readily consented; and as I had never known an instance in which a cook refused to give such help, I did not anticipate any trouble.

He soon showed himself to be a very quarrelsome fellow, for ever wrangling with the steward, for which I had often to reprimand him severely. This might, however, have been put up with; but when he refused to lend a hand at shortening sail and swore he would not do any other duty than that of cook, while he was in the ship, and told me that I might put him in irons and keep him there as it was the only thing I could do, this was quite a different case and could not be passed over. But I think, Mr. Editor, you will agree with me, that it would be no punishment to put a lazy scoundrel in irons in a place where we were constantly either making or shortening sail, and a great deal of boisterous weather to contend with, especially as it would have caused the work to fall heavily on the rest, having four men on the sick list at the time. As he did not refuse to cook, I kept him to that alone, intending on my arrival in port to represent his conduct to the proper authorities, not doubting that I should get redress.

But what was my surprise, on my arrival at Singapore, to find the magistrate affirm that such commands could not be enforced as the man had not shipped in the capacity of cook and seaman. Now the agreement entered into by the crew is to be obedient to all the lawful commands of the master. Surely no one can assert that it was not a lawful command, to require the cook to help when we required it so much; indeed I think his refusal was tantamount to a refusal of duty. On my urging this to the magistrate, he replied that "he ought to have done it, but you cannot compel him". On the same grounds, therefore, the carpenter, sail-maker, steward and others, who do not ship as seamen may refuse to do anything but their own particular work: if this is really the case, the sooner it is altered the

better.

On our arrival at Singapore the cook sent a note to me, stating that now we had reached port and I was dissatisfied with him, he would thank me for his discharge, but this I would neither give him nor any other man, and therefore took no notice of it: accordingly one morning, without any provocation, he coolly came aft, and with many blasphemous oaths swore he would knock me down if it was not for the laws. I had him taken out of the ship for this threatened assault, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for ten days, through which I got rid of the greatest vagabond I ever had to do with.

The other refractory character was one of the A. B's, a grumbling dissatisfied blasphemous fellow, who would have made the rest of the crew as bad as himself if he could have prevailed, but fortunately, I had some very good men, who were not altogether influenced, though they did not do their work so cheerfully as they would have done without him. When spoken to for using abusive language, his reply was, "Well, put me in irons-put me in irons, I am willing to go: this apparently was his chief aim. But I thought to reserve him for a better punishment, by touching his pocket. But here I was as much out as in my former case, being told by the magistrate, that "I could not punish him for abusive language, that I could not stop a man's mouth, and if dissatisfied with them you had better discharge them." What satisfaction is this, Mr. Editor, to the Commander of a ship, who during the voyage had to put up with all manner of abuse, and had his authority set at defiance, to be told by a magistrate, that the only way we can punish them is to give them their discharge and wages. Why, Sir, this is the very object that such a man as the one above referred to, had been aiming at all through the passage. This system of paying off men in a Foreign

* With an oath not to be repeated. —P. D.

port is I regret to say too much resorted to by Commanders of vessels. No doubt they are heartily glad to get rid of troublesome characters, but this, intead of lessening, has tended to increase their numbers.

I believe that there are many men who never intend to go the voyage, but merely to make a passage out. Such characters do all that they can to annoy their officers, and when they get out, especially if the wages out of port are a little higher than they have been getting, will come and request their discharge; this many are inclined to comply with to get rid of them.

I once paid off part of my crew in Calcutta, and was obliged to pay double the amount of wages to the men I shipped in their room, since which I do not pay off. If they are dissatisfied, I let them remain so. At the same time I give them the option of Her Majesty's Service or "run;" and I have invariably found that when they have been beaten or foiled in gaining their point they have returned to their duty and been quite reconciled.

But to return to this refractory character;-when the constable with a police force came on board to take the cook out of the ship, this man came aft to the chief officer and swore by a very common oath with him, that he would do no more duty on board the ship, at the same time using a great deal of foul and disgusting language. The chief officer ordered him to the forecastle, and to keep quiet till I came on board, instead of which he got his shirt, intending to make a private signal to a man-of-war. He was ordered down, and told that the Captain always allowed any man desirous of volunteering in Her Majesty's Service a boat and six hands with an officer to see him safely taken on board.

The order he set aside, and swore, in spite of the officer, he would hang it up. My chief officer followed him out to the fore-yard and told him if he hung it up, he would cut it down, the man immediately drew his knife and swore by a horrid oath that if he cut it down he would plunge it into his heart, but when he perceived that the chief officer was determined to foil him, he laid down off the fore-yard and desired the constable to take him to jail also. The constable gave him to understand as well as he could (for he could scarcely speak a word of English, being a Frenchman) that he had no warrant to take him, at which our seaman began to jabber away, thrusting his fists very near his face. The Frenchman alarmed called out lustily to the steward. "Bring the pistoles, steward, bring the pistoles," which caused a hearty laugh amongst the rest of the crew.

For this outrageous conduct he got twenty days' imprisonment, and I was obliged to pay him his wages to the day he was taken out of the ship.

I will leave your readers to draw their own inferences on these two cases, and the punishment awarded them. I cannot of course find fault with the magistrates, they are the executors of the law, and therefore cannot exceed it. But I complain of the inefficiency of the law itself. Commanders of vessels are intrusted with a large amount of valuable property; they have also the lives of the ship's crew in their charge, and unless they can maintain order and discipline on board, the ship and all that it contains are at the mercy of the crew.

To the Editor N.M.

I am, &c,

E. G. P. MARCH.

[A Mr. Rowett, who writes to the Shipping Gazette, advocates the removal of all control from seamen, a course which we could not suppose any one in his senses could adopt. We quite agree with the editor of that journal in his reply, who asks are we not all under a certain amount of control? and concludes his reasoning in the following terms. Much however yet remains to be done to rectify all this disgraceful state of things, and it is be hoped that their proper representation will produce their remedy.--ED.]

"Now, it unfortunately happens that seamen, for the most part-through the neglect of early training, and the wandering and uncertain habits of their after life-stand more in need than any other class in this country of that coercion which society requires to secure obedience to its laws of morality and propriety. If Mr. Rowett were to spend one shipping season in Quebec, where from the profligacy of the place, the corruption of the magistrates, and the impotency of the colonial government-seamen set all law at defiance, he might there experience that they are not a class of men who can be released from all restraint. By the very last accounts from Canada, we learn that two hundred seamen, deserters from our ships at Quebec, are embodied, with bludgeons in their hands, bidding defiance to every legal authority. In short, they are in that state in which, if we rightly understand Mr. Rowett, he would have all the seamen of the kingdom-they are under no coercion to obedience. It is unnecessary to say more upon this subject; the principle speaks for itself: its laxity is its condemnation. Although we appropriated more than three colums of our journal to Mr. Rowett's communication, we cannot afford anything like that space for an article in replying to him; we shall, therefore, very briefly dismiss his long dissertation upon "Sailors' Homes," having in former articles sufficiently explained our opinions respecting them. Their excellence and usefulness have been so well established, and are so fully appreciated, that they require nothing in commendation from our pen, nor can they suffer from Mr. Rowett's condemnation of them."

PROGRESS OF SAILORS' HOMES.

The Sailors' Home at Aberdeen.- We are happy to be able to announce, that the Committee appointed on the occasion of Capt. Hall's visit to the City of Aberdeen, have carried out his wishes, and converted a large double house into a comfortable "Sailors' Home." The accommodation is capacious, embracing dining room, reading room, library, and bed rooms, all admitting plenty of light and air, and excellently adapted for health. The Committee have appointed Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie as superintendents of the institution, under whose arrangement there is no doubt the inmates will find every thing done to render them comfortable. The provisions provided will be such (and charges also) as Jack will have no reason to complain of.

This Institution, designed as it is to minister to the wants and improvement of a useful class of men, has been opened now nearly three months, and answers well. It has our cordial wishes for its continued success, and we cannot entertain a doubt that seamen will largely avail themselves of its many advantages.

At Dundee a similar establishment as above described is nearly finished, and will be opened very shortly for the reception of seamen. At Glasgow and Greenock, large sums of money have been cheerfully subscribed for the erection of "Sailors' Homes" where they are much wanted.

The "Sailors' Home" at Portsmouth is progressing most satisfactorily. From the influx of seamen, another range of sleeping cabins has been put up, which are to be paid for by the gallant Admiral Sir Charles Napier, who, with the most laudable charity, which does honour to his old age, most handsomely volunteered to be at the cost of their fittings up to the amount of about £30. The seamen have found out the many advantages which the Home Capt. W. H. Hall originated possesses over the common lodginghouses, and the Home is now the peaceful resort not only of the seamen out

1851.] HINTS TO THOSE WHO VISIT ST. MICHAELS.

43 1

of employ, but of others when on shore on leave from the ships in commission.

Since the opening of the Home, they have had nearly 100 regular inmates, and 500 casual for beds and meals. Last month they had the seamen gunners of the Caledonia waiting to receive their pay, also several invalids from Haslar Hospital. A number of disposable men have obtained ships from the Home; many went to the Trafalgar.

The sailors appear to like the clean beds, and the certainty they find in being called out in the morning in time for their going off in the liberty boats. This is not only a great object for themselves, but also for the public service, and no doubt in time will be appreciated by the commanding officers afloat.

HINTS TO THOSE WHO VISIT ST. MICHAELS.

THE Island of St. Michaels, the largest and wealthiest of the Azores, occupies 224 square miles. The chief town Ponta Delgada, lies on the west side of a wide bay on the south coast, situate in lat. 37° 45' N., and long. 25° 35′ W., where ships anchor at about a mile from the shore, in between 25 and 30 fathoms water, and can easily slip and go to sea, to avoid the S.E., S., S.W., and W. gales. The number calling to trade annually is about 250 British, 150 Portuguese, and ten foreigners. The tide falls, five feet and a half by S. to N.W. winds, and rises by S.E. The flood tide sets to the eastward, and the ebb to the westward of the island. The thermometer in winter months varies from 75° to 48°; in summer, from 84° to 52°.

The population of the whole island amounts to about 90,000 inhabitants. 20,000 live in Ponta Delgada (not including 200 foreigners, of which twothirds are British subjects). The natives are generally industrious and sober; their dress consists generally of British fabrics, yearly imported, amounting to about £34,000.

The climate varies in heat and humidity, but is temperate, and does not affect health. The diseases of the people are few and simple. The boiling springs are held in high repute for their physical qualities, and very well known to scientific men, useful in rheumatic cases, restoring strength, particularly to the female constitution. There are also cold springs recommended by medical men as an excellent drink.

An hotel and a few boarding houses are established in the island. A few more would be built if invalids should choose to visit it in preference to Madeira, where springs do not exist, and the expenses are double.

The landed rental is £160,000 a year, exports 38,000 quarters of corn, one half to Ireland valued at £60,000, and 100,000 London size boxes of oranges to England, with the exception of about four cargoes sent to the United States, valued at £40,000. In 1801 the value of fruit exported was £10,000 and in 1850, about £65,000. Next season's crop is expected to amount to about 150,000 boxes, one fifth of which will be sent to the United States in the beginning of the season in British vessels, considered the best adapted for the fruit trade, having been greatly improved of late years in swiftness, and properly commanded by experienced and well conducted officers. There are nine exporting houses, four merchants, and five companies. Two extra companies have been formed in the north side of the island where they have commenced building quays. The best charts, with correct soundings, by Capt. Vidal, are to be sold at the Admiralty publisher's office,* in London.

* Mr. Potter, 31, Poultry.

The average prices of fruit in the island are 7s. 5d. per London size box of 800 oranges, free on board 10s. freight 7s. duty in England 4s. extra expense 2s. The expense of planting and walling an acre of orange garden is £15 for the wall, £8 for 65 trees, and labour £2. It yields half a crop of beans or Indian corn during seven years, but no oranges. From eight to eleven years half a crop of oranges only. Afterwards a full crop, sold for £10 to £15.

It is a great wonder that such an active port like Ponta Delgado is deficient of mail packets and a dock. Letters are sent to Lisbon monthly, by private ships during the summer time, and by obliging British shipmasters in winter. A large dock opposite the town for 400 ships, has been in project a century since, to be built at an outlay of £150,000. The residents and foreign companies have refused to undertake it, in consequence of insufficient guarantees. Nearly 12,000 ships annually cross the Azores, their cargoes amounting to a hundred millions sterling, without a secure harbour to shelter or repair.

An English hospital for our sailors has been for the last few years supported by the shipping, under the inspection of Mr. Hunt, the British consul, (previous to Mr. H.'s arrival, the sick used to be sent to the public hospital, where our medical men are not allowed to attend,) who is very well known by his great talents and endeavours in promoting our trade, as well as for his kind assistance to strangers that call at the island for the benefit of their health.

The current rate of exchange is from 5,700 dollars to 5,800 for sovereigns, and 4,500 dollars to 5,700 dollars for his bills on England.

As soon as the ship arrives in the roads of Ponta Delgada, three boats are sent off from the shore, the first from the health department, the second from the customs, and the third from the tobacco contractors. The master is to deliver to the first boat his bill of health, or, in default, to perform three days' quarantine, and more if from infected or suspected ports. To the second he has to fill up a form, in duplicate, supplied by the British consul, of all his provisions, stores, and parcels, whether to land or for the ship's use (formerly seizures often took place, caused bythe deficiency of this document). One of the forms, after being filled and signed, he delivers to the officers before the search is made, the other he delivers himself to the custom-house in twenty-four hours' time, where he signs the book of entry. To the last boat he delivers all his soap and tobacco which is taken on shore, and not returned till the ship sails, so that the putrid stuff sent by the Lisbon contractors may be used instead, which has created a very extensive smuggling trade. Good tobacco could be grown in the island, if the Portuguese government would allow its cultivation. It would certainly be a piece of charity if our minister accredited at the court of Lisbon would represent these grievances to the Portuguese government, on the part of our shipping interests. But it is to be hoped that the late ministerial change in that country will remove such abuse, as well as moderate the very heavy duties charged by the customs on our fabrics.

Shore boats have of late years been employed by the trading vessels, and considered good sea boats, the charge being from five to ten Spanish dollars each, according to the ship's size. Previous to the employment of these boats many accidents and wrecks used to take place, in consequence of the boats' crew being on shore intoxicated. Provisions are to be had at very reasonable prices, as in Wales, and excellent water at 14d. for every ten gallons, free on board, the best in the Archipelago.

Precautions.To mark the bower anchors with the vessel's name, as the easiest way to identify them when left behind in foreign ports; to study Colonel Reid's valuable work on the "Law of Storms;" to purchase