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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

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Books: Mr. Midshipman Easy

F >> Frederick Marryat >> Mr. Midshipman Easy




"Well, but allowing that, I do not think your articles of war will
bear you out. You observe, they say any officer, mariner, etc, guilty
of disobedience to any lawful command. Now are you not guilty under
that article?"

"That remains to be argued still," replied Jack. "A lawful command
means an order established by law; now where is that law?--besides,
the captain told me when I kicked that blackguard down the hatchway,
that there was only the captain who could punish, and that officers
could not take the law into their own hands; why then has the master?"

"His doing wrong as superior officer is no reason why you as an
inferior should disobey him. If that were permitted,--if every order
were to be cavilled at, and argued upon, as just or unjust, there
would be an end of all discipline. Besides, recollect that in the
service there is custom, which is the same as law."

"That admits of a little argument," replied Jack.

"The service will admit of none, my dear boy: recollect that, even on
shore, we have two laws, that which is written, and the 'lex non
scripta,' which is custom; of course we have it in the service, for
the articles of war cannot provide for everything."

"They provide a court-martial for everything though," replied Jack.

"Yes, with death or dismissal from the service--neither of which would
be very agreeable. You have got yourself into a scrape, and although
the captain is evidently your friend, he cannot overlook it:
fortunately, it is with the master, which is of less consequence than
with the other officers; but still you will have to submit, for the
captain cannot overlook it."

"I'll tell you what, Jolliffe," replied Jack, "my eyes now begin to be
opened to a great many things. The captain tells me, when I am
astonished at bad language, that it is all zeal, and then I found out
that what is all zeal in a superior to an inferior, is insolence when
reversed. He tells me, that the articles of war are made to equally
guide us all--the master breaks what is positively mentioned in the
second article twenty times over, and goes scot free, while I am to be
punished because I do not comply with what the articles do not
mention. How was I to know that I ought to go to the mast-head for
punishment? particularly when the captain tells me that he alone is to
punish in the ship. If I obey an order in opposition to the captain's
order, is not that as bad as disobeying the captain? I think that I
have made out a very strong case, and my arguments are not to be
confuted."

"I am afraid that the master will make out a very strong case, and
that your arguments will never be heard."

"That will be contrary to all the rules of justice." "But according to
all the rules of service."

"I do believe that I am a great fool," observed Jack, after a pause.
"What do you imagine made me come to sea, Jolliffe?"

"Because you did not know when you were well off," replied the mate,
drily.

"That's true enough; but my reason was, because I thought I should
find that equality here that I could not find on shore." Jolliffe
stared. "My dear boy, I heard you say that you obtained those opinions
from your father; I mean no disrespect to him, but he must be either
mad or foolish, if at his age he has not discovered, that there is no
such thing in existence."

"I begin to think so," replied Jack; "but that does not prove that
there ought not to be."

"I beg your pardon; the very non-existence proves that it ought not to
be--'whatever is, is right', you might as well expect to find perfect
happiness or perfection in the individual. Your father must be a
visionary."

"The best thing that I can do is to go home again."

"No, my dear Easy, the best thing that you can do is, to stay in the
service, for it will soon put an end to all such nonsensical ideas;
and it will make you a clever, sensible fellow. The service is a
rough, but a good school, where everybody finds his level,--not the
level of equality, but the level which his natural talent and
acquirements will rise or sink him to, in proportion as they are plus
or minus. It is a noble service, but has its imperfections, as
everything in this world must have. I have little reason to speak in
its favour, as far as I am concerned, for it has been hard bread to
me; but there must be exceptions in every rule. Do not think of
quitting the service until you have given it a fair trial. I am aware
that you are an only son, and your father is a man of property, and,
therefore, in the common parlance of the world, you are independent;
but, believe me, no man, however rich, is independent, unless he has a
profession, and you will find no better than this, notwithstanding--"

"What?"

"That you will be, most certainly, sent to the mast-head tomorrow."

"We'll argue that point," replied Jack; "at all events, I will go and
turn in to-night."


CHAPTER XIII

In which our hero begins to act and think for himself.

Whatever may have been Jack's thoughts, at all events they did not
spoil his rest. He possessed in himself all the materials of a true
philosopher, but there was a great deal of weeding still required.
Joliffe's arguments, sensible as they were, had very little effect
upon him; for, strange to say, it is much more easy to shake a man's
opinions when he is wrong, than when he is right; proving that we are
all of a very perverse nature. "Well," thought Jack, "if I am to go
to the mast-head, I am, that's all; but it does not prove that my
arguments are not good, only that they will not be listened to"; and
then Jack shut his eyes, and in a few minutes was fast asleep.

The master had reported to the first lieutenant, and the first
lieutenant to the captain, when he came on board the next morning, the
conduct of Mr Easy, who was sent for in the cabin, to hear if he had
anything to offer in extenuation of his offence. Jack made an
oration, which lasted more than half an hour, in which all the
arguments he had brought forward to Jolliffe in the preceding chapter
were entered fully into. Mr Jolliffe was then examined, and also Mr
Smallsole was interrogated: after which the captain and the first
lieutenant were left alone.

"Sawbridge," said Captain Wilson, "How true it is that any deviation
from what is right invariably leads us into a scrape. I have done
wrong: wishing to get this boy out of his father's hands, and fearful
that he would not join the ship, and imagining him to be by no means
the shrewd fellow that he is in reality, I represented the service in
a much more favourable light than I should have done; all that he says
I told him I did tell him, and it is I who really led the boy into
error. Mr Smallsole has behaved tyrannically and unjustly; he punished
the lad for no crime; so that between the master and me, I am now on
the horns of a dilemma. If I punish the boy, I feel that I am
punishing him more for my own fault and the fault of others, than his
own. If I do not punish him, I allow a flagrant and open violation of
discipline to pass uncensured, which will be injurious to the service."

"He must be punished, sir," replied Sawbridge.

"Send for him," said the captain.

Jack made his appearance, with a very polite bow.

"Mr Easy, as you suppose that the articles of war contained all the
rules and regulations of the service, I take it for granted that you
have erred through ignorance. But recollect, that although you have
erred through ignorance, such a violation of discipline, if passed
unnoticed, will have a very injurious effect with the men, whose
obedience is enforced by the example shown to them by the officers. I
feel so convinced of your zeal, which you showed the other day in the
case of Easthupp, that I am sure you will see the propriety of my
proving to the men, by punishing you, that discipline must be
enforced, and I shall therefore send for you on the quarter-deck, and
order you to go to the mast-head in presence of the ship's company, as
it was in presence of the ship's company that you refused."

"With the greatest pleasure, Captain Wilson," replied Jack. "And in
future, Mr Easy, although I shall ever set my face against it,
recollect that if any officer punishes you, and you imagine that you
are unfairly treated, you will submit to the punishment, and then
apply to me for redress."

"Certainly, sir," replied Jack, "now that I am aware of your wishes."

"You will oblige me, Mr Easy, by going on the quarter-deck, and wait
there till I come up." Jack made his best bow, and exit.

"Old Jolliffe told me that I should have to go," said Jack to himself,
"and he was right, so far; but hang me if I hadn't the best of the
argument, and that's all I care about."

Captain Wilson sent for the master, and reprimanded him for his
oppression, as it was evident that there was no ground for punishment,
and he forbade him ever to mast-head another midshipman, but to report
his conduct to the first lieutenant or himself. He then proceeded to
the quarter-deck, and, calling for Mr Easy, gave him what appeared to
be a very severe reprimand, which Jack looked upon very quietly,
because it was all zeal on the captain's part to give it, and all zeal
on his own to take it. Our hero was then ordered up to the mast-head.

Jack took off his hat, and took three or four steps, in obedience to
the order--and then returned and made his best bow--inquired of
Captain Wilson whether he wished him to go to the fore or to the
main-mast head.

"To the main, Mr Easy," replied the captain, biting his lips. Jack
ascended three spokes of the Jacob's ladder, when he again stopped,
and took off his hat.

"I beg your pardon, Captain Wilson-you have not informed me whether it
was your wish that I should go to the topmast, or the top-gallant
cross-trees."

"To the top-gallant cross-trees, Mr Easy," replied the captain.

Jack ascended, taking it very easy; he stopped at the main-top for
breath; at the main-topmast head, to look about him; and, at last,
gained the spot agreed upon, where he seated himself, and, taking out
the articles of war, commenced them again to ascertain whether he
could not have strengthened his arguments. He had not, however, read
through the seventh article before the hands were turned up--"Up
anchor!" and Mr Sawbridge called, "All hands down from aloft!" Jack
took the hint, folded up his documents, and came down as leisurely as
he went up. Jack was a much better philosopher than his father.

The Harpy was soon under way, and made all sail, steering for Cape de
Catte, where Captain Wilson hoped to pick up a Spanish vessel or two,
on his way to Toulon to receive orders of the Admiral.

A succession of light breezes and calms rendered the passage very
tedious; but the boats were constantly out, chasing the vessels along
shore, and Jack usually asked to be employed on this service; indeed,
although so short a time afloat, he was, from his age and strength,
one of the most effective midshipmen, and to be trusted, provided a
whim did not come into his head; but hitherto Jack had always been
under orders, and had always acquitted himself very well.

When the Harpy was at Tarragona, it so happened that there were
several cases of dysentery in the ship, and Mr Asper and Mr Jolliffe
were two of those who were suffering. This reduced the number of
officers; and, at the same time, they had received information from
the men of a fishing-boat, who, to obtain their own release, had given
the intelligence, that a small convoy was coming down from Rosas as
soon as the wind was fair, under the protection of two gun-boats.

Captain Wilson kept well off-shore until the wind changed, and then,
allowing for the time that the vessels would take to run down the
distance between Tarragona and Rosas, steered in the night to
intercept them; but it again fell calm, and the boats were therefore
hoisted out, with directions to proceed along the shore, as it was
supposed that the vessels could not now be far distant. Mr Sawbridge
had the command of the expedition in the pinnace; the first cutter was
in charge of the gunner, Mr Linus; and, as the other officers were
sick, Mr Sawbridge, who liked Jack more and more every day, at his
particular request gave him the command of the second cutter. As soon
as he heard of it, Mesty declared to our hero that he would go with
him; but without permission that was not possible. Jack obtained
leave for Mesty to go in lieu of a marine; there were many men sick of
the dysentery, and Mr Sawbridge was not sorry to take an idler out of
the ship instead of a working man, especially as Mesty was known to be
a good hand.

It was ten o'clock at night when the boats quitted the ship; and, as
it was possible that they might not return till late the next day, one
day's biscuit and rum were put on board each, that the crews might not
suffer from exhaustion. The boats pulled in-shore, and then coasted
for three hours without seeing anything: the night was fine overhead,
but there was no moon. It still continued calm, and the men began to
feel fatigued, when, just as they were within a mile of a low point,
they perceived the convoy over the land, coming down with their sails
squared, before a light breeze.

Mr Sawbridge immediately ordered the boats to lie upon their oars,
awaiting their coming, and arranging for the attack.

The white lateen sails of the gun-boat in advance were now plainly
distinguishable from the rest, which were all huddled together in her
wake. Down she came like a beautiful swan in the water, her sails
just filled with the wind, and running about three knots an hour. Mr
Sawbridge kept her three masts in one, that they might not be
perceived, and winded the boats with their heads the same way, so that
they might dash on board of her with a few strokes of the oars. So
favourable was the course of the gun-boat, that she stood right
between the launch on one bow, and the two cutters on the other; and
they were not perceived until they were actually alongside; the
resistance was trifling, but some muskets and pistols had been fired,
and the alarm was given. Mr Sawbridge took possession, with the crew
of the launch, and brought the vessel to the wind, as he perceived
that at the alarm all the convoy had done the same, directing the
cutters to board the largest vessels, and secure as many as they
could, while he would do the same with the launch, as he brought them
to: but the other gun-boat, which had not yet been seen, and had been
forgotten, now made her appearance, and came down in a gallant manner
to the support of her comrade.

Mr Sawbridge threw half his men into the launch, as she carried a
heavy carronade, and sent her to assist the cutters, which had made
right for the gun-boat. A smart firing of round and grape was opened
upon the boats, which continued to advance upon her; but the officer
commanding that gun-boat, finding that he had no support from his
consort, and concluding that she had been captured, hauled his wind
again, and stood out in the offing. Our hero pulled after her,
although he could not see the other boats; but the breeze had
freshened, and all pursuit was useless: he therefore directed his
course to the convoy, and after a hard pull, contrived to get on board
of a one-masted xebeque, of about fifty tons. Mesty, who had eyes as
sharp as a needle, had observed that, when the alarm was given,
several of the convoy had not rounded the point, and he therefore
proposed, as this vessel was very light, that they should make short
tacks with her, to weather the point, as if they were escaping, and by
that means be able, particularly if it fell calm again, to capture
some others. Jack thought this advice good. The convoy who had
rounded the point had all stood out to seaward with the gun-boat, and
had now a fresh breeze. To chase them was therefore useless; and the
only chance was to do as Mesty had proposed. He therefore stood out
into the breeze, and, after half an hour, tacked in-shore, and fetched
well to windward of the low point; but, finding no vessels, he stood
out again. Thus had he made three or four tacks, and had gained,
perhaps, six or seven miles, when he perceived signals of recall made
to leeward, enforced with guns.

"Mr Sawbridge wants us to come back, Mesty."

"Mr Sawbridge mind him own business," replied Mesty, "we nebber take
all dis trubble to ply to windward for noting."

"But, Mesty, we must obey orders."

"Yes, sar, when he have him thumb upon you; but now, must do what tink
most proper. By de powers, he catch me 'fore I go back."

"But we shall lose the ship."

"Find her again, by-and-bye, Massa Easy."

"But they will think that we are lost."

"So much the better, nebba look after us, Massa Easy; I guess we have
a fine cruise anyhow. Morrow we take large vessel--make sail, take
more, den we go to Toulon."

"But I don't know my way to Toulon; I know it lies up this way, and
that's all."

"Dat enough, what you want more? Massa Easy, 'pose you not find
fleet, fleet soon find you. By God, nobody nebba lost here. Now,
Massa Easy, let um go 'bout 'gain. Somebody else burn biscuit and
boil kettle to-morrow for de gentlemen. Murder Irish! only tink,
Massa Easy--I boil kettle, and prince in my own country!"

Easy was very much of a mind with Mesty; "for," argued Jack, "if I go
back now, I only bring a small vessel half-full of beans, and I shall
be ashamed to show my face. Now it is true, that they may suppose
that we have been sunk by the fire of the gun-boat. Well, what then?
they have a gun-boat to show for their night's work, and it will
appear that there was harder fighting than there has been, and Mr
Sawbridge may benefit by it." (Jack was a very knowing fellow to have
leant so much about the service already.) "Well, and when they
discover that we are not lost, how glad they will be to find us,
especially if we bring some prizes--which I will do, or I'll not go
back again. It's not often that one gets a command before being two
months at sea, and, hang me, now I've got it if I won't keep it; and
Mr Smallsole may mast-head whom he pleases. I'm sorry for poor
Gossett, though; if Vigors supposes me dead, how he will murder the
poor little fellow--however, it is all for the good of the service,
and I'll revenge him when I come back. Hang me if I won't take a
cruise."

"I talk to the men, they say they all tick to you like leech. Now dat
job settled, I tink we better go 'bout again."

A short time after this decision on the part of our hero, the day
broke: Jack first looked to leeward, and perceived the gun-boat and
convoy standing in for the shore about ten miles distant, followed by
the Harpy, under all sail. He could also perceive the captured
gunboat lying-to in-shore to prevent their escape.

"Harpy hab um all, by Gosh!" cried Mesty; "I ab notion dat she soon
settle um hash."

They were so busy looking at the Harpy and the convoy that, for some
time, they quite forgot to look to windward. At last Mesty turned his
eyes that way.

"Dam um, I see right last night; look, Massa Easy--one ship, one brig,
tree lateen--dem for us. By de power, but we make bot prize
to-night."

The vessels found out by Mesty were not above three miles to windward;
they were under all sail, beating up for the protection of a battery,
not far distant.

"Now, Massa, suppose they see our boat, dey tink something; keep boat
alongside, and shift her when we go 'bout every time: better not sail
so fast now--keep further off till they drop anchor for de night; and
den, when it dark, we take 'em."

All Mesty's advice was good, with the exception perhaps of advising
our hero how to disobey orders and take a cruise. To prevent the
vessel from approaching too near the others, and at the same time to
let her have the appearance of doing her best, a sail was towed
overboard under the bows, and after that they watched the motions of
the Harpy.

The distance was too great to distinguish very clearly, but Mesty
shinned up the mast of the vessel, and reported progress.

"By Jesus, dare one gun--two gun--go it, Harpy. Won't she ab um, sure
enough. Now gun-boat fire--dat our gun-boat--no, dat not ours. Now
our gun-boat fire--dat pretty--fire away. Ah, now de Harpy cum up.
All'mung'em. Bung, bung, bung--rattle de grape, by gosh. I ab notion
de Spaniard is very pretty considerable trouble just now, anyhow. All
hove-to, so help me gosh--not more firing; Harpy take um all--dare
gun-boat hove-to, she strike um colours. By all powers, but suppose
dey link we no share prize-money--they find it not little mistake.
Now, my lads, it all over, and," continued Mesty, sliding down the
mast, "I tink you better not show yourself too much; only two men stay
on deck, and dem two take off um jackets."

Mesty's report was correct; the Harpy had captured the other gunboat,
and the whole convoy. The only drawback to their good fortune was the
disappearance of Mr Easy and the cutter: it was supposed that a shot
from the gun-boat must have sunk her, and that the whole crew were
drowned. Captain Wilson and Mr Sawbridge seriously regretted the loss
of our hero, as they thought that he would have turned out a shining
character as soon as he had sown his wild oats; so did Mr Asper,
because our hero's purse went with him; so did Jolliffe, because he
had taken an affection for him; so did little Gossett, because he
anticipated no mercy from Vigors. On the other hand, there were some
who were glad that he was gone; and as for the ship's company in
general, they lamented the loss of the poor cutter's crew for
twenty-four hours, which, in a man-of-war, is a very long while, and
then they thought no more about them. We must leave the Harpy to make
the best of her way to Toulon, and now follow our hero.

The cutter's crew knew very well that Jack was acting contrary to
orders, but anything was to them a change from the monotony of a
man-of-war, and they, as well as Mesty, highly approved of a holiday.

It was, however, necessary that they should soon proceed to business,
for they had but their allowance of bread and grog for one day, and in
the vessel they found nothing except a few heads of garlic, for the
Spaniards coasting down shore had purchased their provisions as they
required them. There were only three prisoners on board, and they had
been put down in the hold among the beans; a bag of which had been
roused on deck, and a part put into the kettle to make soup. Jack did
not much admire the fare of the first day--it was bean-soup for
breakfast, bean-soup for dinner, and if you felt hungry during the
intervals it was still bean-soup, and nothing else.

One of the men could speak a little Lingua Franca, and the prisoners
were interrogated as to the vessels to windward. The ship was stated
to be valuable, and also one of the brigs. The ship carried guns, and
that was all that they knew about them. As the sun went down the
vessels dropped their anchors off the battery. The breeze continued
light, and the vessel which contained Jack and his fortunes was about
four miles to leeward. As for the Harpy, they had long lost sight of
her, and it was now time to proceed to some arrangement.

As soon as it was dark, Jack turned his hands up, and made a very long
speech. He pointed out to the men that his zeal had induced him not to
return to the ship until he had brought something with him worth
having--that they had had nothing but beans to eat during the whole
day, which was anything but agreeable, and that, therefore, it was
absolutely necessary that they should better their condition: that
there was a large ship not four miles off, and that he intended to
take her; and as soon as he had taken her he intended to take some
more; that he trusted to their zeal to support him on this occasion,
and that he expected to do a great deal during the cruise. He pointed
out to them, that they must consider themselves as on board of a
man-of-war, and be guided by the articles of war, which were written
for them all--and that in case they forgot them, he had a copy in his
pocket, which he would read to them to-morrow morning, as soon as they
were comfortably settled on board of the ship. He then appointed
Mesty as first lieutenant; the marine as sergeant; the coxswain as
boatswain; two men as midshipmen to keep watch; two others as
boatswain's mates, leaving two more for the ship's company, who were
divided into the larboard and starboard watch. The cutter's crew were
perfectly content with Jack's speech, and their brevet rank, and after
that, they commenced a more important topic, which was, how they were
to take the ship. After some discussion, Mesty's advice was approved
of; which was, that they should anchor not far ahead of the ship, and
wait till about two o'clock in the morning, when they would drop
silently down upon her in the cutter, and take possession.

About nine o'clock the vessel was anchored as they proposed, and Jack
was a little astonished to find that the ship was much larger than he
had any idea of; for, although polacca-rigged, she was nearly the same
tonnage as the Harpy. The Spanish prisoners were first tied hand and
foot, and laid upon the beans, that they might give no alarm, the
sails were furled and all was kept quiet. On board of the ship, on the
contrary, there was noise and revelry; and about half-past ten a boat
was seen to leave her and pull for the shore; after which, the noise
gradually ceased, the lights one by one disappeared, and then all was
silent.