, well, White Jacket, you are in a sad box indeed. But prick your ears, there goes another minute gun. It admonishes you to take all bad usage in good part, and never to join in any public meeting that may be held on the gun deck for a redress of grievances. Listen Article 13 If any person in the Navy shall make or attempt to make,

Starting point is 12:42:47 any mutinous assembly he shall on conviction thereof by a court-martial suffer death bless me white jacket are you a great gun yourself that you so recoil to the extremity of your breachings at that discharge but give ear again here goes another minute gun it indirectly admonishes you to receive the grossest insult and stand still under it. Article 14. No private in the Navy shall disobey the lawful orders of his superior officer or strike him, or draw or offer to draw, or raise any weapon against him

Starting point is 12:43:35 while in the execution of the duties of his office on pain of death. Do not hang back there by the bulwarks, White Jacket. Come up to the mark once more, for here goes still, another minute gun, which admonishes you never to be caught napping. Part of Article 20, If any person in the Navy shall sleep upon his watch, he shall suffer death. Murderous.

Starting point is 12:44:05 But then, in time of peace, they do not enforce these bloodthirsty laws? Do they not, indeed? What happened to those three sailors on board an American armed vessel a few years ago, quite within your memory, White Jacket. Yay, while you yourself were yet serving on board this very frigate, the Never Sink. What happened to those three Americans, White Jacket, those three sailors, even as you, who once were alive but now are dead? Shell suffer death.

Starting point is 12:44:40 Those were the three words that hung those three sailors. Have a care, then, have a care, lest you come to you come to you. to a sad end, even the end of a rope, lest, with the black and blue throat, you turn a dumb diver after pearl shells, put to bed forever, and tucked in, in your own hammock, at the bottom of the sea. And there you will lie, White Jacket, while hostile navies are playing cannonball billiards over your grave. By the main mast, then, in a time of profound peace I am subject to the cut-throat martial law, and when my own brother, who happens to be dwelling ashore, and does not serve his country as I am now doing,

Starting point is 12:45:31 when he is at liberty to call personally upon the President of the United States and express his disapprobation of the whole national administration, here am I, liable at any time to be run up at the yard-arm with a necklace made by no jeweler round my neck. A hard case, truly, White Jacket, but it cannot be helped. Yes, you live under this same martial law. Does not everything around you den the fact in your ears? Twice every day do you not jump to your quarters at the sound of a drum? Every morning in port, are you not roused from your hammock by the revely And sent to it again at nightfall by the tattoo?

Starting point is 12:46:20 Every Sunday, are you not commanded in the mere matter of the very dress you shall wear through that blessed day? Can your shipmates so much as drink their tot of grog? Nay, can they even drink but a cup of water at the scuttlebutt without an armed sentry standing over them? does not every officer wear a sword instead of a cane you live and move among twenty-four pounders white jacket the very cannon-balls are deemed an ornament around you serving to embellish the hatchways And should you come to die at sea, White Jacket, still two cannonballs would bear you company when you would be committed to the deep. Yea, by all methods and devices and inventions,

Starting point is 12:47:09 you are momentarily admonished of the fact that you live under the articles of war, and by virtue of them it is, White Jacket, that without a hearing and without a trial, you may, at a wink from the captain, be condemned to the scourge. Speak you true? Then let me fly. Nay, White Jacket, the landless horizon hoops you in.

Starting point is 12:47:36 Some tempest, then, surge all the sea against us. Hidden reefs and rocks, arise and dash the ships to chips. I was not born a serf, and will not live a slave. Quick, corkscrew whirlpools suck us down, worlds in wellmas. Nay, White Jacket. Though this frigate laid her broken bones upon the Antarctic shores of Palmer's land, though not two planks adhered, though all her guns were spiked by swordfish blades, and at her yawning hatchways, mouth-yawning sharks swam in and out,

Starting point is 12:48:16 yet should you escape the wreck and scramble to the beach, this martial law would meet you still and snatch you by the throat. Hark Article 42, part of Section 3 In all cases where the crews of the ships or vessels of the United States shall be separated from their vessels by the latter being wrecked, lost, or destroyed, all the command, power, and authority given to the officers of such ships or vessels shall remain and be in full force, as effectually as if such ship or vessel

Starting point is 12:48:56 were not so wrecked, lost, or destroyed. Hear you that white jacket. I tell you there is no escape. Afloat or wrecked, the martial law relaxes not its gripe. And though, by that self-same warrant, for some offense therein set down, you were indeed to suffer death, even then the martial law might hunt you

Starting point is 12:49:22 straight through the other world, and out again at its other end, following you through all eternity, like an endless thread on the inevitable track of its own point, passing unnumbered needles through. End of Chapter 70. Recording by James K. White. Chula Vista Chapter 71 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 12:49:56 This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org Recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 71 The Genealogy of the Articles of War As the Articles of War form the Ark and Constitution of the Penal Laws,

Starting point is 12:50:32 of the American Navy, in all sobriety and earnestness, it may be well to glance at their origin. Whence came they? And how is it that one arm of the national defenses of a republic comes to be ruled by a Turkish code, whose every section almost, like each of the tubes of a revolving pistol, fires nothing short of death into the heart of an offender? How comes it that, by virtue of a law solemnly ratified by a Congress of Freeman, the representatives of Freeman, thousands of Americans are subjected to the most despotic usages, and from the dockyards of a republic, absolute monarchies are launched with the glorious stars and stripes for an ensign.

Starting point is 12:51:23 By what unparalleled anomaly, by what monstrous grafting of tyranny upon freedom did these articles of war ever come to be so much as heard of in the American Navy. Whence came they? They cannot be the indigenous growth of those political institutions, which are based upon that arch-democrat Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. No. They are an importation from abroad, even from Britain,

Starting point is 12:51:54 whose laws we Americans hurled off as tyrannical and yet retain the most tyrannical of all. But we stop not here. For these articles of war had their congenial origin in a period of the history of Britain when the Puritan Republic had yielded to a monarchy restored. When a hangman, Judge Jeffries, sentenced a world's champion like Algernon Sidney to the block. When one of a race by some deemed a cursed of God,

Starting point is 12:52:29 even a steward was on the throne. And a steward also was at the head of the navy, as Lord High Admiral. One, the son of a king, beheaded for encroachments upon the rights of his people, and the other, his own brother, afterward a king, James II, who was hurled from the throne for his tyranny. This is the origin of the Articles of War, and it carries with it an unmistakable clue to their despotism. Footnote.

Starting point is 12:53:05 The first naval articles of war in the English language were passed in the 13th year of the reign of Charles II under the title of, An Act for Establishing Articles and Orders for the Regulating and Better Government of His Majesty's navies, ships of war, and forces by sea. This act was repealed, and, so far as concerned the officers, a modification of it, substituted in the 22nd year of the reign of George II, shortly after the peace of Ex La Chappelle, just one century ago. This last act, it is believed, comprises, in substance, the Articles of War at this day in force in the British Navy.

Starting point is 12:53:55 It is not a little curious, nor without meaning, that neither of these acts explicitly empowers an officer to inflict the lash. It would almost seem as if, in this case, the British lawgivers were willing to leave such a stigma out of an organic statute and bestow the power of the lash in some less solemn and perhaps less public manner. Indeed, the only broad enactments directly sanctioning naval scourging at sea are to be found in the United States Statute Book and in the sea laws of the absolute monarch Louis Lagrand of France.

Starting point is 12:54:39 Taking for their basis the above-mentioned British naval code and in grafting upon it the positive scourging laws which Britain was loathed to recognize as organic. statutes, our American lawgivers in the year 1800 framed the Articles of War now governing the American Navy. They may be found in the second volume of the United States statutes at large under Chapter 33, an act for the better government of the Navy of the United States. For reference to the latter, Le Ordnance de la Marine, vizé Curtis's treaties on the right and duties of merchant seamen, according to the General Maritime Law.

Starting point is 12:55:27 Part 2, Section C1. End a footnote. Nor is it a dumb thing that the men who, in Democratic Cromwell's time, first proved to the nations the toughness of the British oak and the hardihood of the British sailor, that in Cromwell's time, whose fleets struck terror into the cruisers of France, Spain, Portugal, and Holland, and the corsairs of Algiers and the Levant. In Cromwell's time when Robert Blake swept the narrow seas of all the keels of a Dutch admiral who insultingly carried a broom at his foremast, it is not a dumb thing that,

Starting point is 12:56:09 at a period, deemed so glorious to the British Navy, these articles of war were unknown. Nevertheless, it is granted that some laws or other must have governed Blake's sailors at that period, but they must have been far less severe than those laid down in the written code which superseded them, since, according to the father-in-law of James II, the historian of the rebellion, the English Navy, prior to the enforcement of the new code, was full of officers and sailors who, of all men, were the most Republican. Moreover, the same author informs us that the first work undertaken by his respected son-in-law, then Duke of York, upon entering on the duties of Lord High Admiral,

Starting point is 12:56:56 was to have a grand re-christening of the men of war, which still carried on their stern's names too democratic to suit his high Tory ears. But if these articles of war were unknown in Blake's time, and also during the most brilliant period of Admiral Benbow's career, what inference must follow? that such tyrannical ordinances are not indispensable, even during war, to the highest possible efficiency of a military marine.

Starting point is 12:57:31 End of Chapter 71. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 72 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 72

Starting point is 12:58:11 Herein are the good ordinances of the sea, which wise men who voyaged around the world, gave to our ancestors, and which constitute the books of the science of good customs. The Consulate of the Sea The present usages of the American Navy are such that, though there is no government enactment to that effect, yet, in many respect, its commanders seem virtually invested with the power to observe or violate, as seems to them fit, several of the Articles of War.

Starting point is 12:58:52 According to Article 15, No person in the Navy shall quarrel with any other person in the Navy, nor use provoking or reproachful words, gestures, or menaces, on pain of such punishment as a court-martial shall a judge. Provoking or reproachful words? Officers of the Navy, answer me. Have you not, many of you, a thousand times violated this law and addressed to men whose tongues were tied by this very article,

Starting point is 12:59:28 language which no landsman would ever hearken to without flying at the throat of his insulter. I know that worse words than you ever used are to be heard addressed by a merchant captain to his crew, but the merchant captain does not live under this fifteenth article of war. Not to make an example of him, nor to gratify any personal feeling, but to furnish one certain illustration of what is here asserted,

Starting point is 12:59:57 I honestly declare that Captain Claret of the Never Sink repeatedly violated this law in his own proper person. According to Article 3, no officer or other person in the Navy shall be guilty of oppression, fraud, profane swearing, drunkenness, or any other scandalous conduct. Again, let me ask you, you officers of the Navy, whether many of you have not repeatedly, and in more than one particular,

Starting point is 13:00:29 violated this law. And here, again, as a certain illustration, I must once more cite Captain Claret as an offender, especially in the matter of profane swearing. I must also cite four of the lieutenants, some eight of the midshipmen, and nearly all the seamen. Additional articles might be quoted that are habitually violated by the officers, while nearly all those exclusively referring to the sailors are unscrupulously enforced. Yet those articles by which the sailor is scourged at the gangway are not one whit more laws than those other articles, binding upon the officers that have become obsolete from immemorial disuse. while still other articles to which the sailors alone are obnoxious,

Starting point is 13:01:25 are observed or violated at the caprice of the captain. Now, if it be not so much the severity as the certainty of punishment that deters from transgression, how fatal to all proper reverence for the enactments of Congress must be this disregard of its statutes. Still more, this violation of the law, On the part of the officers, in many cases, involves oppression to the sailor. But throughout the whole naval code, which so hymns in the mariner by law upon law, and which invests a captain with so much judicial and administrative authority over him, in most cases entirely discretionary,

Starting point is 13:02:11 not one solitary clause is to be found which in any way provides means for a seaman deeming himself aggrieved to obtain redress. Indeed, both the written and unwritten laws of the American Navy are as destitute of individual guarantees to the mass of seamen as the statute book of the despotic empire of Russia. Who put this great gulf between the American captain and the American sailor? Or is the captain a creature of like passions with ourselves? Or is he an infallible archangel, incapable of the shadow of error?

Starting point is 13:02:53 Or has a sailor no mark of humanity, no attribute of manhood, that, bound hand and foot, he is cast into an American frigate shorn of all rights and defenses, while the notorious lawlessness of the commander has passed into a proverb familiar to man-of-war's men. The law was not made for the captain. Indeed, he may almost be said to put off the citizen when he touches his quarter-deck, and almost exempt from the law of the land himself, he comes down upon others with a judicial severity unknown on the national soil.

Starting point is 13:03:33 With the articles of war in one hand and the cat anine tales in the other, he stands an undignified parody upon Muhammad enforcing Muslimism with the sword. and the Koran. The concluding sections of the Articles of War treat of the naval courts martial before which officers are tried for serious offenses as well as the seaman. The oath administered to members of these courts,

Starting point is 13:04:02 which sometimes sit upon matters of life and death, explicitly enjoins that the members shall not at any time divulge the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court unless required so to do before a court of justice in due course of law. Here, then, is a council of ten, and a star chamber indeed. Remember also that though the sailor is sometimes tried for his life before a tribunal like this, in no case do his fellow sailors, his peers, form part of the court.

Starting point is 13:04:40 Yet that a man should be tried by his peers is the fundamental principle of all civilized jurisprudence. And not only tried by his peers, but his peers must be unanimous to render a verdict, whereas in a court-martial, the concurrence of a majority of conventional and social superiors is all that is requisite. In the English Navy, it is said, they had a law which authorized, the sailor to appeal, if he chose, from the decision of the captain, even in a comparatively trivial case, to the higher tribunal of a court-martial. It was an English seaman who related this to me. When I said that such a law must be a fatal clog to the exercise of the penal power in the captain, he, in substance, told me the following story.

Starting point is 13:05:37 A topman, guilty of drunkenness being sent to the gratings and the scourge about to be inflicted, he turned round and demanded a court-martial. The captain smiled and ordered him to be taken down and put into the brig. There he was kept in iron some weeks, when, despairing of being liberated, he offered to compromise at two dozen lashes. "'Sick of your bargain, then, are you?' said the captain. "'No, no, a court-martial you demanded, and a court-martial you shall have.' Being at last tried before the bar of quarter-deck officers, he was condemned to two hundred lashes.

Starting point is 13:06:23 "'What for?' "'For his having been drunk?' "'No. "'For his having had the insolence to appeal from an authority "'in maintaining which the men who tried and condemned, condemned him had so strong a sympathetic interest. Whether this story be wholly true or not, or whether the particular law involved prevails,

Starting point is 13:06:47 or ever did prevail in the English Navy, the thing nevertheless illustrates the ideas that Man of Wars men themselves have, touching the tribunals in question. What can be expected from a court whose deeds are done in the darkness of the recluse courts of the Spanish Inquisition, when that darkness is solemnized by an oath on the Bible, when an oligarchy of epaulets sits upon the bench,

Starting point is 13:07:20 and a plebeian topman, without a jury, stands judicially naked at the bar. In view of these things, and especially in view of the fact that in several cases, the degree of punishment inflicted upon a man-of-war's man is absolutely left to the discretion of the court. What shame should American legislators take to themselves that with perfect truth we may apply to the entire body of the American Man of Wars men, that infallible principle of Sir Edward Koch,

Starting point is 13:07:55 it is one of the genuine marks of servitude to have the law either concealed or precarious. But still better may we subscribe to the saying of Sir Matthew Hale in his history of the common law that the martial law, being based upon no settled principles, is in truth and reality, no law, but something indulged rather than allowed as a law. I know it may be said that the whole nature of this naval code is purposely adapted to the war exigencies of the Navy. But waiving the grave question that might be raised

Starting point is 13:08:37 concerning the moral, not judicial, lawfulness of this arbitrary code, even in time of war, be it asked why it is in force during a time of peace. The United States has now existed as a nation upward of 70 years, and in all that time the alleged necessity, for the operation of the Naval Code, in cases deemed capital, has only existed during a period of two or three years at most. Some may urge that the severest operations of the Code are tacitly made dull in time of peace, but though with respect to several of the articles this holds true, yet at any time any and all of them may be legally enforced. nor have there been wanting recent instances illustrating the spirit of this code even in cases where the letter of the code was not altogether observed.

Starting point is 13:09:39 The well-known case of a United States brig furnishes a memorable example which at any moment may be repeated. Three men, in a time of peace, were then hung at the yardarm merely because, in the captain's judgment, it became not. necessary to hang them. To this day, the question of their complete guilt is socially discussed. How shall we characterize such a deed? Says Blackstone, if anyone that hath commission of martial authority doth in time of peace hang or otherwise execute any man by color of martial law, this is murder, for it is against Magna Carta. Commentaries Section B1 and C-13 Magna Carta

Starting point is 13:10:34 We moderns who may be landsmen may justly boast of civil immunities not possessed by our forefathers, but our remoter forefathers who happen to be mariners may straighten themselves even in their ashes to think that their lawgivers were wiser and more humane in their generation than our lawgivers in ours. Compare the sea laws of our Navy with the Roman and Rhodian Ocean Ordinances. Compare them with the consulate of the sea.

Starting point is 13:11:06 Compare them with the laws of the Hansa towns. Compare them with the ancient Wisebury laws. In the last we find that they were Ocean Democrats in those days. If he strikes, he ought to receive blow for blow. Thus speak out the Wisebury laws concerning a Gothland sea captain. In final reference to all that has been said in previous chapters touching the severity and usualness of the laws of the American Navy and the large authority vested in its commanding officers,

Starting point is 13:11:43 be it here observed that White Jacket is not unaware of the fact that the responsibility of an officer commanding at sea, whether in the Merchant Service or the National Marine, is unparalleled by that of any other relation in which man may stand to man. Nor is he unmindful that both wisdom and humanity dictate that, from the peculiarity of his position, a sea officer in command should be clothed with a degree of authority and discretion it admissible in any master ashore. But at the same time, these principles, recognized by all writers on maritime law,

Starting point is 13:12:27 have undoubtedly furnished warrant for clothing modern sea commanders and naval courts martial with powers which exceed the due limits of reason and necessity. Nor is this the only instance where right and salutary principles in themselves, almost self-evident and infallible, have been advanced in justification of things which in themselves are just as self-evidently wrong and pernicious. Be it here, once and for all, understood that no sentimental and theoretic love for the common sailor,

Starting point is 13:13:03 no romantic belief in that peculiar noble-heartedness and exaggerated generosity of disposition fictitiously imputed to him in novels, and no prevailing desire to gain the reputation of being his friend have actuated me in anything I have said in any part of this work touching the gross oppression under which I know that the sailors suffer. Indifferent as to who may be the parties concerned, I but desire to see wrong things righted

Starting point is 13:13:35 and equal justice administered to all. Nor, as has been elsewhere, hinted, is the general ignorance or depravity of any race of men to be alleged as an apology for tyranny over them. On the contrary, it cannot admit of a reasonable doubt in any unbiased mind conversant with the interior life of a man of war that most of the sailor iniquities practiced therein are indirectly to be ascribed to the morally debasing effects of the unjust, despotic, rating laws under which the man of war's man lives. End of Chapter 72.

Starting point is 13:14:20 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 73 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 73

Starting point is 13:14:56 Night and Day, Gambling in a Man of War. Mention has been made that the game of droughts or checkers was permitted to be played on board the Never Sink. At the present time, while there was little or no shipwork to be done, and all hands in high spirits were sailing homeward over the warm, smooth sea of the tropics, so numerous became the players scattered about the decks that our first lieutenant used, ironically, to say that it was a pity they were not tussolated with squares of white and black marble for the express benefit and convenience of the players. Had this gentleman had his way, our checkerboards would very soon have been

Starting point is 13:15:46 pitched out of the ports. But the capital, "'Pathen, usually lenient in some things, "'permitted them, and so Mr. Bridewell was fain to hold his peace. "'But although this one game was allowable in the frigate, "'all kinds of gambling were strictly interdicted, "'under the penalty of the gangway, "'nor were cards or dice tolerated in any way whatever. "'This regulation was indispensable,

Starting point is 13:16:15 "'for, of all human beings, man-of-war's men are perhaps the most inclined to gambling. The reason must be obvious to anyone who reflects upon their condition on shipboard, and gambling, the most mischievous of vices anywhere, in a man-of-war operates still more perniciously than on shore. But quite as often as the law against smuggling spirits is transgressed by the unscrupulous sailors, the statutes against cards and dice are evaded. Sable Knight, which, since the beginning of the world,

Starting point is 13:16:55 has winked and looked on at so many deeds of iniquity, night is the time usually selected for their operations by Man of War gamblers. The place pitched upon is generally the berth deck, where the hammocks are swung, and which is lighted so stintedly as not to disturb the sleeping seamen with any obtruding glare. In so spacious an area, the two lanterns swinging from the stanchions diffuse a subdued illumination, like a night taper in the apartment of some invalid.

Starting point is 13:17:31 Owing to their position also, these lanterns are far from shedding an impartial light, however dim, but fling long angular rays here and there, like burglars dark lanterns in the 50-acre vaults of the west India docks on the Thames. It may well be imagined, therefore, how well adapted is this mysterious and subterranean hall of eblis to the clandestine proceedings of gamblers, especially as the hammocks not only hang thickly,

Starting point is 13:18:04 but many of them swing very low, within two feet of the floor, thus forming innumerable little canvas glens, grottoes, nooks, corners, and crannies, where a good deal of wickedness may be practiced by the wary with considerable impunity. Now, the master at arms, assisted by his mates, the ship's corporals, reigns supreme in these bowels of the ship. Throughout the night, these policemen relieve each other at standing guard over the premises, and, except when the watches are called, they sit in the midst of a profound silence only invaded by trumpeter's snores, or the ramblings of some old sheet-anchorman in his sleep.

Starting point is 13:18:52 The two ship's corporals went among the sailors by the names of Legs and Pounce. Pounce had been a policeman, it was said, in Liverpool. Legs, a turnkey attached to the tombs in New York. Hence their education eminently fitted them for their stations, and Bland, the man. master-at-arms, ravished with their dexterity in prying out offenders, used to call them his two right hands. When Man of War's men desire to gamble, they appoint the hour and select some certain corner in some certain shadow behind some certain hammock. They then contribute a small sum

Starting point is 13:19:38 toward a joint fund to be invested in a bribe for some Argus-eyed shipmate, who shall play the part of a spy upon the master-at-arms and corporals, while the gaming is in progress. In nine cases out of ten, these arrangements are so cunning and comprehensive that the gamblers, eluding all vigilance, conclude their game unmolested. But now and then, seduced into unwariness, or perhaps from parsimony, being unwilling to employ the services of a spy, they are suddenly lighted upon by, the constables, remorselessly collared and dragged into the brig there to await a dozen lashes in the morning. Several times at midnight I have been startled out of a sound sleep by a sudden

Starting point is 13:20:28 violent rush under my hammock, caused by the abrupt breaking up of some nest of gamblers who have scattered in all directions, brushing under the tears of swinging pallets and setting them all in a rocking commotion. It is, however, while laying in port that gambling most thrives in a man of war. Then the men frequently practice their dark deeds in the light of the day, and the additional guards which, at such times they deem indispensable, are not unworthy of note. More especially, their extra precautions in engaging the services of several spies

Starting point is 13:21:09 necessitate a considerable expenditure, so that in port, the diversion of gambling rises to the dignity of a Nabob luxury. During the day, the master at arms and his corporals are continually prowling about on all three decks, eager to spy out iniquities. At one time, for example, you see legs switching his magisterial rattan and lurking round the foremast on the spar-deckes. The next moment, perhaps, he is three decks down out of sight, prowling among the cable tiers. Just so with his master, and pounce his coadjutor, they are here, there, and everywhere seemingly gifted with ubiquity. In order successfully to carry on their proceedings by day, the gamblers must see to it that each of these constables is relentlessly dogged wherever he goes, so that, in case of his approach toward the spot where themselves are engaged,

Starting point is 13:22:16 they may be warned of the fact in time to make good their escape. Accordingly, light and active scouts are selected to follow the constable about. From their youthful alertness and activity, the boys of the mizontop are generally chosen for this purpose. But this is not all. On board of most men of war, there is a set of sly, knavish foxes among the crew, destitute of every principle of honor, and on a par with Irish informers. In Man of War parlance, they come under the denomination of fancymen and white mice. They are called fancymen because, from their zeal in craftily reporting offenders, they are

Starting point is 13:23:02 presumed to be regarded with high favor by some of the officers. Though it is seldom that these informers can be certainly individualized, so secret and subtle are they in laying their information, yet certain of the crew, and especially certain of the Marines, are invariably suspected to be fancymen and white mice, and are accordingly more or less hated by their comrades. Now, in addition to having an eye on the master at arms and his aides, The day gamblers must see to it that every person suspected of being a white mouse or fancy man is likewise dogged wherever he goes.

Starting point is 13:23:45 Additional scouts are retained constantly to snuff at their trail, but the mysteries of Man of War vice are wonderful. And it is now to be recorded that from long habit and observation and familiarity with the Guardo moves and maneuvers of a frigate, the mastered arms and his aides can almost invariably tell when any gambling is going on by day. Though in the crowded vessel, abounding in decks, tops, dark places, and outlandish corners of all sorts, they may not be able to pounce upon the identical spot where the gamblers are hidden. During the period that Bland was suspended from his office as mastered arms, a person who, among the sailors went by the name of sneak, having been long suspected to have been a white mouse, was put in Bland's place. He proved a hang dog, sidelong catch thief, but gifted with a marvelous

Starting point is 13:24:49 perseverance in ferreting out culprits, following in their track like an inevitable Cuba bloodhound with his noiseless nose. When disconcerted, however, you sometimes heard his bay, "'The muffled dice are somewhere around,' Sneak would say to his aides. "'There are them three chaps there, been dogging me about for the last half-hour. "'I say, Pounce, has anyone been scouting around you this morning?' "'Four on them,' says Pounce. "'I knowed it. I knowed the muffled dice was rattling.' "'Legs?' says the master at arms to his other aide.

Starting point is 13:25:30 "'Legs? How was it with you?' "'Any spies?' "'Tan on them,' says legs. "'There's one on them now, that fellow stitching a hat.' "'Hello you, sir,' cried the master at arms. "'Top your boom and sail large now. "'If I see you about me again, I'll have you up to the mast.' "'What am I doing now?' says the hat-stitcher,

Starting point is 13:25:55 "'with a face as long as a rope walk. "'Can a feller be working here without being inspected "'a Tom Cox's traverse, up one last, and down the other? Oh, I know the moves, sir. I have been on board a guard, though. Top your boom, I say, and be off, or I'll have you hauled up and riveted in a clinch,

Starting point is 13:26:15 both four tacks over the main yard and no bloody knife to cut the seizing. Shear, or I'll pitch into you like a shen of beef into a beggar's wallet. It is often observable that, in vessels of all kinds, the men who talk the most sailor lingo are the least sailor-like in reality. You may sometimes hear even Marines jerk out more salt phrases than the captain of the forecastle himself. On the other hand, when not actively engaged in his vocation, you would take the best specimen of a seaman for a landsman. When you see a fellow yawning about the docks like a homeward-bound Indianman,

Starting point is 13:26:58 a long commodore's penned of black ribbon flying from his masthead, and fetching up at a grog-shop with a slew of his hull, as if an admiral were coming alongside a three-decker in his barge. You may put that man down for what man-of-war's men call a damn my eyes tar. That is, a humbug. And many damn my eyes humbugs there are in this man-of-war world of ours. End of Chapter 73.

Starting point is 13:27:31 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 74 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Liebervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War By Herman Melville

Starting point is 13:28:07 Chapter 74 The Main Top at Night The whole of our run from Rio to the line was one delightful yachting so far as fine weather and the ship's sailing were concerned It was especially pleasant when our quarter watch lounged in the main top diverting ourselves in many agreeable ways.

Starting point is 13:28:35 Removed from the immediate presence of the officers, we there harmlessly enjoyed ourselves more than in any other part of the ship. By day, many of us were very industrious, making hats or mending our clothes. But by night we became more romantically inclined. Often Jack Chase, an enthusiastic admirer of sea, scenery would direct our attention to the moonlight on the waves by fine snatches from his

Starting point is 13:29:07 catalogue of poets. I shall never forget the lyric air, with which one morning, at dawn of day, when all the east was flushed with red and gold, he stood leaning against the top-mast shrouds, and stretching his bold hand over the sea, exclaimed, Here comes Aurora, top-mates, see? and in a liquid long-lingering tone he recited the lines. With gentle hand, as seeming oft to pause, the purple curtains of the morn she draws.

Starting point is 13:29:46 Commodore Camoen's white jacket, but bear a hand there we must rig out that stunsel boom, the wind is shifting. From our lofty perch of a moonlight night, the frigate itself was a glorious sight. She was going large before the wind. Her stunsles set on both sides so that the canvas on the main mast and foremast

Starting point is 13:30:09 presented the appearance of majestic tapering pyramids more than a hundred feet broad at the base and terminating in the clouds with the light copestone of the royals. That immense area of snow-white canvas sliding along the sea was indeed a magnificent, spectacle. The three shrouded masts looked like the apparitions of three gigantic Turkish emirs striding over the ocean. Nor, at times, was the sound of music wanting to augment the poetry of the scene. The whole band would be assembled on the poop, regaling the officers

Starting point is 13:30:50 and incidentally ourselves with their fine old airs. To these, some of us would occasionally dance in the top, which was almost as large as an ordinary-sized parlor. When the instrumental melody of the band was not to be had, our nightingales mustered their voices and gave us a song. Upon these occasions, Jack Chase was often called out and regaled us in his own free and noble style, with the Spanish ladies, a favorite thing with British Man of Warsmen, and many other salt sea ballads and ditties, including Sir Patrick Spence was the best sailor that ever sailed the sea. Also, and three times around spun our gallant ship,

Starting point is 13:31:38 three times around spun she, three times around spun our gallant ship, and she went to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea, the sea, and she went to the bottom of the sea. These songs would be varied by sundry yarns and twisters of the top men, and it was at these times that I always endeavored to draw out the oldest tritons into narratives of the war service they had seen. There were but few of them, it is true, who had been in action,

Starting point is 13:32:12 but that only made their narratives the more valuable. There was an old negro who went by the name of Tawny, a sheet anchorman, whom we often invited into our top of tranquil knights, to hear him discourse. He was a staid and sober seaman, very intelligent with a fine, frank bearing, one of the best men in the ship, and held in high estimation by everyone.

Starting point is 13:32:39 It seems that during the last war between England and America, he had, with several others, been impressed upon the high seas out of a New England merchantman. The ship that impressed him was an English frigate, the Macedonian, afterward taken by the Neversink, the ship in which we were sailing. It was the Holy Sabbath, according to Tawney, and as the Britain bore down on the American, her men at their quarters, Tani and his countrymen, who happened to be stationed at the quarter-deck battery, respectfully accosted the captain, an old man by the name of Carden, as he passed

Starting point is 13:33:20 him in his rapid promenade, his spyglass under his arm. Again, they assured him that they were not Englishmen, and that it was a most bitter thing to lift their hands against the flag of that country which harbored the mothers that bore them. They conjured him to release them from their guns, and allowed them to remain neutral during the conflict. But when a ship of any nation is running into action, it is no time for argument,

Starting point is 13:33:49 small time for justice, and not much time for humanity. snatching a pistol from the belt of a border standing by, the captain leveled it at the heads of the three sailors and commanded them instantly to their quarters, under penalty of being shot on the spot. So, side by side with his country's foes, Tani and his companions toiled at the guns and fought out the fight to the last,

Starting point is 13:34:16 with the exception of one of them who was killed at his post by one of his own country's balls. at length having lost her four and main-top masts and her mizzen mast having been shot away to the deck and her four-yard lying in two pieces on her shattered forecastle and in a hundred places having been hulled with round shot the english frigate was reduced to the last extremity captain cardin ordered his signal quartermaster to strike the flag tawny was one of those who as a last helped pull him on board the Never Sink. As he touched the deck, Cardin saluted Decatur, the hostile commander, and offered his sword, but it was courteously declined. Perhaps the victor remembered the dinner parties that he and the Englishmen had enjoyed together in Norfolk, just previous to the breaking out of hostilities, and while both were in command

Starting point is 13:35:18 of the very frigates now crippled on the sea. The Macedonian, it seems, had gone into Norfolk with dispatches. Then they had laughed and joked over their wine, and a wager of a beaver hat was said to have been made between them upon the event of the hostile meeting of their ships. Gazing upon the heavy batteries before him, Cardin said to Decatur, This is a 74, not a frigate.

Starting point is 13:35:47 No wonder the day is yours. This remark was founded upon the Never Sink's superiority in guns. The Never Sink's main deck batteries then consisted, as now, of 24-pounders, the Macedonians of only 18s. In all, the Never-Sink numbered 54 guns and 450 men, the Macedonian, 49 guns, and 300 men, A very great disparity, which, united to the other circumstances of this action, deprives the victory of all claims to glory beyond those that might be set up by a river horse getting the better of a seal. But if Taney spoke truth, and he was a truth-telling man,

Starting point is 13:36:35 this fact seemed counterbalanced by a circumstance he related. When the guns of the Englishmen were examined after the engagement, in more than one instance the wad was found rammed against the cartridge without intercepting the ball. And though in a frantic sea fight such a thing might be imputed to hurry and remissness, yet Tawney, a stickler for his tribe, always ascribed it to quite a different and less honorable cause. But even granting the cause he assigned to have been the true one, it does not involve anything inimical to the general, valor displayed by the British crew.

Starting point is 13:37:17 Yet from all that may be learned from candid persons who have been in sea fights, there can be but little doubt that on board of all ships of whatever nation, in time of action, no very small number of the men are exceedingly nervous, to say the least, at the guns, ramming and sponging at a venture. And what special patriotic interest could an impressed man, for instance, take in a fight into which he had been dragged from the arms of his wife. Or is it to be wondered at, that impressed English seamen have not scrupled in time of war

Starting point is 13:37:54 to cripple the arm that has enslaved them? During the same general war which prevailed at and previous to the period of the frigate action here spoken of, a British flag officer, in writing to the Admiralty, said, everything appears to be quiet in the fleet. but, in preparing for battle last week, several of the guns in the after part of the ship were found to be spiked, that is to say, rendered useless. Who had spiked them?

Starting point is 13:38:25 The dissatisfied seaman? Is it altogether improbable then that the guns to which Tawny referred were manned by men who purposely refrained from making them tell on the foe, that in this one action, the vizabeth, the vowsy. victory America gained was partly won for her by the sulky insubordination of the enemy himself. During this same period of general war, it was frequently the case that the guns of English armed ships were found in the mornings with their breachings cut overnight. This maiming of the guns, and for the time incapacitating them, was only to be imputed to that

Starting point is 13:39:08 secret spirit of hatred to the service which induced the spiking above referred to. But even in cases where no deep-seated dissatisfaction was presumed to prevail among the crew, and where a seaman in time of action impelled by pure fear shirked from his gun, it seems but flying in the face of him, who made such a seaman what he constitutionally was, to sow coward upon his back, and degrade and agonize the already trembling, rich and numberless other ways. Nor seems it a practice warranted by the sermon on the mount for the officer of a battery, in time of battle,

Starting point is 13:39:51 to stand over the men with his drawn sword, as was done in the Macedonian, and run through on the spot the first seaman who showed a semblance of fear. Tawny told me that he distinctly heard this order given by the English captain to his officers of divisions. Were the secret history of all sea fights written, the laurels of sea heroes would turn to ashes on their brows. And how nationally disgraceful in every conceivable point of view is the fourth of our American Articles of War. If any person in the Navy shall pusillanimously cry for quarter, he shall suffer death. Thus, with death before his face from the foe, and death behind his back from his countrymen, the best valor of a man-of-war's man can never assume the merit of a noble spontaneousness.

Starting point is 13:40:49 In this, as in every other case, the articles of war hold out no reward for good conduct, but only compel the sailor to fight like a hired murderer for his pay by digging his grave before his eyes if he hesitates. But this Article 4 is open to still graver objections. Courage is the most common and vulgar of the virtues, the only one shared with us by the beasts of the field, the one most apt by excess to run into viciousness. and since nature generally takes away with one hand

Starting point is 13:41:28 to counterbalance her gifts with the other, excessive animal courage, in many cases, only finds room in a character vacated of loftier things. But in a naval officer, animal courage is exalted to the loftiest merit and often procures him a distinguished command. Hence, if some brainless bravo be captain of a frigate in action, he may fight her against invincible odds and seek to crown himself with the glory of the shambles

Starting point is 13:42:00 by permitting his hopeless crew to be butchered before his eyes, while at the same time that crew must consent to be slaughtered by the foe, under penalty of being murdered by the law. Look at the engagement between the American frigate Essex with the two English cruisers, the Phoebe and Cherub, off the bay of Valparaiso during the late war. It is admitted on all hands that the American captain continued to fight his crippled ship against a greatly superior force. And when, at last, it became physically impossible that he could ever be otherwise than vanquished in the end,

Starting point is 13:42:40 and when, from peculiarly unfortunate circumstances, his men merely stood up to their nearly useless batteries to be dismembered and blown to pieces by the incessant fire of the enemy's long guns. nor by thus continuing to fight did this American frigate won Iota promote the true interests of her country. I seek not to underrate any reputation which the American captain may have gained by this battle. He was a brave man. That no sailor will deny. But the whole world is made up of brave men. Yet I would not be at all understood as impugning his special good name. nevertheless it is not to be doubted that if there were any common-sense sailors at the guns of the Essex however valiant they may have been those common-sense sailors must have greatly preferred to strike their flag when they saw the day was fairly lost then postpone that inevitable act till there were few american arms left to assist in hauling it down yet had these men under these circumstances pucealanimously cried for quarter by the fourth article of war, they might have been legally hung.

Starting point is 13:44:00 According to the Negro Tawny, when the captain of the Macedonian, seeing that the Never Sink had his vessel completely in her power, gave the word to strike the flag, one of his officers, a man hated by the seamen for his tyranny, howled out the most terrific remonstrances, swearing that for his part he would not give up, but was for sinking the Macedonian alongside the enemy. Had he been captain, doubtless he would have done so,

Starting point is 13:44:30 thereby gaining the name of a hero in his world, but what would they have called him in the next? But as the whole matter of war is a thing that smites common sense and Christianity in the face, so everything connected with it is utterly foolish, un-Christian, barbarous, brutal, and savoring of the Fiji Islands, cannibalism, salt Peter, and the devil.

Starting point is 13:44:58 It is generally the case in a man of war when she strikes her flag that all discipline is at an end, and the men for a time are ungovernable. This was so on board of the English frigate. The spirit room was broken open, and buckets of grog were passed along the decks, where many of the wounded were lying between the,

Starting point is 13:45:21 guns. These mariners seized the buckets, and, spite of all remonstrances, gulp down the burning spirits, till, as Tani said, the blood suddenly spurted out of their wounds, and they fell dead to the deck. The Negro had many more stories to tell of this fight, and frequently he would escort me along our main deck batteries, still mounting the same guns used in the battle, pointing out their ineffaceable indentations in scars. Coded over with the accumulated paint of more than 30 years, they were almost invisible to a casual eye, but Taney knew them all by heart, for he had returned home in the Never Sink and had beheld these scars shortly after the engagement.

Starting point is 13:46:11 One afternoon I was walking with him along the gun deck, when he paused abreast of the mainmast. This part of the ship, said he, we called the slaughterhouse on board the Macedonian. Here the men fell five and six at a time. An enemy always directs its shot here in order to hurl over the mast, if possible. The beams and carlines overhead in the Macedonian slaughterhouse were spattered with blood and brains. About the hatchways, it looked like a butcher's stall, bits of human. flesh sticking in the ring bolts. A pig that ran about the decks escaped unharmed, but his hide was so clotted with blood from rooting among the pools of gore that when the ship

Starting point is 13:47:00 struck, the sailors hoved the animal overboard, swearing that it would be rank cannibalism to eat him. Another quadruped, a goat, lost its forelegs in this fight. The sailors who were killed, according to the usual custom, were ordered to be thrown overboard as soon as they fell, no doubt, as the Negro said, that the sight of so many corpses lying around might not appall the survivors at the guns. Among other instances, he related the following. A shot entering one of the portholes dashed dead two-thirds of a gun's crew, the captain of the next gun dropping his lockstring, which he had just pulled, turned over the heap of bodies to see who they were. When perceiving an old messmate who had sailed with him in many cruises, he burst into tears,

Starting point is 13:47:56 and, taking the corpse up in his arms, and going with it to the side, held it over the water a moment, and eyeing it, cried, O God, Tom, blank, blank your prayers over that thing. "'Overboard with it, and down to your gun,' roared a wounded lieutenant. The order was obeyed, and the heart-stricken sailor returned to his post. Tani's recitals were enough to snap this man-of-war world's sword in its scabbard. And thinking of all the cruel, carnal glory wrought out by naval heroes in scenes like these, I asked myself whether, indeed, that was a glorious coffin in which Lord Nelson was entombed. A coffin presented to him during life by Captain Hollowell.

Starting point is 13:48:47 It had been dug out of the main most of the French line of battleship L'Oriand, which, burning up with British fire, destroyed hundreds of Frenchmen at the Battle of the Nile. Peace to Lord Nelson where he sleeps in his moldering mast, but rather would I be earned in the trunk of some green tree, and even in death have the vital sap circulating round me, giving of my dead body to the living foliage that shaded my peaceful tomb. End of Chapter 74. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 13:49:31 Chapter 75 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 75. Sink, Burn, and Destroy Printed Admiralty Orders in Time of War Among innumerable yarns and twisters reeled off in our main top during our pleasant run to the north,

Starting point is 13:50:18 none could match those of Jack Chase, our captain. Never was their better company than ever-glorious Jack, the things which most men only read of or dream about, he had seen and experienced. He had been a dashing smuggler in his day, and could tell of a long nine-pounder rammed home with wads of French silks, of cartridges stuffed with the finest gunpowder tea, of canister shot full of West India sweetmeats,

Starting point is 13:50:52 of sailor frocks and trousers quilted inside with costly laces, and table legs, hollow as musket barrels, compactly stowed with rare drugs and spices. He could tell of a wicked widow, too, a beautiful receiver of smuggled goods upon the English coast, who smiled so sweetly upon the smugglers when they sold her silks and laces, cheap as tape and gingams, she called them gallant fellows, hearts of game, and bade them bring her more. He could tell of desperate fights with his British Majesty's cutters in midnight coves upon a stormy coast,

Starting point is 13:51:33 of the capture of a reckless band and their being drafted on board a man of war, of their swearing that their chief was slain, of a writ of habeas corpus sent on board for one of them for a debt, a reserved and handsome man, and his going ashore strongly suspected of being the slaughtered captain, and this a successful scheme for his escape. But more than all, Jack could tell of the Battle of Navarino, for he had been a captain of one of the main deck guns on board Admiral Codrington's flagship, the Asia.

Starting point is 13:52:12 Were mine the style of stout old Chapman's Homer, even then I would scarce venture to give noble Jackson version of this fight, wherein, on the 20th of October, AD 1827, 32 sail of Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Russians, attacked and vanquished in the Levant, an Ottoman fleet of three ships of the line, 25 frigates, and a swarm of fire-ships and hornet craft. We bade to be at them, said Jack, and when we did open fire, we were like dolphin among the flying fish. Every man take his bird was the cry when we trained our guns. And those guns all smoked like rows of Dutch pipe bowls, my hearty, my guns crew carried small flags in their bosoms

Starting point is 13:53:03 to nail to the mast in case the ship's colors were shot away. Stripped to the waistbands, we fought like skin tigers and bowled down the Turkish frigates like nine pins. Among their shrouds, swarming thick with small armed men, like flights of pigeons lighted on pine trees, our marines sent their leaden peas and gooseberries like a shower of hailstones in Labrador. It was a stormy time, my hearties.

Starting point is 13:53:32 The blasted Turks pitched into the old Asia's hull a whole quarry of marble shot, each ball 150 pounds. They knocked three portholes into one. But we gave them better than they sent up. Up and at them, my bulldog, said I, patting my gun on the breach, tear open hatchways in their Muslim sides. White Jacket, my lad, you ought to have been there. The bay was covered with masts and yards As I have seen a raft of snags in the Arkansas River Showers of burned rice and olives

Starting point is 13:54:08 From the exploding foe fell upon us like mana in the wilderness Allah Allah Muhammad Split the air Some cried it out from the Turkish portholes Others shrieked it forth from the drowning waters Their top-nots floating on their shaven skulls like black snakes on half-tied rocks. By those top-nots, they believed that their prophet would drag them up to paradise,

Starting point is 13:54:36 but they sank fifty fathoms, my hearties, to the bottom of the bay. Ain't the bloody homitons going to strike yet, cried my first loader, a Guernseyman thrusting his neck out of the porthole, and looking at the Turkish line of battleship nearby. That instant his head blew by me, like a bursting pazar, shot, and the flag of Neb Knowles himself was hauled down forever. We dragged his hull to one side, and avenged him with the Cooper's anvil, which, endways, we rammed home, a messmate shoved in the dead men's bloody Scotch cap for the

Starting point is 13:55:15 wad, and sent it flying into the line of battleship. By the god of war, boys, we hardly left enough of that craft to boil a pot of water with. It was a hard day's work. A sad day's work, my hearties. That night, when all was over, I slept sound enough with a box of canister shot for my pillow. But you ought to have seen the boatload of Turkish flags one of our captains carried home.

Starting point is 13:55:45 He swore to dress his father's orchard in colors with them, just as our spars are dressed for a gala day. Though you tormented the Turks at Navarino, Noble Jack, yet you come off yourself with only the loss of a splinter, it seems, said a topman glancing at our captain's maimed hand. Yes, but I and one of the lieutenants had a narrower escape than that. A shot struck the side of my porthole and sent the splinters right and left. One took off my hat-rim, clean to my brow.

Starting point is 13:56:19 Another raised the lieutenant's left boot by slicing off the heel. A third shot killed my powder monkey without touching him. How, Jack? It whizzed the poor babe dead. He was seated on a cheese of wads at the time, and after the dust of the powdered bulwarks had blown away, I noticed he yet sat still, his eyes wide open. My little hero, cried I, and I clapped him on the back.

Starting point is 13:56:49 but he fell on his face at my feet. I touched his heart and found he was dead. There was not a little finger mark on him. Silence now fell upon the listeners for a time, broken at last by the second captain of the top. Noble Jack, I know you never brag, but tell us what you did yourself that day. Why, my hearties, I did not do quite as much as my gun,

Starting point is 13:57:19 but I flatter myself, it was. was that gun that brought down the Turkish admiral's mainmast, and the stump left wasn't long enough to make a wooden leg for Lord Nelson. How? But I thought, by the way, you pull a lockstring on board here and look along the sight that you can steer a shot about right, hey, Jack? It was the admiral of the fleet, God Almighty, who directed the shot that dismasted the Turkish admiral, said Jack. I only pointed the gun. But how did you feel, Jack, when the musket ball carried away one of your hooks there? Feel? Only a finger the lighter.

Starting point is 13:58:00 I have seven more left, besides thumbs, and they did good service, too, in the torn rigging the day after the fight. For you must know, my hearties, that the hardest work comes after the guns are run in. Three days I helped work with one hand in the rigging, in the same trousers that I wore in the action. and the blood had dried and stiffened. They looked like glazed red Morocco. Now, this Jack Chase had a heart in him, like a Mastodon's. I have seen him weep when a man has been flogged at the gangway. Yet, in relating the story of the Battle of Navarino,

Starting point is 13:58:38 he plainly showed that he held the God of the Blessed Bible to have been the British Commodore in the Levant on the bloody 20th of October, AD 1827, and thus it would seem that war almost makes blasphemers of the best of men, and brings them all down to the Fiji standard of humanity. Some man-of-war's men have confessed to me that, as a battle has raged more and more, their hearts have hardened in infernal harmony,

Starting point is 13:59:09 and, like their own guns, they have fought without a thought. soldier or sailor, the fighting man is but a fiend, and the staff and bodyguard of the devil musters minibaton. But war at times is inevitable. Must the national honor be trampled underfoot by an insolent foe? Say on, say on, but know you this, and lay it to heart, war-voting bench of bishops, that he, on whom we believe, himself has enjoined us to turn the left cheek if the right be smitten.

Starting point is 13:59:50 Never mind what follows. That passage you cannot expunge from the Bible. That passage is as binding upon us as any other. That passage embodies the soul and substance of the Christian faith. Without it, Christianity were like any other faith. faith. And that passage will yet, by the blessing of God, turn the world. But in some things, we must turn Quakers first. But though unlike most scenes of carnage, which have proved useless murders of men, Admiral Codrington's victory undoubtedly achieved the emancipation of Greece

Starting point is 14:00:32 and terminated the Turkish atrocities in that tomahawked state, yet who shall lift his hand and swear that a divine providence led the van of the combined fleets of England, France, and Russia at the Battle of Navarino. For if this be so, then it led the van against the church's own elect, the persecuted Waldenses of Switzerland, and kindled the Smithfield fires in Bloody Mary's time. But all events are mixed in a fusion indistinguishable. What we call fate is even heartless.

Starting point is 14:01:09 and impartial, not a fiend to kindle bigot flames, nor a philanthropist to espouse the cause of Greece. We may fret, fume, and fight, but the thing called fate everlastingly sustains an armed neutrality. Yet, though all this be so, nevertheless, in our own hearts, we mold the whole world's hereafter's. and in our own hearts we fashion our own gods. Each mortal casts his vote for whom he will to rule the worlds. I have a voice that helps to shape eternity, and my volitions stir the orbits of the furthest suns. In two senses we are precisely what we worship.

Starting point is 14:02:00 Our selves are fate. End of Chapter 75 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista Chapter 76 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 14:02:37 Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 76 The Chains When wearied with the tumult and occasional contention of the gun-deck of our frigate, I have often retreated to a porthole and calmed myself down by gazing broad off upon a placid sea. After the battle den of the last two chapters, let us now do the like, and, in the sequestered four chains of the Never Sink, tranquilize ourselves if we may.

Starting point is 14:03:14 Notwithstanding the domestic communism to which the seaman in a man of war are condemned, and the publicity in which actions the most diffident and retiring in their nature must be performed, there is yet an odd corner or two where you may sometimes steal away, and, for a few moments, almost be private. chief among these places is the chains to which i would sometimes high during our pleasant homeward bound glide over those pensive tropical latitudes

Starting point is 14:03:48 after hearing my fill of the wild yarns of our top here would i recline if not disturbed serenely concocting information into wisdom the chains designates the small platform outside of the hall at the base of the large shrouds leading down from the three mast-heads to the bulwarks at present they seem to be getting out of vogue among merchant vessels along with the fine old-fashioned quarter galleries little turret-like appurtenances which in the days of the old admirals set off the angles of an armed ship's stern here a naval officer might lounge away an hour after action smoking a cigar to drive out of his whiskers the villainous smoke of the gunpowder the picturesque delightful stern gallery also a broad balcony overhanging the sea and entered from the captain's cabin much as you might enter a bower from a lady's chamber this charming balcony where sailing over summer seas in the days of the old peruvian vice-rower the Spanish Cavalier Mendana of Lima made love to the Lady Isabella as they voyaged in quest of the Solomon Islands, the fabulous Ophir, the Grand Cyclades. And the Lady Isabella at sunset blushed like the Orient and gazed down to the goldfish and silver-hued flying fish that wove the woof and warp of their wakes in bright scaly tartans and plads underneath where the lady reclined. This charming balcony, exquisite retreat, has been cut away by Vandalic innovations.

Starting point is 14:05:35 I, that claw-footed old gallery, is no longer in fashion. In Commodore's eyes, is no longer genteel. Out on all furniture fashions but those that are past, Give me my grandfather's old armchair planted upon four carved frogs, as the Hindus fabled the world to be supported upon four tortoises. Give me his cane with the gold-loaded top, a cane that, like the musket of General Washington's father and the broad sword of William Wallace,

Starting point is 14:06:09 would break down the back of the switch-carrying dandies of these spindle-shank days. Give me his broad-breasted vest, coming bravely down over the hips and furnished with two strong boxes of pockets to keep guineas in. Toss this toppling cylinder of a beaver overboard and give me my grandfather's gallant, gable-ended, cocked hat.

Starting point is 14:06:35 But though the quarter galleries and the stern gallery of a man-of-war are departed, yet the chains still linger. Nor can there be imagined a more agreeable retreat. The huge blocks and lanyards forming the pedestals of the shrouds divide the chains into numerous little chapels, alcoves, niches, and altars, where you lazily lounge outside of the ship, though on board.

Starting point is 14:07:03 But there are plenty to divide a good thing with you in this man-of-war world? Often, when snugly seated in one of these little alcoves, gazing off to the horizon and thinking of cathay, I have been startled from my repose by some old quarter-gunner, who, having newly painted a parcel of match-tubs, wanted to set them to dry. At other times, one of the tattooing artists would crawl over the bulwarks, followed by his sitter, and then a bare arm or leg would be extended, and the disagreeable business of pricking commence, right under my eyes.

Starting point is 14:07:42 Or an eruption of tars with ditty-bags or sea-reticles, and piles of old trousers to mend, would break in upon my seclusion and, forming a sewing circle, drive me off with their chatter. But once, it was a Sunday afternoon, I was pleasantly reclining in a particularly shady and secluded little niche between two lanyards when I heard a low, supplicating voice. Peeping through the narrow space between the ropes, I perceived an aged seaman on his knees. His face turned seaward, with closed eyes, buried in prayer. Softly rising, I stole through a porthole and left the venerable worshiper alone. He was a sheet-anchorman, an earnest Baptist, and was well known in his own part of the ship

Starting point is 14:08:34 to be constant in his solitary devotions in the chains. He reminded me of St. Anthony going out into the wilderness to pray. This man was captain of the starboard bow-chaser, one of the two long 24-pounders on the forecastle. In time of action, the command of that iron thalaba the destroyer would devolve upon him. It would be his business to train it properly, to see it well loaded. The grape and canister rammed home, also to prick the cartridge, take the sight, and give the word for the matchman to apply his wand, bidding a sudden hell to flash forth from the muzzle in wide combustion and death. Now, this captain of the bow-chaser was an upright old man, a sincere, humble believer,

Starting point is 14:09:28 and he but earned his bread in being captain of that gun. But how, with those hands of his begrimed with powder, could he break that other, and most peaceful and penitent bread of the supper? Though in that hollowed sacrament, it seemed, he had often partaken ashore. The omission of this right in a man-of-war, though there is a chaplain to preside over it, and at least a few communicants to partake, must be ascribed to a sense of religious propriety in the last degree to be commended. Ah, the best righteousness of our man-of-war world seems but an unrealized ideal, after all.

Starting point is 14:10:12 And those maxims which, in the hope of bringing about a millennium, we busily teach to the heathen, we Christians ourselves disregard. In view of the whole present social framework of our world, so ill adapted to the practical adoption of the meekness of Christianity, there seems almost some ground for the thought that although our blessed Savior was full of the wisdom of heaven, yet his gospel seems lacking in the practical wisdom of earth. In a due appreciation of the necessities of nations,

Starting point is 14:10:46 at times demanding bloody massacres and wars, in a proper estimation of the value of rank, title, and money. But all this only the more crowns the divine consistency of Jesus, since Burnett and the best theologians demonstrate that his nature was not merely human, was not that of a mere man of the world. End of Chapter 76, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 14:11:17 Chapter 77 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 77 The hospital in a man of war After running with a fine steady breeze up to the line It fell calm and there we lay

Starting point is 14:12:03 Three days enchanted on the sea We were a most puissant man of war No doubt with our 500 men Commodore and captain Backed by our long batteries of 32 and 24-pounders Yet for all that There we lay rocking helpless as an infant in the cradle.

Starting point is 14:12:26 Had it only been a gale instead of a calm, gladly would we have charged upon it with our gallant bow-sprit, as with a stout lance in rest. But, as with mankind, this serene, passive foe, unresisting and irresistible, lived it out, unconquered to the last. All these three days the heat was excessive. The sun drew the tar from the seams

Starting point is 14:12:52 of the ship, the awnings were spread for and aft, the decks were kept constantly sprinkled with water. It was during this period that a sad event occurred, though not an unusual one on shipboard. But in order to prepare for its narration, some account of a part of the ship called the SICBae must needs be presented. The SICBae is that part of a man-of-war where the invalid seamen are placed, in many respects it answers to a public hospital ashore, as with most frigates the sick bay of the never sink was on the birth deck, the third deck from above. It was in the extreme forward part of that deck, embracing the triangular area in the bows of the ship. It was, therefore, a subterranean vault into which scarce array of heaven's glad light ever penetrated even at noon. In a sea-going,

Starting point is 14:13:53 frigate that has all her armament and stores on board, the floor of the berth deck is partly below the surface of the water. But in a smooth harbor, some circulation of air is maintained by opening large auger holes in the upper portion of the sides called airports, not much above the water level. Before going to see, however, these airports must be closed, cocked, and the seams hermetically sealed with pitch. These places for ventilation being shut, the sick bay is entirely barred against the free natural admission of fresh air. In the never sink, a few lungs full were forced down by artificial means. But as the ordinary wind sail was the only method adopted, the quantity of fresh air

Starting point is 14:14:43 sent down was regulated by the force of the wind. In a calm, there was none to be had, while in a severe gale the wind-sail had to be hauled up on account of the violent draft flowing full upon the cuts of the sick. An open-work partition divided our sick-bay from the rest of the deck where the hammocks of the watch were slung. It, therefore, was exposed to all the uproar that ensued upon the watches being relieved. An official, called the surgeon's steward, assisted by subordinates, presided over. over the place. He was the same individual alluded to as officiating at the amputation of the topman. He was always to be found at his post by night and by day. This surgeon's steward deserves a description. He was a small, pale, hollow-eyed young man with that peculiar Lazarus-like expression

Starting point is 14:15:44 so often noticed in hospital attendance. Seldom, or never did you see him on deck, and when he did emerge into the light of the sun, it was with an abashed look and an uneasy winking eye. The sun was not made for him. His nervous organization was confounded by the sight of the robust old sea dogs on the forecastle and the general tumult of the spar deck, and he mostly buried himself below in an atmosphere which long habit had made congenial. This young man never indulged in frivolous conversation.

Starting point is 14:16:23 He only talked of the surgeon's prescriptions. His every word was abolis. He never was known to smile, nor did he even look sober in the ordinary way, but his countenance ever wore an aspect of cadaverous resignation to his fate. Strange that so many of those who would fain minister to our own health should look so much like invalids themselves. Connected with the sick bay, over which the surgeon's steward presided, but removed from it in place, being next door to the counting room of the purser's steward,

Starting point is 14:16:59 was a regular apothecary shop, of which he kept the key. It was fitted up precisely like an apothecaries on shore, displaying tiers of shelves on all four sides filled with green bottles and gallipotel. Hewats. Beneath were multitudinous drawers bearing incomprehensible gilded inscriptions in abbreviated Latin. He generally opened his shop for an hour or two every morning and evening. There was a Venetian blind in the upper part of the door, which he threw up when inside, so as to admit a little air. And there you would see him, with a green shade over his eyes, seated on a stool and pounding his pestle in a great iron mortar that looked like a howitzer

Starting point is 14:17:47 mixing some jallopy compound. A smoky lamp shed a flickering yellow fever tinge upon his pallid face and the closely packed regiments of gallopots. Several times when I felt in need of a little medicine but was not ill enough to report myself to the surgeon at his levees, I would call of a morning upon his steward at the sign of the mortar and beg him to give me what I wanted. When, without speaking a word, this cadaverous young man would mix me my potion in a ten cup and handed out through the little opening in his door, like the boxed-up treasurer giving you your change at the ticket office of a theater. But there was a little shelf against the wall of the door, and upon this I would set the

Starting point is 14:18:37 10 cup for a while and survey it. For I never was a Julius Caesar at taking medicine, and to take it in this way without a single attempt at disguising it, with no counteracting little morsel to hurry down after it, in short, to go to the very apothecaries in person, and there, at the counter, swallow down your dose as if it were a nice mint julep taken at the bar of a hotel. This was a bitter bolus indeed. But then this pallid young apothecary charged nothing for it, and that was no small satisfaction, for is it not remarkable to say the least, that a sure apothecary should actually charge you money, round dollars and cents, for giving you a horrible nausea? My ten cup would wait a long time on that little shelf, yet pills, as the sailors called him,

Starting point is 14:19:32 never heeded my lingering, but in sober silent sadness continued pounding his mortar or folding up his powders, until at last some other customer would appear, and then in a sudden frenzy of resolution, I would gulp down my sherry cobbler and carry its unspeakable flavor with me far up into the frigate's main top. I do not know whether it was the wide roll of the ship, as felt in that giddy perch, that occasioned it, but I always got seasick after taking medicine and going aloft with it. Seldom or never did it do me any lasting good. Now, the surgeon steward was only a subordinate of surgeon cuticle himself, who lived in the wardroom among the lieutenants, sailing master, chaplain, and purser.

Starting point is 14:20:23 The surgeon is, by law, charged with the business of overlooking the general sanitary affairs of the ship. If anything is going on in any of its departments which he judges to be detrimental to the healthfulness of the crew, he has a right to protest against it formally to the captain. When a man is being scourged at the gangway, the surgeon stands by, and if he thinks that the punishment is becoming more than the culprit's constitution can well bear, he has a right to interfere and demand its cessation for the time. But though the Navy regulations nominally vest him with this high discretionary authority over the very Commodore himself, how seldom does he exercise it in cases where humanity demands it?

Starting point is 14:21:13 Three years is a long time to spend in one ship, and to be at swords points with its captain and lieutenants during such a period, must be very unsocial and every way irksome. No otherwise than thus, at least, can the remissness of some surgeons in remonstrating against cruelty be accounted for. Not to speak again of the continual dampness of the decks, consequent upon flooding them with saltwater, when we were driving near to Cape Horn, it needs only to be mentioned that, on board of the never sink, men known to be in consumptions, gasped under the scourge of the bosons mate, when the surgeon and his two attendants stood by and never interposed. But where the unscrupulousness of martial discipline is maintained, it is in vain to attempt softening its rigor by the ordaining of humanitarian laws.

Starting point is 14:22:10 Sooner might you tame the grizzly bear of Missouri than humanize a thing so essentially cruel and heartless. But the surgeon has yet other duties to perform. Not a seaman enters the Navy. without undergoing a corporal examination to test his soundness in wind and limb. One of the first places into which I was introduced when I first entered on board the Never Sink was the sick bay, where I found one of the assistant surgeons seated at a green bay's table. It was his turn for visiting the apartment.

Starting point is 14:22:48 Having been commanded by the deck officer to report my business to the functionary before me, I accordingly hemmed to attract his attention, and then catching his eye, politely intimated that I called upon him for the purpose of being accurately laid out and surveyed. Strip, was the answer, and, rolling up his gold-laced cuff, he proceeded to manipulate me. He punched me in the ribs, smote me across the chest, commanded me to stand on one leg and hold out the other horizontally. He asked me whether any of my family were consumptive, whether I ever felt a tendency to a rush of blood to the head, whether I was gouty, how often I had been bled during my life, how long I had been ashore, how long I had been afloat, with several other questions which have altogether slipped my memory.

Starting point is 14:23:42 He concluded his interrogatories with this extraordinary and unwarranted one. Are you pious? It was a leading question which somewhat staggered me, but I said not a word. When feeling of my calves, he looked up and incomprehensibly said, I am afraid you are not. At length, he declared me a sound animal and wrote a certificate to that effect with which I returned to the deck. This assistant surgeon turned out to be a very singular character,

Starting point is 14:24:18 and when I became more acquainted with him, I ceased to marvel at the curious question with which he had concluded his examination of my person. He was a thin, knock-kneed man with a sour, saturnine expression, rendered the more peculiar from his shaving his beard so remorselessly that his chin and cheeks always looked blue, as if pinched with cold. His long familiarity with nautical invalids seemed to have filled him full of theological hypos concerning the state of their souls. He was at once the physician and priest of the sick,

Starting point is 14:24:57 washing down his boluses with ghostly consolation, and among the sailors went by the name of the pelican, a foul whose hanging pouch imparted to it a most chop-fallen, lugubrious expression. The privilege of going off duty and lying by when you are sick is one of the few points in which a man of war is far better, for the sailor than a merchantman. But, as with every other matter in the Navy, the whole thing is subject to the general discipline of the vessel

Starting point is 14:25:30 and is conducted with a severe, unyielding method and regularity, making no allowances for exceptions to rules. During the half-hour preceding morning quarters, the surgeon of a frigate is to be found in the sick bay, where, after going his rounds among the invalids, he holds a levy for the benefit of all new candidates for the sick list. If, after looking at your tongue and feeling of your pulse, he pronounces you a proper candidate, his secretary puts you down on his books, and you are thenceforth relieved from all duty

Starting point is 14:26:08 and have abundant leisure in which to recover your health. Let the bosen blow. Let the deck officer bellow. Let the captain of your gun hunt you up. if it can be answered by your messmates that you are down on the list, you ride it all out with impunity. The Commodore himself has then no authority over you, but you must not be too much elated, for your immunities are only secure while you are immured in the dark hospital below. Should you venture to get a mouthful of fresh air on the spar deck and be there discovered by an officer, you will in vain plead your illness, for it is quite impossible, it seems, that any true man-of-war invalid can be hardy enough to crawl up the ladders.

Starting point is 14:26:55 Besides, the raw sea air, as they will tell you, is not good for the sick. But, notwithstanding all this, notwithstanding the darkness and closeness of the sick bay, in which an alleged invalid must be content to shut himself up till the surgeon pronounces him cured, many instances occur, especially in protracted bad weather, where pretended invalids will submit to this dismal hospital durance in order to escape hard work and wet jackets. There is a story told somewhere of the devil taking down the confessions of a woman on a strip of parchment and being obliged to stretch it longer and longer with his teeth

Starting point is 14:27:40 in order to find room for all the lady had to say. much thus was it with our purser's steward who had to lengthen out his manuscript's sick list in order to accommodate all the names which were presented to him while we are off the pitch of cape horn what sailors call the cape horn fever alarmingly prevailed though it disappeared altogether when we got into the weather which as with many other invalids was solely to be imputed to the wander working effects of an entire change of climate. It seems very strange, but it is really true that off Cape Horn, some saggers of sailors will stand cupping and bleeding and blistering before they will budge. On the other hand, there are cases where a man actually sick and in need of medicine will refuse to go on the sick list because in that case his allowance of grog must be

Starting point is 14:28:38 stopped. On board of every American man of war bound for sea, There is a goodly supply of wines and various delicacies put on board, according to law, for the benefit of the sick, whether officers or sailors. And one of the chicken coops is always reserved for the government chickens destined for a similar purpose. But, on board of the NeverSink, the only delicacies given to invalid sailors was a little sago or arrow route, and they did not get that unless severely ill. but so far as I could learn, no wine in any quantity was ever prescribed for them,

Starting point is 14:29:20 though the government bottles often went into the wardroom for the benefit of indisposed officers. And though the government chicken coop was replenished at every port, yet not four pair of drumsticks were ever boiled into broth for six sailors. Where the chickens went, someone must have known, but as I cannot vouch for it myself, I will not know. not here backed the hearty assertion of the men, which was that the pious pelican, true to his name, was extremely fond of poultry. I am the still less disposed to believe this scandal from the continued leanness of the pelican,

Starting point is 14:29:59 which could hardly have been the case did he nourish himself by so nutritious, a dish as the drumsticks of fowls, a diet prescribed to pugilists in training. But who can avoid being suspicious of a very suspicious? person. Pelican? I rather suspect you still. End of Chapter 77. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 78 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War.

Starting point is 14:30:37 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 78. Dismal Times in the Mess It was on the first day of the long, hot calm which we had on the equator, that a mess made of mine, by the name of Shenli, who had been for some weeks complaining, at length went on the

Starting point is 14:31:16 sick list. An old gunners-maid of the mess, priming, the man with the hair lip, who, true to his tribe, was charged to the muzzle with bile, and, moreover, rammed home on top of it a wad of sailor superstition. This gunner's mate indulged in some gloomy and savage remarks, strangely tinged with genuine feeling and grief, at the announcement of the sickness of Shinley, coming as it did not long after the almost fatal accident befalling poor Baldy, Captain of the Mizantop, another messmate of ours, and the dreadful fate of the amputated foretopman whom we buried in Rio, also our messmate.

Starting point is 14:32:01 We were cross-legged seated at dinner, between the guns, when the sad news concerning Shinley was first communicated. "'I note it, I knowed it,' said priming, through his nose. "'Blast ye, I told you so. "'Poor fellow! But damn me, I noted. This comes of having thirteen in the mess. I hope you aren't dangerous, men. Poor Shinley. But blasted, it warranted till whitejacket there come into the mess that these hair things began. I don't believe there'll be more nor three of us left by the time we strike soundings, men. But how is he now? Have you been down to see him? Any on you? damn you your jonah i don't see how you can sleep in your hammock knowing as you do that by making an odd number in the mess you've been the death of one poor fellow and ruin baldy for life and here's poor shenley keeled up blast you and your jacket say aye my dear messmate i cried don't blast me any more for heaven's sake blast my jacket you may and i'll join you in that but don't blast my jacket you may and i'll join you in that but don't blast you me, for if you do, I shouldn't wonder if I myself was the next man to keel up.

Starting point is 14:33:24 Gunners' mate, said Jack Chase, helping himself to a slice of beef, and sandwiching it between two large biscuits. Gunners' mate, White Jacket there is my particular friend, and I would take it as a particular favor if you would knock off blasting him. It's in bad taste, rude, and unworthy a gentleman. "'Take your back away from that air gun carriage, will you now, Jack Chase?' cried priming in reply. Just then Jack happening to lean up against it. Must I be all the time cleaning after you fellows? Blast you I spend an hour on that air gun carriage this very morning, but it all comes a white jacket there.

Starting point is 14:34:07 If it weren't for having one too many, there wouldn't be any crowding and jamming in the mess. I'm blessed if we aren't about Chocoblock here. Move further up there. I'm sitting on my leg. For God's sake, Gunner's mate, cried I. If it will content you, I and my jacket will leave the mess. I wish you would, and be blank to you, he replied. And if he does, you will mess alone, Gunner's mate, said Jack Chase. That you will, cry.

Starting point is 14:34:42 cried all. And I wish to the Lord you'd let me, growled priming, irritably rubbing his head with the handle of his sheath-knife. You are an old bear, Gunner's mate, said Jack Chase. I am an old Turk, he replied, drawing the flat blade of his knife between his teeth, thereby producing a wetting grating sound. Let him alone, let him alone, men, said Jack Chase. only keep off the tail of a rattlesnake and he'll not rattle.

Starting point is 14:35:16 Look out he don't bite, though, said priming, snapping his teeth, and with that he rolled off, growling as he went. Though I did my best to carry off my vexation with an air of indifference, need I say how I cursed my jacket that it thus seemed the means of fastening on me the murder of one of my shipmates and the probable murder of two women. more. For, had it not been for my jacket, doubtless I had yet been a member of my old mess, and so have escaped making the luckless odd number among my present companions. All I could say in private to priming had no effect, though I often took him aside to convince

Starting point is 14:36:03 him of the philosophical impossibility of my having been accessory to the misfortunes of Baldi, the buried sailor in Rio, and Shinley. But priming knew better. Nothing could move him. And he ever afterward eyed me as virtuous citizens do some notorious underhand villain going unhung of justice. Jacket, Jacket, thou hast much to answer for, Jacket. End of Chapter 78.

Starting point is 14:36:37 Recording by James K. White, Tulavista. Chapter 79 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 79. How Man of Wars Men Die at Sea. Shenley, my sick messmate, was a middle-aged, handsome, intelligent seaman,

Starting point is 14:37:27 whom some hard calamity or perhaps some unfortunate excess must have driven into the Navy. He told me he had a wife and two children in Portsmouth in the state of New Hampshire. Upon being examined by cuticle, the surgeon, he was on pure, scientific grounds reprimanded by that functionary for not having previously appeared before him. He was immediately consigned to one of the invalid cuts as a serious case. His complaint was of long-standing, a pulmonary one now attended with general prostration. The same evening he grew so much worse that according to Man of War usage, we, his messmates, were officially notified that we must take turns at sitting up with him through the

Starting point is 14:38:20 night. We at once made our arrangements, allotting two hours for a watch. Not till the third night did my own turn come round. During the day preceding, it was stated at the mess that our poor messmate was run down completely. The surgeon had given him up. At four bells, two o'clock in the morning, I went down to relieve one of my messmates at the sick man's cot. The profound quietude of the calm pervaded the entire frigate through all her decks. The watch on duty were dozing on the carinade slides far above the sick bay, and the watch below were fast asleep in their hammocks on the same deck with the invalid. groping my way under these 200 sleepers, I entered the hospital.

Starting point is 14:39:16 A dim lamp was burning on the table, which was screwed down to the floor. This light shed dreary shadows over the whitewashed walls of the place, making it look like a whited sepulchre underground. The wind-sail had collapsed and lay motionless on the deck. The low groans of the sick were the only sounds to be heard, and as I advanced, some of them rolled upon me their sleepless, silent, tormented eyes. Fan him and keep his forehead wet with this sponge, whispered my messmate, whom I came to relieve, as I drew near to Shenley's cot, and washed the foam from his mouth.

Starting point is 14:39:58 Nothing more can be done for him. If he dies before your watches out, call the surgeon's steward. He sleeps in that hammock, pointing it out. Goodbye. by messmate, he then whispered, stooping over the sick man, and so saying he left the place. Shenli was lying on his back. His eyes were closed, forming two dark blue pits in his face. His breath was coming and going with a slow, long-drawn mechanical precision. It was the mere foundering hull of a man that was before me, and though it presented the well-known

Starting point is 14:40:37 features of my messmate, yet I knew that the living soul of Shenley never more would look out of those eyes. So warm had had been during the day that the surgeon himself, when visiting the sick bay, had entered it in his shirt sleeves, and so warm was now the night that even in the lofty top, I had worn but a loose linen frock and trousers. But in this subterranean sick bay, buried in the very bowels of the ship, and at sea, cut off from all ventilation, the heat of the night calm was intense. The sweat dripped from me as if I had just emerged from a bath, and stripping myself naked to the waist, I sat by the side of the cot, and with a bit of crumpled paper put into my hand by the sailor I had relieved, kept fanning

Starting point is 14:41:27 the motionless white face before me. I could not help thinking, as I gazed, whether this man's fate had not been accelerated by his confinement in this heated furnace below, and whether many a sick man round me might not soon improve, if but permitted to swing his hammock in the airy vacancies of the half-deck above, open to the portholes, but reserved for the promenade of the officers. At last the heavy breathing grew more and more irregular, and gradually dying away, left forever the unstirring form of Shinly. Calling the surgeon's steward, he at once told me to rouse the master at arms and four or five of my messmates. The master at arms approached and immediately demanded the dead man's bag, which was accordingly dragged into the bay.

Starting point is 14:42:23 Having been laid on the floor and washed with a bucket of water which I drew from the ocean, the body was then dressed in a white frock, trousers, and neckerchief taken out of the bag. while this was going on the master-at-arms standing over the operation with his rattan and directing myself and messmates indulged in much discursive levity intended to manifest his fearlessness of death pierre who had been a chummy of shinleys spent much time in tying the neckerchief in an elaborate bow and affectionately adjusting the white frock and trousers but the master at arms put an end to this by ordering us to carry the body up to the gun deck. It was placed on the deathboard used for that purpose, and we proceeded with it toward the main hatchway, awkwardly crawling under the tears of hammocks, where the entire watch below was sleeping.

Starting point is 14:43:23 As unavoidably we rocked their pallets, the Man of War's men would cry out against us. Through the mutterings of curses the corpse reached the hatchway. Here the board slipped, and some time was spent in readjusting the body. At length, we deposited it on the gun deck, between two guns, and a union jack being thrown over it for a pall, I was left again to watch by its side. I had not been seated on my shot-box three minutes

Starting point is 14:43:55 when the messenger boy passed me on his way forward. Presently, the slow, regular stroke of the ship's great bell was heard, proclaiming through the calm the expiration of the watch. It was four o'clock in the morning. Poor Shenley thought I, that sounds like your knell. And here you lie becalmed in the last calm of all. Hardly had the brazen den died away when the boatswain and his mates mustered round the hatchway within a yard or two of the corpse, and the usual thundering call was given for the watch below to turn out. All the starboard watch, ahoy, on deck there below.

Starting point is 14:44:45 Wide awake there, sleepers. But the dreamless sleeper by my side who had so often sprung from his hammock at that summons moved not a limb. The blue sheet over him lay unwrinkled. A messmate of the other watch now came to relieve me, but I told him I chose to remain where I was till daylight came. End of Chapter 79. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 14:45:21 Chapter 80 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Lieberwobox recording. All Lieberwax recordings are in the post. public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org Recording by James K. White White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 80

Starting point is 14:45:49 The Last Stitch Just before daybreak, two of the sailmaker's gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas. two large shot, needles, and twine. I knew their errand, for in men of war the sailmaker is the undertaker. They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away as if mending an old sail.

Starting point is 14:46:27 Both were old men with grizzled hair and beard and shrunken faces. They belong to that small class of aged seamen who, for their previous long and faithful services, are retained in the Navy more as pensioners upon its merited bounty than anything else. They are set to light and easy duties. Aren't this the fore-topman Shinley? asked the foremost, looking full at the frozen face before him. "'Aye, aye, old ring-rope,' said the other, drawing his hand far back with a long thread.

Starting point is 14:47:06 "'I think sits him, and he's further aloft now, I hope, than ever he was at the fore-truck.' "'But I only hopes. I'm afeard this aren't the last on him.' "'His hole here will soon be going out of sight below hatches, though, old drummings,' replied Ring-Ring. Rope, placing two heavy cannonballs in the foot of the canvas shroud. I don't know that, old man.

Starting point is 14:47:33 I never yet sold up a shipmate, but he spooked me ardorward. I tell you, Ring Rope, these air corpses is cunning. You think they sinks deep, but they comes up again as soon as you sails over them. They lose the number of their mess, and their messmates sticks the spoons in the rack. But no good. No good old ring rope They aren't dead yet I tell you now

Starting point is 14:47:58 Ten best bower anchors Wouldn't sink this ear topman He'll be soon coming in the wake of the 39 spooks What spooks me every night in my hammock Just afore the midwatch is called Small thanks I get's for my pains And every one on them Looks so poachful like

Starting point is 14:48:16 With a sailmaker's needle through his nose I've been thinking old ring rope It's all wrong that ere last stitch we takes. Depend on it. They don't like it. None on them. I was standing, leaning over a gun, gazing at the two old men. The last remark reminded me of a superstitious custom generally practiced by most sea undertakers upon these occasions. I resolved that, if I could help it, it should not take place upon the remains of Shinley. "'Thrummings,' said I, advancing to the last speaker,

Starting point is 14:48:57 "'you are right. That last thing you do to the canvas is the very reason, be sure of it, that brings the ghosts after you, as you say. So don't do it to this poor fellow, I entreat. Try once now how it goes not to do it.' "'What do you say to the youngster, old man?' said Thrummings, holding up his lantern into his comrade's wrinkled face, as if deciphering some ancient parchment. I'm again all inuations, said Ring Rope.

Starting point is 14:49:29 It's a good old fashion, that last ditch. It keeps them snug. You see, youngster? I'm blessed if they could sleep sound, if it wasn't for that. No, no, thrummings. No innovations. I won't hear on it. I goes for the last ditch.

Starting point is 14:49:48 Suppose you was going to be sewed up yourself, old Ring Ruff. would you like the last stitch then you are an old gun ring rope you can't stand looking out at your porthole much longer said thrummings as his own palsied hands were quivering over the canvas better say that to yourself old man replied ring rope stooping close to the light to thread his coarse needle which trembled in his withered hands like the needle in a compass of a greenland ship near the pole you ain't long for the sarah I wish I could give you some of the blood in my veins, old man. You ain't got near a teaspoonful to spare, said Drummings. It will go hard, and I wouldn't want to do it, but I'm a fear to I'll have the sewing on you up before long. So me up.

Starting point is 14:50:41 Me dead and you alive, old man, shrieked ring rope. Well, I've heard the parson of the old independence say is how old age was deceitful, but I never see it so true afore this blessed night. I'm sorry for you, old man, to see you so innocent like, and death all the while turning in and out with you in your hammock for all the world like a hammock mate. You lie, old man, cried Thrummings, shaking with rage. It's you that have death for a hammock mate. It's you that will make a hole in the shot-locker soon.

Starting point is 14:51:15 Take that back, cried Ring Rope, huskily leaning far, over the corpse and needle in hand menacing his companion with his awash fist. Take that back or I'll throttle your lean bag of wen for you. Blast you, old chaps, ain't you any more manners than to be fighting over a dead man? cried one of the sailmaker's mates coming down from the spar deck. Bear a hand, bear a hand and get through with that job. Only one more stitch to take, muttered Ring Rope. creeping near the face.

Starting point is 14:51:52 Drop your palm then and let thrummings take it. Follow me, the foot of the mainsail once mending. Must do it afore a breeze springs up. Do you hear, old chap, I say drop your palm and follow me. At the reiterated command of his superior, ring rope rose, and, turning to his comrade, said, I take it all back, thrummings, and I'm sorry for it too. But mind you, take that air last stitch now.

Starting point is 14:52:18 If you don't, there's no telling the consequences. As the mate and his man departed, I stole up to Thrummings. Don't do it. Don't do it now, Thrummings. Depend on it. It's wrong. Well, youngster, I'll try this here one without it for just this here once, and if, after that, he don't spook me. I'll be dead again the last stitch as long as my name is thrummings. So, without mutilation, the remains were replaced between the guns, the Union Jack again thrown over them, and I receded myself on the shotbox. End of Chapter 80. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 81 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War

Starting point is 14:53:17 This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. Maine. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 81 How They Burry a Man of War's Man at Sea Quarters over in the morning, the Bosen and his four mates stood round the main hatchway, and after giving the usual whistle, made the customary announcement, All hands bury the dead, ahoi!

Starting point is 14:54:02 In a man of war, everything, even to a man's funeral and burial, proceeds with the unrelenting promptitude of the martial code. And whether it is all hands bury the dead, or all hands splice the main brace, the order is given in the same hoarse tones. Both officers and men assembled in the lee-waist, and through that bareheaded crowd, the messmates of Shinley brought his body to the same gangway where it had thrice winced under the scourge. But there is something in death that ennobles even a pauper's corpse, and the captain himself stood bareheaded before the remains of a man whom, with his hat on,

Starting point is 14:54:49 he had sentenced to the ignominious gratings when alive. I am the resurrection and the life, solemnly began the chaplain in full canonical's, the prayer-book in his hand. Damn you, off those booms, roared a boatswain's mate to a crowd of Topman, who had elevated themselves to gain a better view of the scene. We commit his body to the deep. At the word, Shenli's messmates tilted the board, and the dead sailor sank in the sea. "'Look aloft,' whispered Jack Chase. "'See that bird?' "'It is the spirit of Shenley.'

Starting point is 14:55:35 Gazing upward, all beheld a snow-white solitary foul, which, whence coming no one could tell, had been hovering over the mainmast during the service and was now sailing far up into the depths of the sky. End of Chapter 81. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 82 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording.

Starting point is 14:56:12 All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 82 What Remains of a Man of War's Man After His Burial at Sea Upon examining Shinley's bag, a will was found, scratched in pencil, upon a blank leaf in the middle of his Bible, or, to use the phrase of one of the seamen, in the

Starting point is 14:56:51 midships, between the Bible and Testament, where the apothecary, apocry, apocry, uses to be. The will was comprised in one solitary sentence, exclusive of the dates and signatures. In case I die on the voyage, the purser will please pay over my wages to my wife, who lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Besides the testators, there were two signatures of witnesses. This last will and testament being shown to the purser, who it seems, had been a notary or surrogate or some sort of cozy chamber practitioner in his time, he declared that it must be proved. So the witnesses were called, and after recognizing their hands to the paper,

Starting point is 14:57:40 for the purpose of additionally testing their honesty, they were interrogated concerning the day on which they had signed, whether it was Banyan Day or Duff Day or Swampseed Day. For among the sailors on board a man of war, The land terms Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, are almost unknown. In place of these, they substitute nautical names, some of which are significant of the Daily Bill of Fair at dinner for the week. The two witnesses were somewhat puzzled by the attorney-like questions of the purser

Starting point is 14:58:16 till a third party came along, one of the ship's barbers, and declared, of his own knowledge, that Shenley executed the instrument on a shaving day, for the deceased seaman had informed him of the circumstance when he came to have his beard reaped on the morning of the event. In the purser's opinion, this settled the question, and it is to be hoped that the widow duly received her husband's death-earned wages. Shinley was dead and gone. And what was Shinley's epitaph? D.D. opposite his name in the purser's book.

Starting point is 14:58:56 in Black's best writing fluid, Funeral Name and Funeral Hugh, meaning Discharged, Dead. End of Chapter 82, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 83 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 14:59:29 For more information or to volunteer, here, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 83 A Man of War College In our man-of-war world, life comes in at one gangway and death goes overboard at the other. Under the Man of War scourge, curses mix with tears.

Starting point is 15:00:03 and the sigh and the sob furnished the bass to the shrill octave of those who laugh to drown buried griefs of their own. Checkers were played in the waste at the time of Shenley's burial, and as the body plunged, a player swept the board. The bubbles had hardly burst when all hands were piped down by the boson, and the old jests were heard again, as if Shenley himself were there to hear. This man-of-war life has not left me unhardened. I cannot stop to weep over Shindley now. That would be false to the life I depict.

Starting point is 15:00:42 Waring no morning weeds, I resumed the task of portraying our man-of-war world. Among the various other vocations, all driven abreast on board of the Never Sink, was that of the schoolmaster. There were two academies in the frigate. one comprised the apprentice boys who upon certain days of the week were indoctrinated in the mysteries of the primer by an invalid corporal of Marines, a slender, whizzen-cheeked man who had received a liberal infant school education. The other school was a far more pretentious affair, a sort of army and navy seminary combined,

Starting point is 15:01:26 where mystical mathematical problems were solved by the midshipmen, and great ships of the line were navigated over imaginary shoals by unimaginable observations of the moon and the stars, and learned lectures were delivered upon great guns, small arms, and the curvilinear lines described by bombs in the air. The professor was the title bestowed upon the erudite gentleman who conducted this seminary, and by that title alone was he known throughout the ship.

Starting point is 15:02:00 He was domiciled in the wardroom and circulated there on a social par with the purser, surgeon, and other non-combatants and Quakers. By being advanced to the dignity of a peerage in the wardroom, science and learning were ennobled in the person of this professor, even as divinity was honored in the chaplain enjoying the rank of a spiritual peer. Every other afternoon while at sea, the professor assembled his pupils on the half-deck near the long 24-pounders. A bass drumhead was his desk, his pupils forming a semicircle around him, seated on shot boxes and matchtubs. They were in the jelly of youth, and this learned professor poured into their susceptible hearts all the gentle gunpowder maxims of war.

Starting point is 15:02:55 Residents of peace societies and superintendents of Sabbath schools must have not have been a most interesting sight. But the professor himself was a noteworthy person, a tall, thin, spectacled man about 40 years old with a student's stoop in his shoulders and wearing uncommonly scanty pantaloons, exhibiting an undue proportion of his boots. In early life, he had been a cadet in the military academy,

Starting point is 15:03:25 of West Point, but, becoming very weak-sighted and thereby in a good manner disqualified for active service in the field, he had declined entering the army and accepted the office of Professor in the Navy. His studies at West Point had thoroughly grounded him in a knowledge of gunnery, and, as he was not a little of a pedant, it was sometimes amusing when the sailors were at quarters to hear him criticize their evolutions at the batteries. He would quote Dr. Hutton's tracks on the subject, also in the original, the French bombardier, and wind up by Italian passages from the Practica Manuel del Artigleria. Though not required by the Navy regulations to instruct his scholars in ought but the

Starting point is 15:04:18 application of mathematics to navigation, yet besides this, and besides instructing them in the theory of gunnery, he also sought to root them in the theory of frigate and fleet tactics. To be sure, he himself did not know how to splice a rope or furl a sail, and, owing to his partiality for strong coffee, he was apt to be nervous when we fired salutes. Yet all this did not prevent him from delivering lectures on cannonading and breaking the enemy's line. He had arrived at his knowledge of tactics by silent solitary study and earnest meditation in the sequestered retreat of his state room. His case was somewhat parallel to the Scotchman's John Clerk Esquire of Eldon, who, though he had never been to see, composed a quarto

Starting point is 15:05:11 treaties on fleet fighting, which to this day remains a textbook. And he also originated a nautical maneuver, which has given to England many a victory over her foes. Now, there was a large blackboard, something like a great gun target, only it was square, which during the professor's lectures was placed upright on the gun deck, supported behind by three boarding pikes. And here he would chalk out diagrams of great fleet engagements, making marks like the soles of shoes for the ships and drawing a dog vein in one corner to denote the assumed direction of the wind. This done, with a cutlass, he would point out every spot of interest. Now, young gentlemen, the board before you exhibits the disposition of the British West Indian

Starting point is 15:06:06 squadron under Rodney, when, early on the morning of the 9th of April, in the board, the year of our blessed Lord 1782, he discovered part of the French fleet commanded by the Comanded de Grasse, lying under the north end of the island of Dominica. It was at this juncture that the Admiral gave the signal for the British line to prepare for battle and stand on. Do you understand, young gentlemen? Well, the British van, having nearly fetched up with the center of the enemy, who, be it remembered, were then on the starboard tack, and Rodney's center and rear being yet becalmed under the lee of the land, the question I ask you is, what should Rodney now do?

Starting point is 15:06:53 Blaze away by all means, responded a rather confident reefer who had zealously been observing the diagram. But, sir, his center and rear are still becalmed, and his van has not yet closed with the enemy. Wait till he does, come in range, and then blaze away, said the reefer. Permit me to remark, Mr. Purt, that Blaze Away is not a strictly technical term, and also permit me to hint Mr. Purt that you should consider the subject rather more deeply before you hurry forward your opinion. This rebuke not only abashed Mr. Purt, but for a time intimidated the rest, and the professor was obliged to proceed and extricate the British fleet by himself.

Starting point is 15:07:45 He concluded by awarding Admiral Rodney the victory, which must have been exceedingly gratifying to the family pride of the surviving relatives and connections of that distinguished hero. Shall I clean the board, sir? Now asked Mr. Pert, brightening up. No, sir, not till you have saved that crippled friendship in the corner. That ship, young gentleman, is the glorious. You perceive she is cut off from her consorts,

Starting point is 15:08:15 and the whole British fleet is giving chase to her. Her bowel sprit is gone, her rudder is torn away. She has 100 round shot in her hull, and two-thirds of her men are dead or dying. What's to be done? The wind being at northeast by north. Well, sir, said Mr. Dash, a chivalric young gentleman from Virginia,

Starting point is 15:08:37 I wouldn't strike yet. I'd nail my colors to the main royal mast, I would, by Jove. That would not save your ship, sir. Besides, your main mast has gone by the board. I think, sir, said Mr. Slim, a diffident youth, I think, sir, I would haul back the foretop sail. And why so? Of what service would that be I should like to know, Mr. Slim?

Starting point is 15:09:07 "'I can't tell exactly, but I think it would help her a little,' was the timid reply. "'Not a wits, sir. Not one particle. Besides, you can't haul back your fore-top-sail. Your fore-mast is lying across your forecastle.' "'Hall back the main top-sail, then,' suggested another. "'Can't be done. Your main mast also has gone by the board.' "'Mizn't-top-sail?' meekly suggested little boat-plug your mizentup mast let me inform you sir was shot down in the first of the fight well sir cried mr dash i'd tack ship anyway bid em good-bye with a broadside nail my flag to the keel if there was no other place and blow my brains out on the poop idle idle sir worse than idle you are carried away mr dash by your ardent southern temperament let me inform you young gentleman that this ship touching it with his cutlass cannot be saved then throwing down his cutlass mr pert have the goodness to hand me one of those cannon-balls from the rack balancing the iron sphere in one hand the learned professor began fingering it with the other one

Starting point is 15:10:28 like Columbus, illustrating the rotundity of the globe before the Royal Commission of Castilian Ecclesiastics. Young gentlemen, I resume my remarks on the passage of a shot in vacuil, which remarks were interrupted yesterday by General Quarters. After quoting that admirable passage in Spearman's British Gunner, I then laid it down, you remember, that the path of a shot in vacuil describes a parabolic curve.

Starting point is 15:10:58 I now add that, agreeably to the method pursued by the illustrious Newton in treating the subject of curvilinear motion, I consider the trajectory or curve described by a moving body in space as consisting of a series of right lines described in successive intervals of time and constituting the diagonals of parallelograms formed in a vertical plane between the vertical deflections caused by gravity and the production of the line of motion which has been described in each preceding interval of time. This must be obvious, for if you say that the passage invocchio of this cannonball now held in my hand would describe otherwise than a series of right lines, etc., then you are brought to the reductio ad absurdum that the diagonals of parallelograms are

Starting point is 15:11:45 All-hands reef-topsail, was now thundered forth by the Bosen's mates. The shot fell from the professor's palm. His spectacles dropped on his nose, and the The school tumultuously broke up, the pupils scrambling up the ladders with the sailors who had been overhearing the lecture. End of Chapter 83 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 84 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 15:12:30 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox. R.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 84 Man of War Barbers The allusion to one of the ship's barbers in a previous chapter, together with the recollection of how conspicuous a part they enacted in a tragical drama soon to be related, leads me now to introduce them to the reader. among the numerous artists and professors of polite trades in the navy none are held in higher estimation or drive a more profitable business than these barbers

Starting point is 15:13:20 and it may well be imagined that the five hundred heads of hair and five hundred beards of a frigate should furnish no small employment for those to whose faithful care they may be entrusted As everything connected with the domestic affairs of a man of war comes under the supervision of the Marshal Executive, so certain barbers are formally licensed by the first lieutenant. The better to attend to the profitable duties of their calling, they are exempted from all ship's duty, except that of standing night watches at sea, mustering at quarters, and coming on deck when all hands are called. They are rated as able seamen or ordinary seamen and receive their wages as such

Starting point is 15:14:08 but in addition to this they are liberally recompensed for their professional services Herein their rate of pay is fixed for every sailor manipulated So much per quarter which is charged to the sailor And credited to his barber on the books of the purser It has been seen that while a man-of-war barber is shaving his cower customers at so much per Chen, his wages as a seaman are still running on, which makes him a sort of sleeping partner of a sailor. Nor are the sailor wages he receives altogether to be reckoned

Starting point is 15:14:45 as earnings. Considering the circumstances, however, not much objection can be made to the barbers on this score, but there were instances of men in the Never Sink receiving government money in part pay for work done for private individuals. Among these were several accomplished tailors, who nearly the whole crew sat cross-legged on the half-deck, making coats, pantaloons, and vests for the quarter-deck officers. Some of these men, though knowing little or nothing about sailor duties, and seldom or never performing them, stood upon the ship's books as ordinary seamen, entitled to $10 a month. Why was this?

Starting point is 15:15:29 previous to shipping they had divulged the fact of their being tailors true the officers who employed them upon their wardrobes paid them for their work but some of them in such a way as to elicit much grumbling from the tailors at any rate these makers and menders of clothes did not receive from some of these officers an amount equal to what they could have fairly earned ashore by doing the same work it was a considerable saving to the officers to have their clothes made on board. The men belonging to the Carpenters gang furnished another case in point. There were some six or eight allotted to this department. All the crews, they were hard at work. At what? Mostly making chests of drawers, canes, little ships and schooners,

Starting point is 15:16:21 swifts and other elaborated trifles, chiefly for the captain. What did the captain pay them for the trouble? Nothing. But the United States government paid them, two of them, the mates, at $19 a month, and the rest receiving the pay of able seamen, $12. To return. The regular days upon which the barbers shall exercise their vocation are set down on the ship's calendar and known as shaving days.

Starting point is 15:16:55 On board of the Never Sink, these days are Wednesdays and six. Saturdays, when immediately after breakfast the barber's shops were open to customers. They were in different parts of the gun deck between the long 24-pounders. Their furniture, however, was not very elaborate, hardly equal to the sumptuous appointments of metropolitan barbers. Indeed, it merely consisted of a matchtub elevated upon a shotbox as a barber's chair for the patient. No psych glasses, no hand, hand mirror, no ewer and basin, no comfortable padded footstool, nothing, in short, that makes a shore shave such a luxury. Nor are the implements of these Man of War barbers out of keeping with the rude

Starting point is 15:17:44 appearance of their shops. Their razors are of the simplest patterns, and from their jaggedness would seem better fitted for the preparing and harrowing of the soil than for the ultimate reaping of the crop. But this is no matter for wonder, since so many chins are to be shaven, and a razor case holds but two razors. For only two razors does a man-of-war barber have, and, like the Marine sentries at the gangway in port, these razors go off and on duty in rotation. One brush, two brushes every chin, and one lather lathers them all. No private brushes in boxes, no private brushes and boxes, no brush. reservations, whatever. As it would be altogether too much trouble for a man-of-war's man to keep his own shaving tools and shave himself at sea, and since, therefore, nearly the whole ship's company

Starting point is 15:18:41 patronized the ship's barbers, and as the seamen must be shaven by evening quarters of the days appointed for the business, it may be readily imagined what a scene of bustle and confusion there is when the razors are being applied. First come, first served, is the motto. And often you have to wait for hours together sticking to your position, like one of an Indian file of merchants clerks getting letters out of the post office, ere you have a chance to occupy the pedestal of the matchtub. Often the crowd of quarrelsome candidates wrangle and fight for precedency,

Starting point is 15:19:18 while at all times the interval is employed by the garrulous in every variety of ship gossip. As the shaving days are unalterable, they often fall upon days of high seas and tempestuous winds, when the vessel pitches and rolls in a frightful manner. In consequence, many valuable lives are jeopardized from the razor being plied under such untoward circumstances. But these sea-barbers pride themselves upon their sea-legs, and often you will see them standing over their patience with their feet wide apart, and scientifically swaying their bodies to the motion of the ship,

Starting point is 15:19:57 as they flourish their edge tools around the lips, nostrils, and jugular. As I looked upon the practitioner and patient at such times, I could not help thinking that if the sailor had any insurance on his life, it would certainly be deemed forfeited should the president of the company chance to lounge by and behold him in that imminent peril. For myself, I accounted it, and, actually, excellent preparation for going into a sea-fight, where fortitude in standing up to your gun and

Starting point is 15:20:29 running the risk of all splinters comprise part of the practical qualities that make up an efficient man-of-war's man. It remains to be related that these barbers of ours had their labors considerably abridged by a fashion prevailing among many of the crew of wearing very large whiskers, so that, in most cases, the only parts needing a shave were the upper lip and suburbs of the chin. This had been more or less the custom during the whole three years' cruise, but for some time previous to our weathering Cape Horn,

Starting point is 15:21:04 very many of the seamen had redoubled their assiduity in cultivating their beards preparatory to their return to America. There they anticipated creating no small impression by their immense and magnificent homeward bounders, so they called the long flybrushes at their chins. In particular, the more aged sailors, embracing the old guard of sea grenadiers on the forecastle and the begrimed gunners' mates and quarter-gunners,

Starting point is 15:21:34 sported most venerable beards of an exceeding length and hoariness, like long, trailing moss hanging from the bow of some aged oak. Above all, the captain of the forecastle, old Ushant, a fine specimen of a sea sexagenarian, wore a wide spreading beard, grizzled and gray, that flowed over his breast and often became tangled and knotted with tar. This Ushant, in all weathers, was ever alert at his duty, intrepidly mounting the foreyard in a gale, his long beard streaming like Neptunes. Off Cape Horn, it looked like a miller's, being all over powdered with frost.

Starting point is 15:22:18 Sometimes it glittered with minute icicles in the pale, cold, moonlit Patagonian nights. But though he was so active in time of tempest, yet when his duty did not call for exertion, he was a remarkably stayed, reserved, silent, and majestic old man, holding himself aloof from noisy revelry, and never participating in the boisterous sports of the crew. He resolutely set his beard against their boyish frolicings and often held forth like an oracle concerning the vanity thereof. Indeed, at times he was wont to talk philosophy to his ancient companions, the old sheet-anchorman around him,

Starting point is 15:23:01 as well as to the hare-brained tenants of the foretop and the giddy lads in the mizzen. Nor was his philosophy. to be despised. It abounded in wisdom. For this Ushant was an old man of strong natural sense, who had seen nearly the whole Taracquious globe, and could reason of civilized and savage, of Gentile and Jew, of Christian and Muslim. The long night watches of the sailor are eminently adapted to draw out the reflective faculties of any serious-minded man, however humble or uneducated.

Starting point is 15:23:41 Judge, then, what half a century of battling out watches on the ocean must have done for this fine old tar. He was a sort of a sea Socrates in his old age, pouring out his last philosophy and life as sweet Spencer has it,

Starting point is 15:23:58 and I never could look at him and survey his right reverend beard without bestowing upon him that title which, in one of his satires, Perseus gives to the immortal coiffor of the hemlock, Magister Barbatus, the bearded master. Not a few of the ship's company had also bestowed great pains upon their hair,

Starting point is 15:24:20 which some of them, especially the genteel young sailor bucks of the afterguard, wore over their shoulders like the ring-litted cavaliers. Many sailors, with naturally tendrilocks, prided themselves upon what they call love-crued, curls, worn at the side of the head just before the year, a custom peculiar to Tars, and which seems to have filled the vacated place of the old-fashioned Lord Rodney Q, which they used to wear some fifty years ago. But there were others of the crew laboring under the misfortune of long,

Starting point is 15:24:56 length Winnebago locks, carotty bunches of hair, or rebellious bristles of a sandy hue. ambitious of redundant mops, these still suffered their carrots to grow, spite of all ridicule. They look like Huns and Scandinavians, and one of them, a young downeaster, the uninvied proprietor of a thick crop of inflexible yellow bamboos, went by the name of Peter the Wild Boy, for like Peter the Wild Boy in France, it was supposed that he must have been caught like a catamount in the pine woods of Maine. But there were many fine, flowing heads of hair to counterbalance such sorry exhibitions as Peters.

Starting point is 15:25:42 What with long whiskers and venerable beards, then, of every variety of cut, Charles V's and Oralians, and endless goatees and imperials, and what with abounding locks, our crew seemed a company of Merovingians or long-haired kings, mixed with savage lombards or long-eared,

Starting point is 15:26:01 So-called from their lengthy beards. End of Chapter 84. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 85 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White.

Starting point is 15:26:38 White Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville Chapter 85 The Great Massacre of the Beards The preceding chapter fitly paves the way for the present wherein it sadly befalls White Jacket to chronicle a calamitous event which filled the Never Sink with long lamentations that echo through all her decks and tops After dwelling upon our redundant locks and thrice noble beards,

Starting point is 15:27:12 fain would I cease and let the sequel remain undisclosed, but truth and fidelity forbid. As I now deviously hover and lingeringly skirmish about the frontiers of this melancholy recital, a feeling of sadness comes over me that I cannot withstand. Such a heartless massacre of hair. Such a Bartholomew's day and Sicilian vespers of assassinated beards. Ah, who would believe it?

Starting point is 15:27:46 With intuitive sympathy, I feel of my own brown beard while I write, and thank my kind stars that each precious hair is forever beyond the reach of the ruthless barbers of a man of war. It needs that this sad and most serious matter should be faithfully detailed. Throughout the crews, many of the officers had expressed their abhorrence of the impunity with which the most extensive plantations of hair were cultivated under their very noses, and they frowned upon every beard with even greater dislike. They said it was unsemen-like, not ship-shape, in short it was disgraceful to the Navy. But as Captain Claret said nothing, and as the officers of themselves, had no authority to preach,

Starting point is 15:28:35 a crusade against whiskerandos, the old guard on the forecastle still complacently stroked their beards, and the sweet youths of the afterguard still lovingly threaded their fingers through their curls. Perhaps the captain's generosity and thus far permitting our beards sprung from the fact that he himself wore a small speck of a beard upon his own imperial cheek, which, if rumor said true, was to hide something, as Plutarch relates of the Emperor Adrian. But, to do him justice, as I always have done, the captain's beard did not exceed the limits prescribed by the Navy Department.

Starting point is 15:29:17 According to a then-recent ordinance at Washington, the beards of both officers and seamen were to be accurately laid out and surveyed, and on no account must come lower than the mouth so as to correspond with the Army standard, a regulation directly opposed to the the theocratic law laid down in the 19th chapter and 27th verse of Leviticus, where it is expressly ordained, thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard. But legislators do not always square their statutes by those of the Bible. At last, when we had crossed the northern tropic and were standing up to our guns at evening quarters, and when the setting sun streaming in at the portholes lit up every hair till to an observer on the quarter-deck the two long even lines of beards seemed one dense grove.

Starting point is 15:30:13 In that evil hour, it must have been that a cruel thought entered into the heart of our captain. A pretty set of savages, thought he, am I taking home to America? People will think them all catamounts and turks. Besides, now that I think of it, it's against the law. It will never do. They must be shaven and shorn. That's flat. There is no knowing, indeed,

Starting point is 15:30:40 whether these were the very words in which the captain meditated that night, for it is yet a moated point among metaphysicians, whether we think in words or whether we think in thoughts. But something like the above must have been the captain's cogitations. At any rate, that very evening the ship's company were astounded by an extraordinary announcement made at the main hatchway of the gun deck. by the bosun's mate there stationed. He was afterwards discovered to have been tipsy at the time.

Starting point is 15:31:12 Do you hear there, fore and aft, all you that have hair on your heads, shave them off, and all you that have beards, trim them small. Shave off our Christian heads, and then placing them between our knees, trim small our worship beards? The captain was mad.

Starting point is 15:31:33 But directly the bosom's, came rushing to the hatchway, and after soundly raiding his tipsy mate, thundered forth a true version of the order that it issued from the quarter-deck. As amended, it ran thus. "'Do you hear there, fore and aft? All you that have long hair cut it short, and all you that have large whiskers trim them down, according to the Navy regulations.'

Starting point is 15:31:58 This was an amendment to be sure, but what barbarity after all. What, not thirty days run from home and lose our magnificent homeward bounders? The homeward bounders we had been cultivating so long? Lose them at one fell swoop? Were the vile barbers of the gun deck to reap our long, nodding harvests and expose our innocent chins to the chill air of the Yankee coast, and our viny locks, were they also to be shorn?

Starting point is 15:32:31 Was a grand sheep shearing such as they annually have at Nantucket to take place, and our ignoble barbers to carry off the fleece? Captain Claret, in cutting our beards and our hair, you cut us the unkindest cut of all. Were we going into action, Captain Claret, going to fight the foe with our hearts of flame and our arms of steel, then would we gladly offer up our beards to the terrific god of war, and that we would account but a wise precaution against having them tweaked by the foe. then captain claret you would but be imitating the example of alexander who had his macedonians all shaven that in the hour of battle their beards might not be handles to the persians but now captain claret when after our long long cruise we are returning to our homes tenderly stroking the fine tassels in our chins and thinking of father or mother or sister or brother or daughter or son to cut off our beards

Starting point is 15:33:34 now? The very beards that were frosted white off the pitch of Patagonia? This is too bitterly bad, Captain Claret, and by heaven we will not submit. Train your guns inboard. Let the Marines fix their bayonets. Let the officers draw their swords. We will not let our be reaped. The last insult inflicted upon a vanquished foe in the east. Where are you, sheet anchorman? Captains of the tops, gunners' mates, mariners, all, muster round the captains your venerable beards, and while you braid them together in token of brotherhood,

Starting point is 15:34:15 cross hands and swear that we will enact over again the mutiny of the nor, and sooner perish than yield up a hair. The excitement was intense throughout that whole evening. Groups of tens and twenties were scattered about all the decks discussing the mandate and invaying against its barbarous author. The long area of the gun deck was something like a populous street of brokers when some terrible commercial tidings have newly arrived. One in all, they resolved not to succumb,

Starting point is 15:34:48 and every man swore to stand by his beard and his neighbor. 24 hours after, at the next evening quarters, the captain's eye was observed to wander along the men at their guns, not a beard was shaven. When the drum beat the retreat, the boatswain, now attended by all four of his mates, to give additional solemnity to the announcement, repeated the previous day's order,

Starting point is 15:35:15 and concluded by saying that 24 hours would be given for all to acquiesce. But the second day passed, and at quarters untouched, every beard bristled on its chin. forthwith Captain Claret summoned the midshipman, who, receiving his orders, hurried to the various divisions of the guns, and communicated them to the lieutenants respectively stationed over divisions. The officer commanding mine turned upon us and said, Men, if tomorrow night I find any of you with long hair or whiskers of a standard violating the Navy regulations, the names of such offenders shall be put down on the report.

Starting point is 15:35:57 court. The affair had now assumed a most serious aspect. The captain was in earnest. The excitement increased tenfold, and a great many of the older seamen, exasperated to the uttermost, talked about knocking of duty till the obnoxious mandate was revoked. I thought it impossible that they would seriously think of such a folly, but there is no knowing what a man-of-war's men will sometimes do under provocation. Witness Parker and the Knorr. That same night, when the first watch was set, the men in a body drove the two bosons mates

Starting point is 15:36:38 from their stations at the fore and main hatchways and unshipped the ladders, thus cutting off all communication between the gun and spar decks forward of the main mast. Mad Jack had the trumpet, and no sooner was this insipient mutiny reported to him then he jumped right down among the mob, and fearlessly mingling with them, exclaimed, What do you mean, men? Don't be fools. This is no way to get what you want.

Starting point is 15:37:07 Turn to, my lads. Turn to. Boes' mate, ship that ladder. So, up you tumble now, my hearties, away you go. His gallant, off-handed, confident manner, recognizing no attempt at mutiny, operated upon the sailors like magic. They tumbled up, as commanded, and for the rest of that night, contented themselves with privately fulminating their displeasure against the captain, and publicly emblazoning every anchor button on the coat of admired mad Jack. Captain Claret happened to be taking a nap in his cabin at the moment of the disturbance,

Starting point is 15:37:47 and it was quelled so soon that he knew nothing of it till it was officially reported to him. It was afterward rumored through the ship that he reprimanded Mad Jack for acting as he did. He maintained that he should at once have summoned the Marines and charged upon the mutineers. But if the sayings imputed to the captain were true, he nevertheless refrained from subsequently noticing the disturbance or attempting to seek out and punish the ringleaders. This was but wise, for there are times when even the most potent governor, must wink at transgression in order to preserve the laws in violate for the future. And great care is to be taken by timely management to avert an incontestable act of mutiny,

Starting point is 15:38:35 and so prevent men from being roused by their own consciousness of transgression, into all the fury of an unbounded insurrection. Then, for the time, both soldiers and sailors are irresistible, as even the valor of Caesar was made to know and the prudence of Germanicus when their legions rebelled. And not all the concessions of Earl Spencer as first Lord of the Admiralty, nor the threats and intrees of Lord Bridport,

Starting point is 15:39:07 the Admiral of the Fleet, no, nor His gracious Majesty's plenary pardon in perspective, could prevail upon the Spithead Mutineers, when at last fairly lashed up to the mark, to succumb, until deserted by their own messmates, and a handful was left in the breach. Therefore, Mad Jack, you did right, and no one else could have acquitted himself better. By your crafty simplicity, good-natured daring, and off-handed air,

Starting point is 15:39:39 as if nothing was happening, you perhaps quelled a very serious affair in the bud, and prevented the disgrace to the American Navy of a tragical mutiny, growing out of whiskers, soap suds, and razors. Think of it, if future historians should devote a long chapter to the great rebellion of the beards on board the United States ship Never Sink. Why, through all time thereafter, barbers would cut down their spiralized poles and substitute miniature main masts for the emblems of their calling.

Starting point is 15:40:14 And here is ample scope for some pregnant instruction how that events of vast magnitude in our man-of-war world may originate in the pettiest of trifles. But that is an old theme. We wave it and proceed. On the morning following, though it was not a regular shaving day, the gun-deck barbers were observed to have their shops open, their match-tub accommodations in readiness, and their razors displayed. With their brushes raising a mighty lather in their tin-pot, they stood eyeing the passing throng of seamen,

Starting point is 15:40:51 silently inviting them to walk in and be served. In addition to their usual implements, they now flourished at intervals a huge pair of sheep shears by way of more forcibly reminding the men of the edict which that day must be obeyed, or woe betide them. For some hours the seamen paced to and fro in no very good humor, vowing not to sacrifice a hair. beforehand they denounced that man who should abase himself by compliance but habituation to discipline is magical and ere long an old forecastleman was discovered elevated upon a match-tub while with a malicious grin his barber a fellow who from his merciless rasping was called blue-skin seized him by his long beard and at one fell's stroke cut it off and tossed it out of the porthole behind him

Starting point is 15:41:47 this forecastleman was ever afterwards known by a significant title in the main equivalent to that name of reproach fastened upon that athenian who in alexander's time previous to which all the greeks sported beards first submitted to the deprivation of his own but spite of all the contempt hurled in our forecastleman so prudent an example was soon followed presently all the barbers were dizzy. Sad sight, at which anyone but a barber or a tartar would have wept, beards three years old, goatees that would have graced a chamois of the Alps, imperials that Count Darcy would have envied, and love curls and man-of-war ringlets that would have measured inch for inch with the longest tresses of the fair one with the golden locks, all went by the board. Captain Claret, how can you rest in your hammock?

Starting point is 15:42:51 By this brown beard which now waves from my chin, the illustrious successor to that first young, vigorous beard I yielded to your tyranny. By this manly beard, I swear it was barbarous. My noble Captain Jack Chase was indignant. Not even all the special favors he had received from Captain Claret and the plenary pardon extended to him for his desertion into the Peruvian service could restrain the expression of his feelings. But in his cooler moments, Jack was a wise man.

Starting point is 15:43:27 He at last deemed it but wisdom to succumb. When he went to the barber, he almost drew tears from his eyes. Seating himself mournfully on the matchtub, he looked sideways and said to the barber, who was slithering him, his sheep shears in readiness to begin. My friend, I trust your scissors are consecrated. Let them not touch this beard if they have yet to be dipped in holy water. Beards are sacred things, barber.

Starting point is 15:43:59 Have you no feeling for beards, my friend? Think of it. And mournfully he laid his deep dyed, russet cheek upon his hand. Two summers have gone by since my chin has been reaped. i was in coquimbo then on the spanish main and when the husbandman was sowing his autumnal grain on the vega i started this blessed beard and when the vine-dressers were trimming their vines in the vineyards i first trimmed it to the sound of a flute ah barber have you no heart this beard has been caressed by the snow-white hand of the lovely tamasita of tombez the castilian bail of all lower Peru. Think of that, Barber.

Starting point is 15:44:49 I have worn it as an officer on the quarter-deck of a Peruvian man of war. I have sported it at brilliant fandangos in Lima. I have been aloe and aloft with it at sea. Yay, Barber, it has streamed like an admiral's pennant at the masthead of this same gallant frigate, the never sink. Oh, Barber, Barber, it stabs me to the heart. Talk not of hauling down your ensigns and standards when banquished. What is that, Barber, to striking the flag that nature herself has nailed to the mast?

Starting point is 15:45:27 Here, Noble Jack's feelings overcame him. He dropped from the animated attitude into which his enthusiasm had momentarily transported him. His proud head sunk upon his chest, and his long, sad beard almost grazed the deck. I trail your beards and grief and dishonor, oh crew of the Never Sink, sighed Jack. Barber, come closer now. Tell me, my friend, have you obtained absolution for this deed you are about to commit? You have not? Then, Barber, I will absolve you. Your hands shall be washed of this sin. It is not you, but another. And though you are about to shear off my manhood, yet, barber, I freely forgive you.

Starting point is 15:46:19 Kneel, kneel, barber, that I may bless you, in token that I cherish no malice. So, when this barber, who was the only tender-hearted one of his tribe, had kneeled, been absolved, and then blessed, Jack gave up his beard into his hands, and the barber, clipping it off with a sigh, held it high aloft, and, parodying the style of the Bosen's mates, cried aloud, Do you hear, For and Aft? This is the beard of our matchless Jack Chase, the noble captain of this frigate's main top. End of Chapter 85.

Starting point is 15:47:01 Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 86 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 86 The Rebels Brought to the Mast

Starting point is 15:47:39 Though many heads of hair were shorn, and many fine beards reaped that day, yet several still held out and vowed to defend their sacred, hair to the last gasp of their breath. These were chiefly old sailors, some of them petty officers, who, presuming upon their age or rank, doubtless thought that, after so many had complied with the captain's commands, they, being but a handful, would be exempted from compliance, and remain a monument of our master's clemency. That same evening, when the drum beat to quarters, the sailors went sullenly to their guns, and the old tars who still sported their beards stood up, grim, defying, and motionless,

Starting point is 15:48:28 as the rows of sculptured Assyrian kings, who, with their magnificent beards, have recently been exhumed by layered. When the proper time arrived, their names were taken down by the officers of divisions, and they were afterwards summoned in a body to the mast, where the captain stood ready to receive them. The whole ship's company crowded to the spot, and amid the breathless multitude, the venerable rebels advanced and unhatted.

Starting point is 15:49:00 It was an imposing display. They were old and venerable mariners. Their cheeks had been burned brown in all latitudes, wherever the sun sends a tropical ray. Reverend old Tars, one in all, some of them might have been grandsires, with grandchildren in every port round the world. They ought to have commanded the veneration of the most frivolous or magisterial beholder. Even Captain Claret they ought to have humiliated into deference.

Starting point is 15:49:34 But a Scythian is touched with no reverential promptings, and as the Roman student well knows, the august senators themselves, seated in the Senate House on the majestic hill of the capital, had their holy beards tweaked by the insolent chief of the Goths. Such an array of beards, spade-shaped, hammer-shaped, dagger-shaped, triangular, square, peaked, round, hemispherical and forked. But chief among them all was old Ushans, the ancient captain of the forecastle. Of a gothic venerableness, it fell upon his breast like a continual iron-grey storm.

Starting point is 15:50:14 Ah, old Ushant, Nestor of the crew. It promoted my longevity to behold you. He was a man-of-war's man of the old Benbow school. He wore a short cue, which the wags of the mizzen-top called his plug of pig-tail. About his waist was a broad border's belt which he wore, he said, to brace his mainmast, meaning his backbone, for at times he complained of, rheumatic twinges in the spine, consequent upon sleeping on deck now and then, during the night watches of upward of half a century. His sheath knife was an antique, a sort of old-fashioned

Starting point is 15:50:59 pruning hook, its handle, a sperm whale's tooth, was carved all over with ships, cannon, and anchors. It was attached to his neck by a lanyard, elaborately worked into rose-knots and turks heads by his own venerable fingers. Of all the crew, this ushant, was most beloved by my glorious captain Jack Chase, who one day pointed him out to me as the old man was slowly coming down the rigging from the foretop. There, white jacket, isn't that old Chaucer's shipman? A dagger hanging by a lass hat he, about his neck under his arm adown. The hot-suffer. The hot-suffer Summer had made his beard all brown. Hardy he is, and wise, I undertake with many a tempest has his beard be shake.

Starting point is 15:51:55 From the Canterbury Tales, White Jacket, And must not old Ushant have been living in Chaucer's time that Chaucer could draw his portrait so well? End of Chapter 86, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 87 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville.

Starting point is 15:52:42 Chapter 87. Old Ushant at the Gangwit. way. The rebel beards, headed by old Ushunds, streaming like a Commodore's bogey, now stood in silence at the mast. You knew the order, said the captain, eyeing them severely. What does that hair on your chins? Sir, said the captain of the forecastle, did old Ushund ever refuse doing his duty? Did he ever yet miss his muster. But, sir, old Ushan's beard is his own. What's that, sir? Mastered arms, put that man into the brig. Sir, said the old man respectfully, the three years for which I shipped are expired, and though I am perhaps bound to work the ship home, yet as matters are, I think my beard might be

Starting point is 15:53:36 allowed me. It is but a few days, Captain Claret. Put him into the brig, cried the captain. And now, you old rascals, he added, turning round upon the rest. I give you fifteen minutes to have those beards taken off. If they then remain on your chins, I'll flog you, every mother's son of you, though you were all my godfathers. The band of beards went forward, summoned their barbers, and their glorious penance were no more. In obedience to orders they then paraded themselves at the mast,

Starting point is 15:54:11 and, addressing the captain, said, sir, Our muzzle lashings are cast off. Nor is it unworthy of being chronicled that not a single sailor who complied with the general order but refused to sport the vile regulation whiskers prescribed by the Navy Department. No, like heroes, they cried, Shave me clean, I will not wear a hair since I cannot wear all. On the morrow, after breakfast, Ushund was taken out of irons, and with the master at arms on one side and an armed sentry on the other,

Starting point is 15:54:47 was escorted along the gun-deck and up the ladder to the main mast. There the captain stood firm as before. They must have guarded the old man thus to prevent his escape to the shore, something less than a thousand miles distant at the time. Well, sir, will you have that beard taken off? You have slept over it a whole night now. What do you say? I don't want to flog an old man like you, Ushund.

Starting point is 15:55:15 My beard is my own, sir, said the old man, lowly. Will you take it off? It is mine, sir, said the old man tremulously. Rig the gratings, roared the captain. Mastered arms, strip him. Quartermasters, seize him up. Boesan's mates, do your duty. While these executioners were employed, the captain's excitement had a little time to abate.

Starting point is 15:55:45 And when at last old Ushant was tied up by the arms and legs, and his venerable back was exposed, that back which had bowed at the guns of the frigate constitution when she captured the guerrier, the captain seemed to relent. You are a very old man, he said, and I am sorry to flog you, but my orders must be obeyed. I will give you one more chance. Will you have that beard taken off? Captain Claret, said the old man,

Starting point is 15:56:17 turning round painfully in his bonds. You may flog me if you will, but, sir, in this one thing I cannot obey you. Lay on. I'll see his backbone, roared the captain in a sudden fury. By heaven, thrillingly. whispered Jack Chase who stood by,

Starting point is 15:56:38 "'It's only a halter. I'll strike him.' "'Better not,' said a top mate. "'It's death or worse punishment, remember.' "'There goes the lash,' cried Jack. "'Look at the old man. "'By, blank. I can't stand it. "'Let me go, men.' "'And with moist eyes, Jack forced his way to one side.

Starting point is 15:57:01 "'You, Bowson's mate,' cried the captain. "'You are favoring that man. lay on soundly, sir, or I'll have your own cat laid soundly on you. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight, nine, ten, ten, eleven, twelve lashes were laid on the back of that heroic old man. He only bowed over his head and stood as the dying gladiator lies. Cut him down, said the captain, and now go and cut your own throat, hoarsely whispered an old sheet-ankerman, a mess made of Ushund's. When the master-at-arms advanced with the prisoner's shirt, Ushant waved him off with the dignified air of Abraham, saying, Do you think master at arms that I am hurt?

Starting point is 15:58:01 I will put on my own garment. I am never the worse for it, man, and tis no dishonor when he who would dishonor you only dishonors himself. What says he, cried the captain, what says that tarry old philosopher with the smoking back? Tell it to me, sir, if you dare. Century, take that man back to the brig. Stop, John Uschant, you have been captain of the forecastle. I break you. And now you go into the brig, there to remain till you consent to have that big,

Starting point is 15:58:33 beard taken off. My beard is my own, said the old man quietly. Sentry, I am ready. And back he went into durance between the guns, but after lying some four or five days in irons, an order came to remove them, but he was still kept confined. Books were allowed him, and he spent much time in reading, but he also spent many hours in braiding his beard and interweaving with it strips of red bunting as if he desired to dress out and adorn the thing which had triumphed over all opposition. He remained a prisoner till we arrived

Starting point is 15:59:15 in America, but the very moment he heard the chain rattle out of the hawse hole and the ship swing to her anchor, he started to his feet, dashed the sentry aside, and gaining the deck, exclaimed, at home with my beard. His term of service having some months previous expired, and the ship being now in harbor, he was beyond the reach of naval law, and the officers durst not molest him. But without unduly availing himself of these circumstances,

Starting point is 15:59:46 the old man merely got his bag and hammock together, hired a boat, and throwing himself into the stern, was rowed ashore, amid the unsuppressable cheers of all hands. It was a glorious conquest over the conqueror himself, as well worthy to be celebrated as the Battle of the Nile. Though, as I afterward learned, Ushund was earnestly entreated to put the case into some lawyer's hands, he firmly declined, saying,

Starting point is 16:00:17 I have won the battle, my friends, and I do not care for the prize money. But even had he complied with these entreaties from precedents in similar cases, it is almost certain that not a sous worth of satisfaction would have been received. I know not in what frigate you sail now, old Ushant, but heaven protect your storied old beard in whatever typhoon it may blow. And if ever it must be shorn, old man, may it fare like the royal beard of Henry I of England, and be clipped by the right reverend hand of some archbishop of seas.

Starting point is 16:00:53 As for Captain Claret, let it not be supposed that it is here sought to impale him before the world as a cruel, black-hearted man. Such he was not. Nor was he, upon the whole, regarded by his crew with anything like the feelings which Man of Warsmen sometimes cherish towards signally tyrannical commanders. In truth, the majority of the Never Sinks crew, in previous cruises habituated to flagrant misuse, deemed Captain Claret a lenient officer. In many things he certainly refrain from oppressing them. It has been related what privileges he accorded to the seaman, respecting the free playing of checkers, a thing almost unheard of in most American men of war.

Starting point is 16:01:44 In the matter of overseeing the men's clothing, also he was remarkably indulgent, compared with the conduct of other Navy captains who, by sumptuary regulations oblige their sailors to run up large bills with the purser for clothes. In a word, of whatever acts Captain Claret might have been guilty in the Never Sink, perhaps none of them proceeded from any personal organic hard-heartedness.

Starting point is 16:02:11 What he was, the usages of the Navy had made him. Had he been a mere landsman, a merchant say, he would no doubt have been considered a kind-hearted man. There may be some who shall read of this Bartholomew massacre of beards who will yet marvel, perhaps, that the loss of a few hairs, more or less, should provoke such hostility from the sailors, lash them into so frothing a rage, indeed, come near breeding a mutiny. But these circumstances are not without precedent.

Starting point is 16:02:45 Not to speak of the riots attended with the loss of life, which once occurred in Madrid, in resistance to an arbitrary edict of the kings, seeking to suppress the cloaks of the cavaliers. And, not to make mention of other instances that might be quoted, it needs only to point out the rage of the Saxons in the time of William the Conqueror, when that despot commanded the hair on their upper lips to be shaven off, the hereditary mustaches which whole generations had sported. The multitude of the dispirited vanquished were obliged to acquiesce, but many Saxon Franklin's and general, and gentlemen, gentleman of spirit, choosing rather to lose their castles than their mustaches,

Starting point is 16:03:28 voluntarily deserted their firesides and went into exile. All this is indignantly related by the stout Saxon friar Matthew Paris in his Historia Major, beginning with the Norman Conquest. And that our Man of Wars men were right in desiring to perpetrate their beards as martial appurtenances must seem very plain when it is considered that, as the beard is the token of manhood, so, in some shape or other, has it ever been held the true badge of a warrior? Bonaparte's grenadiers were stout whiskerandos, and perhaps in a charge those fierce whiskers of theirs did as much to appall the foe as the sheen of their bayonets.

Starting point is 16:04:16 Most all fighting creatures sport either whiskers or beards. It's seems a law of dame nature. Witness the boar, the tiger, the cougar, man, the leopard, the ram, the cat, all warriors and all whiskerandos. Whereas the peace-loving tribes have mostly enameled chins. End of Chapter 87. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 88 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 16:05:05 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 88 Flogging Through the Fleet The Flogging of an old man like Ushant, most landsmobile. will probably regard with abhorrence. But though from peculiar circumstances, his case occasioned a good deal of indignation among the people of the Never Sink, yet upon its own proper grounds, they did not denounce it. Man of War's men are so habituated to what landsmen would deem

Starting point is 16:05:47 excessive cruelties that they are almost reconciled to inferior severities. And here, though the subject of punishment in the Navy has been canvassed in previous chapters, and though the thing is every way a most unpleasant and grievous one to enlarge upon, and though I painfully nerve myself to it while I write, a feeling of duty compels me to enter upon a branch of the subject till now undiscussed. I would not be like the man who, seeing an outcast perishing by the roadside, turned about to his friend saying, let us cross the way, my soul so sickens at this sight that I cannot endure it. There are certain enormities in this man-of-war world that often secure impunity by their very excessiveness. Some ignorant people will refrain from permanently removing the cause of a deadly

Starting point is 16:06:47 malaria for fear of the temporary spread of its offensiveness. Let us not be of such. The more repugnant and repelling, the greater the evil. Leaving our women and children behind, let us freely enter this Golgatha. Years ago, there was a punishment inflicted in the English, and I believe in the American Navy, called keel-hauling. A phrase still employed by man-of-war's men, when they would express some signal vengeance upon a personal foe. The practice still remains in the French National Marine,

Starting point is 16:07:25 though it is by no means resorted to so frequently as in times past. It consists of attaching tackles to the two extremities of the main yard and passing the rope under the ship's bottom. To one end of this rope, the culprit is secured. His own shipmates are then made to run him up and down, first on this side, then on that, now scraping the ship's hull under water. A nun, hoisted, stunned,

Starting point is 16:07:55 and breathless into the air. But though this barbarity is now abolished from the English and American navies, there still remains another practice which, if anything, is even worse than keel-hauling. This remnant of the Middle Ages is known in the Navy as flogging through the fleet. It is never inflicted except by authority of a court-martial upon some trespasser deemed guilty of a flagrant defense. Never, that I know of, has it been inflicted by an American man of war on the home station. The reason? Probably is that the officers well know that such a spectacle would raise a mob in any American seaport. By 41 of the Articles of War, a court-martial shall not, for any one offense not capital, inflict a punishment beyond 100 lashes.

Starting point is 16:08:53 In cases not capital, this law may be, and has been, quoted in judicial justification of the infliction of more than 100 lashes. Indeed, it would cover a thousand. Thus, one act of a sailor may be construed into the commission of ten different transgressions, for each of which he may be legally condemned to 100 lashes to be inflicted without intermission. It will be perceived, that in any case deemed capital, a sailor under the above article, may legally be flogged to the death. But neither by the articles of war nor by any other enactment of Congress, is there any direct warrant for the extraordinary cruelty of the mode in which punishment is inflicted

Starting point is 16:09:43 in cases of flogging through the fleet? But as in numerous other instances, the incidental aggravations of this penalty are indirectly covered by other clauses in the Articles of War, one of which authorizes the authorities of a ship in certain indefinite cases, to correct the guilty according to the usages of the sea service. One of these usages is the following. All hands being called to witness punishment in the ship to which the culprit belongs, the sentence of the court-martial condemning him is read,

Starting point is 16:10:21 when, with the usual solemnities, a portion of the punishment is inflicted. In order that it shall not lose in severity by the slightest exhaustion in the arm of the executioner, a fresh boatswain's mate is called out at every dozen. As the leading idea is to strike terror into the beholders, the greatest number of lashes is inflicted on board the culprit's own ship, in order to render him the more shocking spectacle to the crews of the other vessels. The first infliction being concluded, the culprit's shirt is thrown over him. He is put into a boat, the rogue's march being played meanwhile,

Starting point is 16:11:06 and rode to the next ship of the squadron. All hands of that ship are then called to man the rigging, and another portion of the punishment is inflicted by the Bosen's mates of that ship. The bloody shirt is again thrown over the seaman, and thus he is carried through the fleet or squadron till the whole sentence is inflicted. In other cases, the launch, the largest of the boats, is rigged with a platform, like a headsman's scaffold, upon which halberds, something like those used in the English army, are erected. They consist of two stout poles, planted upright. upon the platform stand a lieutenant, a surgeon, a master at arms, and the executioners with their cats. They are rowed through the fleet, stopping at each ship, till the whole sentence is inflicted as before.

Starting point is 16:12:03 In some cases, the attending surgeon has professionally interfered before the last lash has been given, alleging that immediate death must ensue if the remainder should be administered without arrest. but instead of humanely remitting the remaining lashes, in a case like this, the man is generally consigned to his cot for ten or twelve days, and when the surgeon officially reports him capable of undergoing the rest of the sentence, it is forthwith inflicted. Shylock must have his pound of flesh. To say that after being flogged through the fleet, the prisoner's back is sometimes puffed up like a pillow, or to say that in other cases it looks as if burned black before a roasting fire,

Starting point is 16:12:50 or to say that you may track him through the squadron by the blood on the bulwarks of every ship would only be saying what many seamen have seen. Several weeks, sometimes whole months elapsed before the sailor is sufficiently recovered to resume his duties. During the greater part of that interval, he lies in the sick bay, groaning out his days and night. and unless he has the hide and constitution of a rhinoceros, he never is the man he was before, but, broken and shattered to the marrow of his bones, sinks into death before his time.

Starting point is 16:13:27 Instances have occurred where he has expired the day after the punishment. No wonder that the Englishman, Dr. Granville, himself once a surgeon in the Navy, declares in his work on Russia that the barbarian gout, itself is not a greater torture to undergo than the Navy Cat of Nine Tales. Some years ago, a fire broke out near the Powder magazine in an American national ship, one of the squadron at anchor in the Bay of Naples. The utmost alarm prevailed. A cry went for and aft that the ship was about to blow up.

Starting point is 16:14:06 One of the seamen sprang overboard in a fright. At length, the fire was got under, and the man was picked up. He was tried before a court-martial, found guilty of cowardice, and condemned to be flogged through the fleet. In due time the squadron made sail for Algiers, and in that harbor, once haunted by pirates, the punishment was inflicted. The Bay of Naples, though washing the shores of an absolute king, not being deemed a fit place for such an exhibition of American naval law. While the Never Sink was in the Pacific, an American sailor who had deposited a vote for General Harrison for President of the United States was flogged through the fleet. End of Chapter 88, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 89

Starting point is 16:15:07 Of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 89 The Social State in a Man of War But the floggings at the gangway and the floggings through the fleet,

Starting point is 16:15:46 the stealings, highway robberies, swearings, gamblings, blasphemings, thimble riggings, smugglings, and tipplings of a man of war, which, throughout this narrative, have been here and there sketched from the life, by no means comprise the whole catalogue of evil. One single feature is full of significance. All large ships of war carry soldiers called Marines. In the Never Sink there was something less than 50, two-thirds of whom were Irishmen. They were officered by a lieutenant, an orderly sergeant, two sergeants, and two corporals with a drummer and fifer. The custom generally is to have a Marine to each gun, which rule usually furnishes the scale for distributing the soldiers and vessels of different force.

Starting point is 16:16:42 Our Marines had no other than martial duty to perform, excepting that at sea they stood watches like the sailors and now and then lazily assisted in pulling the ropes, but they never put foot in rigging or hand in tar bucket. On the quarter bills, these men were stationed at none of the great guns. On the station bills, they had no posts at the ropes. What then were they for? To serve their country in time of battle?

Starting point is 16:17:14 Let us see. When a ship is running into action, her Marines generally lie flat on their faces behind the bulwarks. The sailors are sometimes ordered to do the same. And when the vessel is fairly engaged, they are usually drawn up in the ship's waist, like a company reviewing in the park. At close quarters, their muskets may pick off a seaman or two in the rigging, but at long gun distance they must passively stand in their ranks and be decimated at the enemy's leisure. Only in one case in ten, that is, when their vessel is attempted to be boarded by a large party,

Starting point is 16:17:53 are these Marines of any essential service as fighting men, with their bayonets they are then called upon to repel. If comparatively so useless as soldiers, why have Marines at all in the Navy? Know then that what standing armies are to nations, what turnkeys are to jails, these marines are to the seamen in all large men of war. Their muskets are their keys. With those muskets, they stand guard over the fresh water, over the grog when doled,

Starting point is 16:18:27 over the provisions when being served out by the master's mate, over the brig or jail. At the Commodores and Captain's cabin doors, and in port, at both gangways and forecastle. Surely the crowd of sailors, who, besides having so many sea officers over them, are thus additionally guarded by soldiers

Starting point is 16:18:49 even when they quench their thirst, surely these man-of-war's men must be desperadoes indeed, or else the naval service must be so tyrannical that the worst is feared from their possible insubordination. Either reason holds good, or both, according to the character of the officers and crew. It must be evident that the man-of-war's man casts but an evil eye on a marine. To call a man a horse-marine is among seamen one of the greatest terms of contempt.

Starting point is 16:19:25 But the mutual contempt, and even hatred, subsisting between these two bodies of men, both clinging to one keel, both lodged in one household, is held by most Navy officers as the height of the perfection of Navy discipline. It is regarded as the button that caps the uttermost point on their main mast. Thus they reason. Secure of this antagonism between the Marine and the Sailor, we can always rely upon it that if the Sailor mutinies, it needs no great incitement for the Marine to thrust his bayonet through his heart.

Starting point is 16:20:04 If the Marine revolts, the pike of the sailor is impatient to charge. Checks and balances, blood against blood, that is the cry and the argument. What applies to the relation in which the marine and sailors stand toward each other, the mutual repulsion implied by a system of checks, will, in degree, apply to nearly the entire interior of a man-of-war's discipline. The whole body of this discipline is emphatically a system of cruel cogs and wheels, systematically grinding up in one common hopper all that might minister to the moral well-being of the crew. It is the same with both officers and men.

Starting point is 16:20:51 If a captain have a grudge against a lieutenant or a lieutenant against a midshipman, how easy to torture him by official treatment, which shall not lay open the superior, officer to legal rebuke. And if a midshipman bears a grudge against a sailor, how easy for him, by cunning practices, born of a boyish spite, to have him degraded at the gangway? Through all the endless ramifications of rank and station, in most men of war, there runs a sinister vein of bitterness, not exceeded by the fireside hatreds in a family of step-sons ashore. It were sickening to detail all the paltry irritabilities, jealousies, and cabals, the spiteful detractions and animosities that lurk far down and cling to the very Kelson of the ship.

Starting point is 16:21:45 It is unmanning to think of. The immutable ceremonies and iron etiquette of a man-of-war, the spiked barriers separating the various grades of rank, the delegated absolutism of authority on all hands. hands, the impossibility on the part of the common seaman of appeal from incidental abuses, and many more things that might be enumerated all tend to beget in most armed ships a general social condition which is the precise reverse of what any Christian could desire. And though there are vessels that in some measure furnish exceptions to this, and though in other ships

Starting point is 16:22:26 the thing may be glazed over by a guarded punctilious exterior, almost completely hiding the truth from casual visitors, while the worst facts touching the common sailor are systematically kept in the background. Yet it is certain that what has here been said of the domestic interior of a man of war will, in a greater or less degree, apply to most vessels in the Navy. It is not that the officers are so malevolent, nor altogether, that the man-of-war's man is so vicious. Some of these evils are unavoidably generated through the operation of the naval code. Others are absolutely organic to a Navy establishment, and, like other organic evils, are incurable,

Starting point is 16:23:14 except when they dissolve with the body they live in. End of Chapter 89. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 90. The Manning of Navies The Gallows and the Sea Refuse Nothing is a very old sea saying, and among all the wondrous prince of Hogarth, there is none remaining more true at the present day than that dramatic boat scene, where, after consorting with harlots and gambling on tombstones,

Starting point is 16:24:22 the idle apprentice, with the villainous low forehead, is at last represented as being pushed off to sea with a ship and a gallows in the distance. But Hogarth should have converted the ship's masts themselves into Tyburn trees, and thus, with the ocean for a background, closed the career of his hero. It would then have had all the dramatic force of the opera of Don Juan, who, after running his impious courses, is swept from our sight in a tornado of devils. For the sea is the true toffet and bottomless pit of many workers of iniquity.

Starting point is 16:25:05 And as the German mystics feign Ghehenus within Gahenas, even so are men of war familiarly known among sailors as floating hells. And as the sea, according to Old Fuller, is the stable of brute monsters, gliding hither and thither in unspeakable swarms. Even so is it the home of many moral monsters, who fitly divide its empire with the snake, the shark, and the worm. Nor are sailors, and man-of-war's men, especially, at all blind to a true sense of these things. Pursar-rigged and perish-damned is the sailor saying in the American Navy,

Starting point is 16:25:49 when the Tyro first mounts the lined frock and blue jacket, aptly manufactured for him in a state prison ashore. No wonder that lured by some crimp into a service so galling and perhaps persecuted by a vindictive lieutenant, some repentant sailors have actually jumped into the sea to escape from their fate or set themselves adrift on the wide ocean on the gratings without compass or rudder. In one case, a young man, after being nearly cut into dogs' meat at the gangway, loaded his pockets with shot and walked overboard. Some years ago, I was in a whaling ship lying in a harbor of the Pacific, with three Frenchmen of war alongside.

Starting point is 16:26:37 One dark, moody night, a suppressed cry was heard from the face of the waters, and thinking it was someone drowning, a boat was lowered. when two French sailors were picked up, half dead from exhaustion, and nearly throttled by a bundle of their clothes tied fast to their shoulders. In this manner they had attempted their escape from their vessel. When the French officers came in pursuit, these sailors, rallying from their exhaustion, fought like tigers to resist being captured. Though this story concerns a French-armed ship,

Starting point is 16:27:10 it is not the less applicable in degree, to those of other nations. Mix with the men in an American armed ship. Mark how many foreigners there are, though it is against the law to enlist them. Nearly one-third of the petty officers of the Never Sink were born east of the Atlantic. Why is this?

Starting point is 16:27:34 Because the same principle that operates in hindering Americans from hiring themselves out as menial domestics also restrains them in a great measure from voluntarily assuming a far worse servitude in the Navy. Sailors wanted for the Navy is a common announcement along the wharves of our seaports. They are always wanted. It may have been, in part, owing to this scarcity of Man of War's men, that not many years ago, black slaves were frequently to be found regularly enlisted with the crew

Starting point is 16:28:12 of an American frigate, their masters receiving their pay. This was in the teeth of a law of Congress expressly prohibiting slaves in the Navy. This law indirectly means black slaves, nothing being said concerning white ones. But in view of what John Randolph of Roanoke said about the frigate that carried him to Russia, and in view of what most armed vessels actually are at present, the American Navy is not altogether an inappropriate place for hereditary bondmen. Still, the circumstance of their being found in it is of such a nature that to some it may hardly appear credible.

Starting point is 16:28:54 The incredulity of such persons, nevertheless, must yield to the fact that on board of the United States ship Never Sink, during the present cruise, there was a Virginian slave regularly shipped as a seaman, his owner receiving his wages. Guinea, such was his name among the crew, belonged to the purser, who was a southern gentleman. He was employed as his body servant. Never did I feel my condition as a man-of-war's man so keenly as when seeing this guinea freely circulating about the decks in citizens' clothes,

Starting point is 16:29:33 and through the influence of his master almost entirely exempted from the disciplinary degradation of the Caucasian crew. Faring sumptuously in the wardroom, sleek and round, his ebbin face fairly polished with content, ever gay and hilarious, ever ready to laugh and joke, that African slave was actually envied by many of the seamen. There were times when I almost envied him myself. Limsford once envied him outright. Ah, Guinea, he sighed. You have peaceful times. You never opened the book, I.

Starting point is 16:30:11 I read in. One morning, when all hands were called to witness punishment, the purser's slave, as usual, was observed to be hurrying down the ladders toward the wardroom, his face wearing that peculiar pinched blueness, which, in the negro, answers to the paleness caused by nervous agitation in the white. "'Where are you going, Guinea?' cried the deck officer, a humorous gentleman, who sometimes diverted himself with the purser's slave, and well knew what answer he would now receive from him. "'Where are you going, Guinea?' said this officer. "'Turn about. Don't you hear the call, sir?'

Starting point is 16:30:55 "'Excuse me, Masa,' said the slave, with a low salutation. "'I can't tanned it. I can't, indeed, Masa.' And so saying, he disappeared beyond the hatchway. He was the only person on board, except the hospital steward and the invalids of the sick bay, who was exempted from being present at the administering of the scourge. Accustomed to light and easy duties from his birth, and so fortunate as to meet with none but gentle masters, Guinea, though a bondman, liable to be saddled with a mortgage, like a horse, Genie, in India Rubber Manacles, enjoyed the liberties of the world. Though his body and sole proprietor, the purser, never in any way individualized me while I served

Starting point is 16:31:49 on board the frigate, and never did me a good office of any kind, it was hardly in his power. Yet from his pleasant, kind, indulgent manner toward his slave, I always imputed to him a generous heart, and cherished an involuntary friendliness toward him. Upon our arrival home, his treatment of Guinea, under circumstances peculiarly calculated to stir up the resentment of a slave owner, still more augmented my estimation of the purser's good heart. Mention has been made of the number of foreigners in the American Navy, but it is not in the American Navy alone that foreigners bear so large a proportion to the rest of the crew, though in no navy perhaps have they ever borne so large a proportion as in our own.

Starting point is 16:32:40 According to an English estimate, the foreigners serving in the king's ships at one time amounted to one-eighth of the entire body of seamen. How it is in the French Navy, I cannot with certainty say, but I have repeatedly sailed with English seamen who have served in it. One of the effects of the free introduction of foreigners into any navy cannot be sufficiently deplored. During the period I lived in the Never Sink, I was repeatedly struck by the lack of patriotism in many of my shipmates. True, they were mostly foreigners, who unblushingly avowed that, were it not for the difference of pay, they would as life man the guns of an English ship as though of an American or Frenchman.

Starting point is 16:33:28 Nevertheless, it was evident that, as for any high-toned patriotic feeling, there was comparatively very little, hardly any of it, evinced by our sailors as a body. Upon reflection, this was not to be wandered at. From their roving career and the sundering of all domestic ties, many sailors, all the world over, are like the free companions, who some centuries ago wandered over Europe, ready to fight the battles of any prince who could purchase their swords. The only patriotism is born and nurtured in a stationary home, and upon an immovable hearth stone.

Starting point is 16:34:09 But the man-of-war's man, though in his voyagings he weds the two poles and brings both Indies together, yet let him wander where he will. He carries his one-only home along with him. That home is his hammock. Born under a gun and educated on the bowel sprit, according to a phrase of his own, the man-of-war man rolls round the world like a billow, ready to mix with any sea or be sucked down to death in the maelstrom of any war.

Starting point is 16:34:43 Yet more, the dread of the general discipline of a man-of-war, the special obnoxiousness of the gangway, the protracted confinement on board ship with so few liberations, days, and the pittance of pay, much less than what can always be had in the merchant service, these things contrived to deter from the navies of all countries by far the majority of their best seamen. This will be obvious when the following statistical facts taken from McPherson's annals of commerce are considered. At one period, upon the peace establishment, the number of men employed in the English Navy was 25,000.

Starting point is 16:35:25 At the same time, the English Merchant Service was employing 118,952. But while the necessities of a merchantman render it indispensable that the greater part of her crew be able seaman, the circumstances of a man of war admit of her mustering a crowd of landsmen, soldiers, and boys in her service. By a statement of Captain Marriott's in his pamphlet, AD 1822, on the abolition of impressment, it appears that at the close of the Bonaparte wars, a full third of all crews of His Majesty's fleets consisted of landsmen and boys. Far from entering with enthusiasm into the king's ships when their country were menaced, the great body of English seamen, appalled at the discipline of the Navy, adopted unheard of devices to escape its press gangs. Some even hid themselves in caves and lonely places inland,

Starting point is 16:36:28 fearing to run the risk of seeking a berth in an outward-bound merchantman that might have carried them beyond the sea. In the true narrative of John Nicol, Mariner, published in 1822 by Blackwood in Edinburgh and Cadell in London, and which everywhere bears the spontaneous impromperous press of truth, the old sailor in the most artless, touching, and almost uncomplaining manner tells of his skulking like a thief for whole years in the country roundabout Edinburgh to avoid the press gangs prowling through the land like bandits and burkers. At this time, Bonaparte's wars, according to Steele's list, there were 45 regular press gang stations in Great Britain. Footnote.

Starting point is 16:37:20 Besides this domestic kidnapping, British frigates in friendly or neutral harbors, in some instances, pressed into their service foreign sailors of all nations from the public wharves. In certain cases where Americans were concerned, when protections were found upon their persons, these were destroyed. And to prevent the American consul from claiming his sailor countrymen,

Starting point is 16:37:45 the press gang generally went on shore the night previous to the sailing of the frigate so that the kidnapped seamen were far out to sea before they could be missed by their friends. These things should be known, for in case the English government again goes to war with its fleets and should again resort to indiscriminate impressment to man them, it is well that both Englishmen and Americans that all the world be prepared to put down an iniquity outrageous and insulting to God and man. End of footnote. In a later instance, a large body of British seamen

Starting point is 16:38:25 solemnly assembled upon the eve of an anticipated war and together determined that, in case of its breaking out, they would at once flee to America to avoid being pressed into the service of their country, a service which degraded her own guardians at the gangway. At another time, long previous to this, according to an English Navy officer, Lieutenant Tomlinson, 3,000 seamen, impelled by the same motive, fled ashore in a panic from the colliers between Yarmouth Roads and the Noor. Elsewhere, he says, in speaking of some of the men on board the King's ships, that they were most miserable objects.

Starting point is 16:39:08 This remark is perfectly corroborated by other testimony referring to another period. In alluding to the lamented scarcity of good English seamen during the wars of 1808, etc, the author of a pamphlet on naval subjects says that all the best seamen, the steadiest and best-behaved men, generally succeeded in avoiding the impress. This writer was, or had been himself a captain in the British fleet. Now, it may be easily imagined who are the men, and of what moral character they are, who, even at the present day, are willing to enlist as full-grown adults in a service so galling to all-shore manhood as the Navy. Hence it comes that the skulkers and scoundrels of all sorts in a man-of-war

Starting point is 16:39:59 are chiefly composed, not of regular seamen, but of these docklopers of landsmen, men who enter the Navy to draw their grog and murder their time in the notorious idleness of a frigate. But if so idle, why not reduce the number of a man-of-war's crew and reasonably keep employed the rest? It cannot be done. In the first place, the magnitude of most of these ships requires a large number of hands to brace the heavy yards, hoist the enormous top-sails, and weigh the ponderous anchor. And though the occasion for the employment of so many men comes but seldom, it is true, yet yet, when that occasion does come, and come it may at any moment, this multitude of men are indispensable. But besides this, and to crown all, the batteries must be manned. There must be enough men to work all

Starting point is 16:40:59 the guns at one time, and thus, in order to have a sufficiency of mortals at hand to sink, burn, and destroy, a man of war, through her vices, hopelessly depraving the volunteer landsman and ordinary seamen of good habits, who occasionally enlist, must feed at the public cost a multitude of persons who, if they did not find a home in the Navy, would probably fall on the parish or linger out their days in a prison. Among others, these are the men into whose mouths Dibden puts his patriotic verses, full of sea chivalry and romance. With an exception in the last line, they might be sung with equal propriety by both English and American Man of Wars men. As for me, in all weathers, all times, tides, and ends,

Starting point is 16:41:53 knots a trouble from duty that springs. For my heart is my Paul's, and my rhinos my friends, and as for my life, it's the kings. To rancor unknown, to no passion, a slave, nor unmanly, nor mean, nor a railer, etc. I do not unite with a high critical authority in considering Dibdin's ditties as slang songs, for most of them breathe the very poetry of the ocean. But it is remarkable that those songs, which would lead one to think that man-of-war's men

Starting point is 16:42:34 are the most carefree, contented, virtuous, and patriotic of mankind, were, composed at a time when the English Navy was principally manned by felons and paupers, as mentioned in a former chapter. Still more, these songs are pervaded by a true Mohammedan sensualism, a reckless acquiescence in fate, and an implicit, unquestioning, dog-like devotion to whoever may be Lord and Master. Dibden was a man of genius, but no wonder Dibden was a government pensioner at 200 pounds per annum. But notwithstanding the iniquities of a man of war, men are to be found in them at times, so used to a hard life, so drilled and disciplined to servitude, that, with an incomprehensible

Starting point is 16:43:25 philosophy, they seem cheerfully to resign themselves to their fate. They have plenty to eat, spirits to drink, clothing to keep them warm, a hammock to sleep in, tobacco to chew, a doctor to medicine them, a parson to pray for them, and, to a penniless castaway, must not all this seem as a luxurious bill of fare? There was on board of the Never Sink a foretopman by the name of Landless, who, though his back was cross-barred and platted with the ineffaceable scars of all the floggings accumulated by a reckless tar during a ten-year's service in the Navy, yet he perpetually wore a hilarious face, and at joke and repartee was a very Joe Miller.

Starting point is 16:44:13 That man, though a sea vagabond, was not created in vain. He enjoyed life with the zest of everlasting adolescence, and, though cribbed in an oaken prison with the turnkey sentries all around him, yet he paced the gun-deck as if it were broad as a prairie, and diversified in landscape as the hills and valleys, of the Tyrol. Nothing ever disconcerted him. Nothing could transmute his laugh into anything like a sigh.

Starting point is 16:44:43 Those glandular secretions, which in other captives sometimes go to the formation of tears, in him were expectorated from the mouth, tinged with the golden juice of a weed, wherewith he solaced and comforted his ignominious days. "'Rum and tobacco,' said Landless. "'What more does a sailor want?' His favorite song was Dibden's true English sailor, beginning. Jack dances and sings and is always content. In his vows to his lass, he'll ne'er fail her.

Starting point is 16:45:21 His anchors a trip when his money's all spent, and this is the life of a sailor. But poor Landless danced quite as often at the gangway under the lash as in the sailor dancehouses ash. Another of his songs, also set to the significant tune of The King, God Bless Him, mustered the following lines among many similar ones. O, when safely landed in Boston or York, O how I will tipple and jig it, and toss off my glass while my rhino holds out in drinking success to our frigate.

Starting point is 16:46:02 During the many idle hours when our frigate was lying in harbor, this man was either merrily playing at checkers or mending his clothes or snoring like a trumpeter under the lee of the booms. When fast asleep, a national salute from our batteries could hardly move him. Whether ordered to the main truck in a gale or roll, by the drum to the grog tub, or commanded to walk up to the gratings and be lashed, Landless always obeyed with the same invincible indifference. His advice to a young lad, who shipped with us at Valparaiso, embodies the pith and marrow of that philosophy which enables some men of war's men

Starting point is 16:46:44 to wax jolly in the service. "'Shippy?' said Landless, taking the pale lad by his neckerchief, as if he had him by the halter. Shippy, I've seen Sarvis with Uncle Sam. I've sailed in many Andrew Millers. Now, take my advice, and steer clear of all trouble. Just see, touch your tile whenever a swab officer speaks to you, and never mind how much they ropes in you, keep your red rag belayed,

Starting point is 16:47:16 for you must know is how they don't fancy sea lawyers, and when the Sarvanada slops comes round, stand up to it stiffly. It's only an, oh, Lord, or two, and a few, oh, my gods. That's all. And what then? Why, you sleeps it off in a few nights, and turn out at last all ready for your grog. This landless was a favorite with the officers, among whom he went by the name of Happy Jack.

Starting point is 16:47:44 And it is just such Happy Jacks as Landless that most sea officers profess to admire, a fellow without shame, without a soul, so dead to the least dignity of manhood, that he could hardly be called a man. Whereas a seaman who exhibits traits of moral sensitiveness, whose demeanor shows some dignity within, this is the man they, in many cases, instinctively dislike. The reason is, they feel such a man to be a continual reproach to them, as being mentally superior to their power. He has no business, in a man of war. They do not want such men. To them, there is an insolence in his manly freedom, contempt in his very carriage. He is unendurable as an erect, lofty-minded African would be to some slave-driving planter. Let it not be supposed, however, that the remarks in this and the preceding

Starting point is 16:48:45 chapter apply to all men of war. There are some vessels blessed with patriarchal, intellectuals captains, gentlemanly and brotherly officers, and docile and Christianized crews. The peculiar usages of such vessels insensibly softens the tyrannical rigor of the Articles of War. In them, scourging is unknown. To sail in such ships is hardly to realize that you live under the martial law, or that the evils above-mentioned can anywhere exist. And Jack Chase, old Ushant, and several more fine tars that might be added, sufficiently attest that in the Never Sink at least, there was more than one noble man-of-war's man, who almost redeemed all the rest. Wherever throughout this narrative, the American Navy in any of its bearings has formed the theme of a general discussion, hardly one syllable of admiration for what is accounted illustrious in its achievements has been permitted to escape me.

Starting point is 16:49:51 The reason is this. I consider that so far as what is called military renown is concerned, the American Navy needs no eulogist but history. It were superfluous for White Jacket to tell the world what it knows already. The office imposed upon me is of another cast, and though I foresee and feel that it may subject me to the pillory in the hard thoughts of some men, yet supported by what God has given me, I tranquilly abide the event, whatever it may prove. End of Chapter 90, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista.

Starting point is 16:50:40 Chapter 91 of White Jacket, or The World in a Man of War. This is a Liebervaux recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket, or the World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 91. Smoking Club in a Man of War, with scenes on the gun deck, drawing near home. There is a fable about a painter moved by Jove to the painting of the head of Medusa. Though the picture was true to life, yet the poor artist sickened at the sight of what his forced pencil had drawn.

Starting point is 16:51:32 Thus, born through my task toward the end, my own soul now sinks at what I myself have portrayed. But let us forget past chapters, if we may, while we paint less repugnant things. Metropolitan gentlemen have their club, provincial gossipers, their newsroom, village quidnunks, their barbers shop, the Chinese, their opium houses, American Indians, their council fire, and even cannibals, their New Jonah, or Talkstone, where they assemble at times to discuss the affairs of the day. nor is there any government, however, despotic, that ventures to deny to the least of its subjects the privilege of a sociable chat. Not the 30 tyrants even, the clubbed post-captains of old Athens, could stop the wagging tongues at the street corners. For Chet, man must, and by our immortal Bill of Rights, that guarantees us liberty of speech, Chet, we Yankees will, whether on board a frigate or on board our own terra firma plantations. In Men of War, the galley or cookery on the

Starting point is 16:52:48 gun deck is the grand center of gossip and news among the sailors. Here crowds assemble to chat away the half-hour elapsing after every meal. The reason why this place and these hours are selected rather than others is this. In the neighborhood of the galley alone, and only after meals, is the man-of-war's man permitted to regale himself with a smoke. A sumptuary edict, truly, that deprived white-jacket for one, of a luxury to which he had long been attached. For how can the mystical motives, the capricious impulses of a luxurious smoker,

Starting point is 16:53:28 go and come at the beck of a Commodore's command? No. When I smoke, be it because of my sovereign good pleasure I choose so to do, though at so unseasonable an hour that I send round the town for a brazier of coals. What? Smoke by a sundial? Smoke on compulsion? Make a trade, a business, a vile recurring calling of smoking? And, perhaps, when those sedative fumes have steeped you in the grandest of reveries, and circle over circle solemnly rises some immeasurable dome in your soul, far away, swelling, and heaving into the vapor you raise, as if from one Mozart's grandest marches of a temple

Starting point is 16:54:16 were rising, like Venus from the sea. At such a time, to have your whole Parthenon tumbled about your ears by the knell of the ship's bell announcing the expiration of the half-hour for smoking, whip me, ye furies, toast me in salt, pears. Toast me in salt, peter smite me some thunderbolt charge upon me endless squadrons of mamelukes devour me phoegis but preserve me from a tyranny like this no though i smoked like an indian summer ere i entered the never sink so abhorrent was this sumptuary law that i altogether abandoned the luxury rather than enslave it to a time and a place herein did i not write ancient anion old guard of smokers all round the world. But there were others of the crew not so fastidious as myself. After every meal, they hide to the galley and solaced their souls with a whiff.

Starting point is 16:55:18 Now, a bunch of cigars all banded together is a type and a symbol of the brotherly love between smokers. Likewise, for the time, in a community of pipes, is a community of hearts. nor was it an ill thing for the indian sachems to circulate their calumet tobacco bowl even as our own forefathers circulated their punch bowl in token of peace charity and good will friendly feelings and sympathizing souls and this it was that made the gossipers of the galley so loving a club so long as the vapory bond denied them it was a pleasant sight to behold them Grouped in the recesses between the guns, they chatted and laughed like rows of convivialists in the boxes of some vast dining saloon. Take a Flemish kitchen full of Goodfellows from Teneers. Add a fireside group from Wilkie, throw in a naval sketch from Crookshank, and then stick a short pipe into every mother's son's mouth,

Starting point is 16:56:26 and you have the smoking scene at the galley of the never sink. Not a few were politicians, and, as there were some thoughts of a war with England at the time, their discussions waxed warm. I tell you what it is, shippies, cried the old captain of gun number one on the forecastle. If that air president of Arne don't luff up into the wind by the Battle of the Nile, he'll be getting us into a grand fleet engagement afore the Yankee Nation has rammed home her cartridges, let alone blowing the match. "'Who talks of luffing?' roistering foretopman.

Starting point is 16:57:04 "'Keep your Yankee Nation large before the wind, say I, "'till you come plump on the enemy's bows, "'and then bored him in the smoke. "'And with that there came forth a mighty blast from his pipe. "'Who says the old man at the helm of the Yankee Nation "'can't steer his trick as well as George Washington himself?' "'cried a sheet-ancherman. "'But they say he's a cold-water-water-man.

Starting point is 16:57:29 customer bill, cried another, and sometimes a night-size somehow has a presentation that he's going to stop our grog. Do you hear there, four and aft? Roared the bosons made at the gangway. All hands tumble up and bout ship. That's the talk, cried the captain of gun number one, as in obedience to the summons, all hands dropped their pipes and crowded toward the ladders. And that's what the president must do.

Starting point is 16:57:58 Go and stays, my lads. and put the Yankee Nation on the other tack. But these political discussions by no means supplied the staple of conversation for the gossiping smokers of the galley. The interior affairs of the frigate itself formed their principal theme. Rumors about the private life of the Commodore in his cabin, about the captain in his, about the various officers in the wardroom,

Starting point is 16:58:24 about the reefers in the steerage, and their madcap frolicings, and about a thousand other men. matters touching the crew themselves, all these, forming the eternally shifting domestic by-play of a man-of-war, proved inexhaustible topics for our quidnunks. The animation of these scenes was very much heightened as we drew nearer and nearer our port. It rose to a climax when the frigate was reported to be only 24 hours' sail from the land, what they should do when they landed, how they should invest their wages, what they should eat.

Starting point is 16:58:59 "'what they should drink, and what last they should marry. "'These were the topics which absorbed them.' "'Sink the sea!' cried a forecastleman. "'Once more ashore and you'll never again catch old boom-bowl to float. "'I mean to settle down in a sail-loft.' "'Cable-tier-pinchers blister all tarpaulin hats,' cried a young afterguardsman. "'I mean to go back to the counter. "'Shipmates, take me by the arms and swab up the lee-scuble.

Starting point is 16:59:29 with me, but I mean to steer a clam-cart before I go again to a ship's wheel. Let the Navy go by the board. To see again I won't. Start my soul-boats, maids, if any more blue peters and sailing signals fly at my four, cried the captain of the head. My wages will buy a wheelbarrow if nothing more. I have taken my last dose of salts, said the captain of the waist, and after this mean to stick to fresh water. aye, matees, ten of us wasters mean to club together and buy a serving mallet boat, you see, and if ever we drown, it will be in the raging canal.

Starting point is 17:00:09 Blast the sea, shipmates, say I. Profane not the holy element, said Limsford, the poet of the gun-deck, leaning over a cannon. Know ye not, men of wars men, that by the Parthian magi the ocean was held sacred? Did not Turritides, the Eastern monarch, take an immense land circuit to avoid desecrating the Mediterranean in order to reach his imperial master Nero and do homage for his crown? What lingo is that? cried the captain of the waist. Whose Commodore Titteri, cried the forecasselman? Hear me out, resumed Limsford. Like Turritities, I venerate the sea, and venerate it so highly,

Starting point is 17:00:55 shipmates that evermore I shall abstain from crossing it. In that sense, Captain of the Waste, I echo your cry. It was indeed a remarkable fact that nine men out of every ten of the never-sink's crew had formed some plan or other to keep themselves ashore for life, or at least on fresh water, after the expiration of the present cruise. With all the experiences of that cruise accumulated in one intense recollection of a moment, with the smell of tar in their nostrils, out of sight of land, with a stout ship underfoot and snuffing the ocean air,

Starting point is 17:01:34 with all the things of the sea surrounding them, in their cool, sober moments of reflection, in the silence and solitude of the deep during the long night watches, when all their holy home associations were thronging round their hearts. In the spontaneous piety and devotion of the last hours, of so long a voyage, in the fullness and the frankness of their souls when there was not to

Starting point is 17:01:59 jar the well-poised equilibrium of their judgment. Under all these circumstances, at least nine tenths of a crew of five hundred man-of-war's men resolved forever to turn their backs on the sea. But do men ever hate the thing they love? Do men forswear the hearth and the homestead? What then must the Navy be? But alas, for the man of warsman, who, though he may take a Hannibal oath against the service, yet crews after crews and after forswearing it again and again, he is driven back to the spirit tub and the gun-deck by his old hereditary foe, the ever-devilish god of grog.

Starting point is 17:02:43 On this point, let some of the crew of the Never Sink be called to the stand. You, Captain of the Waste, and you, seamen of the foretop, and you, afterguards men, and others, how came you here at the guns of the North Carolina after registering your solemn vows at the galley of the never sink? They all hang their heads. I know the cause, poor fellows. Purgure yourselves not again.

Starting point is 17:03:10 Swear not at all hereafter. Aye, these very tars, the foremost in denouncing the Navy, who had bound themselves by the most tremendous oaths. These very men, not three days after getting ashore, were rolling around the streets in penniless drunkenness, and next day many of them were to be found on board of the Guardo, or receiving ship. Thus, in part, is the Navy manned. But what was still more surprising and tended to impart a new and strange insight

Starting point is 17:03:44 into the character of sailors, and overthrow some long-established ideas concerning them as a class was this. Numbers of men who, during the cruise, had passed for exceedingly prudent, nay, parsimonious persons who would even refuse you a patch or a needle full of thread, and from their stinginess procured the name of ravelings. No sooner were these men fairly adrift in harbor, and under the influence of frequent quaffings, then their three years earned wages flew right and left.

Starting point is 17:04:16 They summoned whole boarding-houses of sailors to the bar and treated them over and over again. Fine fellows. Generous-hearted tars. Seeing this sight, I thought to myself, Well, these generous-hearted tars on shore were the greatest curmudgens afloat. It's the bottle that's generous, not they. Yet the popular conceit concerning a sailor is direct, arrived from his behavior ashore, whereas ashore he is no longer a sailor, but a landsman for the time. A man-of-war's man is only a man-of-war's man at sea, and the sea is the place to learn

Starting point is 17:05:01 what he is. But we have seen that a man-of-war is but this old-fashioned world of ours afloat, full of all manner of characters, full of strange contradictions, and though boasting some fine fellows here and there, yet upon the whole, charged to the combings of her hatchways with the spirit of Belial and all unrighteousness. End of Chapter 91, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 92 of White Jacket or The World in a Man of War. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

Starting point is 17:05:47 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.com. Recording by James K. White. White Jacket or The World in a Man of War by Herman Melville. Chapter 92 The Last of the Jacket Already has White Jacket chronicled the mishaps and inconveniences, troubles and tribulations of all sorts brought upon him by that unfortunate but indispensable garment of his. But now it befalls him to record how this jacket for the second and last time came near proving his shroud.

Starting point is 17:06:28 Of a pleasant midnight, our good frigate, now somewhere off the capes of Virginia, was running on bravely, when the breeze, gradually dying, left us slowly gliding toward our still invisible port. Headed by Jack Chase, the quarter watch were reclining in the top, talking about the shore delights

Starting point is 17:06:49 into which they intended to plunge. While our captain often broke in with allusions to similar conversations when he was on board the English line of battleship, the Asia, drawing nigh to Portsmouth in England after the Battle of Navarino. Suddenly, an order was given to set the main top-gallant stun cell, and the Halliards, not being rove, Jack Chase assigned me to that duty. Now, this reaving of the halliards of a main-top-gallant stun-cell is a business that eminently demands sharp-sightedness, skill, and salarity.

Starting point is 17:07:30 Consider that the end of a line, some 200 feet long, is to be carried aloft in your teeth, if you please, and dragged far out on the giddiest of yards, and, after being wormed and twisted about through all sorts of intricacies, turning abrupt corners at the abruptest of angles, is to be dropped, clear of all obstructions, in a straight plum-line, right down to the deck. In the course of this business, there is a multitude of sheave holes and blocks through which you must pass it. Often the rope is a very tight fit, so as to make it like threading a fine cambric needle with rather coarse thread. Indeed, it is a thing only deftly to be done, even by day. Judge then what it must be to be threading cambrick needles

Starting point is 17:08:22 by night, and at sea, upward of a hundred feet aloft in the air. With the end of the line in one hand, I was mounting the top-mast shrouds when our captain of the top told me that I had better off jacket. But though it was not a very cold night, I had been reclining so long in the top that I had become somewhat chilly, so I thought best not to comply with the hint. Having reaved the line through all the inferior blocks, I went out with it to the end of the weather-top-gallant yard-arm, and was in the act of leaning over and passing it through the suspended jewel block there, when the ship gave a plunge in the sudden swells of the calm sea,

Starting point is 17:09:10 and pitching me still further over the yard, through the heavy skirts of my jacket, right over my head, completely muffling me. Somehow I thought it was the sail that had flapped, and under that impression threw up my hands to drag it from my head, relying upon the sail itself to support me, meanwhile. Just then, the ship gave another sudden jerk, and, head foremost, I pitched from the yard. I knew where I was, from the rush of the air by my ears, but all else was a nightmare. A bloody film was before my eyes, through which ghost-like passed and repassed my father, mother, and sisters. An utterable nausea oppressed me.

Starting point is 17:09:58 I was conscious of gasping. There seemed no breath in my body. It was over 100 feet that I fell, down, down, with lungs collapsed as in death. Ten thousand pounds of shot seemed tied to my head as the, irresistible law of gravitation dragged me head foremost and straight as a die toward the infallible center of this terraquious globe. All I had seen and read and heard and all I had thought and felt in my life seemed intensified in one fixed idea in my soul. But dense as this idea was, it was made up of atoms. Having fallen from the projecting yard-arm end, I was,

Starting point is 17:10:45 was conscious of a collected satisfaction in feeling that I should not be dashed on the deck, but would sink into the speechless profound of the sea. With the bloody, blind film before my eyes, there was a still stranger hum in my head, as if a hornet were there, and I thought to myself, Great God, this is death? Yet these thoughts were unmixed with alarm. Like frostwork that flashes and shifts its scared hues in the sun, all my braided, blended emotions were in themselves icy cold and calm. So protracted did my fall seem, that I can even now recall the feeling of wondering how much longer it would be, ere all was over, and I struck. Time seemed to stand still, and all the world seemed poised on their poles as I fell, soul-be-calmed, through the eddying whirl and swirl,

Starting point is 17:11:45 of the maelstrom air. At first, as I have said, I must have been precipitated head foremost, but I was conscious at length of a swift flinging motion of my limbs, which involuntarily threw themselves out, so that at last I must have fallen in a heap. This is more likely from the circumstance that when I struck the sea, I felt as if someone had smote me slantingly across the shoulder and along part of my right side. As I gushed into the sea, a thunder-boom sounded in my ear. My soul seemed flying from my mouth. The feeling of death flooded over me with the billows. The blow from the sea must have turned me, so that I sank almost feet foremost through a soft, seething, foamy lull. Some current seemed hurrying me away. In a trance I yielded and sank deeper down with a glide. Purple and pathless was the deep

Starting point is 17:12:48 calm now around me, flecked by summer lightnings in an azure afar. The horrible nausea was gone. The bloody, blind film turned a pale green. I wondered whether I was yet dead or still dying. But of a sudden, some fashionless form brushed my side. some inert, coiled fish of the sea. The thrill of being alive again tingled in my nerves, and the strong shunning of death shocked me through. For one instant, an agonizing revulsion came over me as I found myself utterly sinking.

Starting point is 17:13:28 Next moment the force of my fall was expanded, and there I hung, vibrating in the mid-deep. What wild sounds then rang in my ear. One was a soft moaned. as of low waves on the beach. The other wild and heartlessly jubilant as of the sea in the height of a tempest. O soul, thou then heardest life and death, as he who stands upon the Corinthian shore hears both the Ionian and the Aegean waves. The life and death poise soon passed, and then I found myself slowly ascending and caught a dim glimmering of light.

Starting point is 17:14:10 Quicker and quicker I mounted, till at last I bounded up like a buoy, and my whole head was bathed in the blessed air. I had fallen in a line with the mainmast. I now found myself nearly abreast of the mizzen-mast, the frigate slowly gliding by like a black world in the water. Her vast hull loomed out of the night, showing hundreds of seamen in the hammock nettings, some tossing over ropes, others madly flinging overboard the hammocks, but I was too far out from them immediately to reach what they threw. I assayed to swim toward the ship, but instantly I was conscious of a feeling like being pinioned in a featherbed,

Starting point is 17:14:55 and moving my hands felt my jacket puffed out above my tight girdle with water. I strove to tear it off, but it was looped together here and there, and the strings were not then to be sundered by, hand. I whipped out my knife that was tucked at my belt and ripped my jacket straight up and down, as if I were ripping open myself. With a violent struggle, I then burst out of it and was free. Heavily soaked, it slowly sank before my eyes. Sink, sink, oh, shroud, thought I, sink forever, a cursed jacket that thou art. "'See that white shark!' cried a horrified voice from the taffrail.

Starting point is 17:15:43 "'He'll have that man down his hatchway. "'Quick! The grains! The grains!' The next instant, that barbed bunch of harpoons, pierced through and through the unfortunate jacket, and swiftly sped down with it out of sight. Being now astern of the frigate, I struck out boldly toward the elevated pole of one of the life buoys which had been cut away.

Starting point is 17:16:10 Soon after, one of the cutters picked me up. As they dragged me out of the water into the air, the sudden transition of elements made my every limb feel like lead, and I helplessly sunk into the bottom of the boat. Ten minutes after, I was safe on board, and, springing aloft, was ordered to reave anew the stun-sill halyards,

Starting point is 17:16:34 which, slipping through the blocks when I had let go the end, had unroved and fallen to the deck. The sail was soon set, and, as if purposely to salute it, a gentle breeze soon came, and the never sink once more glided over the water, a soft ripple at her bows, and leaving a tranquil wake behind. End of Chapter 92, recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Chapter 93 of White. Jacket or the World in a Man of War

Starting point is 17:17:16 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Chapter 93. Cable and Anchor All Clear

Starting point is 17:17:41 And now that the white jacket has sunk to the bottom of the sea, and the blessed capes of Virginia are believed to be broad on our bow, though still out of sight, our 500 souls are fondly dreaming of home, and the iron throats of the guns round the galley re-echo with their songs and hurrahs. What more remains? Shall I tell what conflicting and almost crazy surmisinges prevailed concerning the precise harbor for which we were bound? For, according to rumor, our Commodore had received sealed orders touching that matter, which were not to be broken open till we gained a precise latitude of the coast. Shall I tell how at last all this uncertainty departed, and many a foolish prophecy was

Starting point is 17:18:32 proved false, when our noble frigate, her longest pennant at her main, wound her stately way into the innermost harbor of Norfolk, like a plumed Spanish grande, threading the corridors of the escudial toward the throne room within? Shall I tell how we kneeled upon the holy soil? How I begged a blessing of old Ushant and one precious hair of his beard for a keepsake. How Limbsford, the gun-deck barred, offered up a devout ode as a prayer of thanksgiving. How saturnine gnawed the magnifico in disguise, refusing all companionship stalked off into the woods, like the ghost of an old Caliph of Baghdad. How I swayed and swung the hearty hand of Jack Chase, and nipped it to mine with a carrick bend, yea, and kissed that noble hand of my liege lord and captain of my top, my sea-tutor, and sire.

Starting point is 17:19:33 Shall I tell how the Grand Commodore and Captain drove off from the pier-head, how the lieutenants in undress sat down to their last dinner in the wardroom, and the champagne packed in ice, spirited and sparkled like the hot springs out of a snowdrift in Iceland, how the chaplain went off in his cassock without bidding the people adieu. How shrunken cuticle, the surgeon, stalked over the side, the wired skeleton carried in his wake by his cot-boy. How the lieutenant of Marines sheathed his sword on the poop, and calling for wax and a taper sealed the end of the scabbard with his family crest and motto,

Starting point is 17:20:13 Deneke Coelum. How the purser in due time mustered his money-bags and paid us all off on the quarter-deck, good and bad, sick and well, all receiving their wages, though, truth to tell, some reckless impoverdent seamen, who had lived too fast during the cruise, had little or nothing now standing on the credit side of their purser's accounts. Shall I tell of the retreat of the 500 inland? Not, alas, in battle array, as at quarters, but scattered broadcast over the land? Shall I tell how the never sink was, at last, stripped of spars, shrouds, and sails,

Starting point is 17:20:56 had her guns hoisted out, her powder magazine, shot lockers, and armories discharged, till not one vestige of a fighting thing was left in her, from first, earth's stem to uttermost stern. No, let all this go by, for our anchor still hangs from our bows, though its eager flukes dipped their points in the impatient waves. Let us leave the ship on the sea, still with the land out of sight, still with brooding darkness on the face of the deep. I love an indefinite, infinite background, a vast heaving, rolling, mysterious rear. It is night. The meager moon is in her last quarter. That betokens the end of a cruise that is passing. But the stars look forth in their everlasting brightness, and that is the everlasting, glorious future forever beyond us.

Starting point is 17:21:53 We main-topmen are all aloft in the top, and round our mast we circle, a brother band, hand in hand, all spliced together. We have reefed the last topsail, trained the last gun, blown the last match, bowed to the last blast, been tranced in the last calm. We have mustered our last round the capstan, been rolled to grog the last time, for the last time swung in our hammocks, for the last time turned out at the seagull call of the watch. We have seen our last man scourged at the gangway, our last man gasp out the ghost, in the stifling sick bay. Our last man tossed to the sharks. Our last death-denouncing article of war has been read, and far inland, in that blessed climb whitherward our frigate now glides, the last wrong in our frigate will be remembered no more. When down from our main mast comes our Commodore's pennant, when down sinks its shooting stars from the sky.

Starting point is 17:23:00 By the mark, nine, sings the hoary old leadsman in the chains, and thus the mid-world equator passed, our frigate strikes soundings at last. Hand in hand we topmates stand, rocked in our Pisgah top, and over the starry waves and brought out into the blandly blue and boundless night, spiced with strange sweets from the long-sought land, the whole long cruise predestinated hours, though often in tempest time, we almost refuse to believe in that far distant shore. Straight out into that fragrant night, ever-noble Jack Chase, matchless and unmatchable Jack Chase stretches forth his bannered hand, and pointing shoreward

Starting point is 17:23:49 cries, For the last time, hear Camoans, boys. How calm the waves! How mildly. How mild. How mild. The balmy gale. The Halcyans call, Ye Lutions, spread the sail! Appeased, old ocean now shall rage no more. Haste. Point our bow-sprit for yon shadowy shore. Soon shall the transports of your natal soil

Starting point is 17:24:23 Orwhelm in bounding joy, The thoughts of every toil. End of chapter 93. Recording by James K. White, Chula Vista. Section 91 of White Jacket or the World in a Man of War. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

Starting point is 17:24:59 Recording by James K. White, White Jacket or the World in a Man of War, by Herman Melville. Section 91. The End. As a man of war that sails through the sea, so this earth that sails through the air. We mortals are all on board a fast-sailing, never-sinking world frigate, of which God was the shipwright, and she is but one craft in a Milky Way fleet, of which God is the Lord High Admiral. The port we sail from is forever astern. And though far out of sight of land, for ages and ages we continue to sail with sealed orders and our last destination remains a secret to ourselves and our officers. Yet our final haven was predestinated ere we slipped from the stocks at creation.

Starting point is 17:25:56 Thus sailing with sealed orders, we ourselves are the repositories of the secret packet, whose mysterious contents we long to learn. There are no mysteries out of ourselves, but let us not give ear to the superstitious gun-deck gossip about whither we may be gliding, for as yet, not a soul on board of us knows, not even the Commodore himself, assuredly not the chaplain. Even our professor's scientific surmisings are vain. On that point, the smallest cabin boy is as wise as the captain, and believe not the hypochondriac dwellers below hatches who will tell you, with a sneer, that our world frigate

Starting point is 17:26:41 is bound to no final harbor whatever, that our voyage will prove an endless circumnavigation of space. Not so. For how can this world frigate prove our eventual abiding place when upon our first embarkation, as infants in arms, her violent rolling, in afterlife unperceived, makes every soul of us seasick. Does not this show, too, that the very air we hear in hail is un-congenial, and only becomes endurable at last through gradual habituation, and that some blessed placid haven, however remote at present, must be in store for us all? Glance for and aft our flushed decks. What a swarming crew! All told, they muster hard upon and 800 millions of souls. Over these, we have authoritative lieutenants, a sword-belted officer of

Starting point is 17:27:39 Marines, a chaplain, a professor, a purser, a doctor, a cook, a master at arms. Oppressed by illiberal laws and partly oppressed by themselves, many of our people are wicked, unhappy, inefficient. We have skulkers and idlers all round, and brow-beaten wasters who, for a pittance, do our craft's shabby work. Nevertheless, among our people we have gallant four main and mizontop men aloft, who, well-treated or ill, still trim our craft to the blast. We have a brig for trespassers, a bar by our main mast at which they are arraigned, a cat of nine-tails and a gangway to degrade them in their own eyes and in ours. These are not always employed to convert sin to virtue, but to divide them and protect virtue and

Starting point is 17:28:39 legalize sin from unlegalized vice. We have a sickbay for the smitten and helpless, whether we hurry them out of sight, and however they may groan beneath hatches, we hear little of their tribulations on deck. We still sport our gay streamer aloft. Outwardly regarded our craft is a lie, for all that is outwardly seen of it is the clean-swept deck and off-painted planks comprised above the waterline, whereas the vast mass of our fabric, with all its storerooms of secrets, forever slides along far under the surface. When a shipmate dies, straightway we sew him up, and overboard he goes, our world frigate

Starting point is 17:29:25 rushes by, and never more do we behold him again. Though, sooner or later, the everlasting undertoe sweeps him toward our own destination. We have both a quarter-deck to our craft and a gun-deck. Subterranean shot-lockers and gunpowder magazines, and the articles of war form our domineering code. O shipmates and world-mates all round, we the people suffer many abuses. Our gun-deck is full of complaints.

Starting point is 17:29:57 In vain from lieutenants do we appeal to the captain. In vain while on board, our world frigate to the indefinite Navy commissioners, so far out of sight aloft. Yet the worst of our evils we blindly inflict upon ourselves. Our officers cannot remove them, even if they would. From the last ills, no being can save another. Therein, each man must be his own savior. For the rest, whatever befall us, let us never train our murderous guns inboard. let us not mutiny with bloody pikes in our hands. Our Lord High Admiral will yet interpose,

Starting point is 17:30:38 and though long ages should elapse and leave our wrongs unredressed, yet shipmates and worldmates, let us never forget that, whoever afflict us, whatever surround, life is a voyage that's homeward bound. The end. End of section.

Starting point is 17:31:01 End of white july. Jacket or the World in a Man of War by Herman Melville.

Classic Audiobook Collection - White Jacket by Herman Melville ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

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