Sensation produced by the Delaware. Effect of this visit on the cause
of Missions in Syria. Service on the Sabbath on board, and the crowds
attending. Crowds attracted by this ship during her whole cruise.
Appearance of the ship. Her effect on the visitors. Progress of free
principles throughout the world. The cause of humanity secure. Our
own Country, and its prosperity. Adieu to the reader.
We found, that during our absence the ship, having taken in water, had
changed her anchorage, and was now lying abreast of the city, and but
a short distance off. A vessel of her class had never appeared along
this part of the coast before; and on her arrival she immediately began
to attract observation. A few of the citizens visited her, and found
no difficulty in getting admittance on board: they carried news of
this to the shore; other visitors came; her fame soon spread far and
wide; and in a short time she was all the rage. Mr. Chassaud’s house
was thronged by applicants for tickets of admission (the impression
having gone abroad that they were useful), and the street to it was
so crowded, that it was often difficult to get along. He computed the
number who visited the ship here at 40,000; but, although this was
perhaps above the reality, it was still prodigious. Some persons came
two days’ journey simply for this purpose; and the city was thronged to
such a degree, that provisions rose to double their former price. They
came, old men, women and children, Druses and Mahommedans, princes and
laborers: all seemed to be seized by the mania; and, until the day of
our leaving (the 11th of September), there was a constant throng from
early in the morning till dusk. Such a sensation had probably never
been produced here before by any object of curiosity.
I believe our visit has been beneficial to the interesting mission at
this place. Mr. Bird, at my request, preached on board on the first
Sunday of our stay here, and Mr. Smith on the second; and during the
latter service, the visitors from shore were suffered to be present.
Generally, visiting was not permitted on the Sabbath till public
worship had been concluded; but on this occasion they were admitted,
and allowed to stay; and when the crew were called up to worship, they
came up also to witness the services. Our upper deck has a clear sweep
of 225 feet in length: the whole is covered by an awning, elevated
twelve or fifteen feet, with side pieces of canvass reaching down to
the hammock-cloths, and thus forming a complete chamber. The poop-deck,
on this occasion, is occupied chiefly by the band in their uniform:
the officers stand by the capstan, and from this aft, on the starboard
side: the larboard side is occupied, in front, by the ship’s boys, with
prayer-books; then by the marines in full uniform; and, back of these,
by the seamen, who also stretch along by the mainmast on either side.
All are in their “first best” clothes; and our ship on these occasions
presents an air of thorough cleanliness and neatness which, I do not
hesitate to say, I have never yet seen a church on shore present. Mr.
Smith’s discourse was suited to the occasion, and was listened to by
officers and seamen with deep interest; and I have no doubt that the
scene made an impression on the minds of the mountaineers which will
materially advance the success of the mission.
Probably no ship has ever floated on the water that has attracted so
much attention, or drawn so many visitors, as the Delaware during this
cruise. The number of visitors, I think, may be safely estimated at
about 200,000. At Naples, at Palermo, and at this place particularly,
there was a constant throng from morning till night. No one was denied
admittance; they were allowed to go freely through the ship, and, when
the Commodore or Captain were absent, were admitted also into their
cabins. At Naples the visitors were from all parts of Europe, a very
large portion of them being from the interior of Germany. They saw
a vessel, not only effective as regards her battery, but everywhere
showing a neatness and a completeness of finish that must have
astonished them. This ship, like some others of our seventy-four’s,
has a deceptive appearance at a distance, seeming to be smaller than
she is, and less effective. When they got on board, they found a
battery of ninety-four guns, the greater portion of them of the largest
calibre; the decks high and wide, and in every part scrupulously
clean; and a sufficient attention to ornament, which was all, however,
made subservient to the main design of efficiency. She is a very
powerful ship, and so she appeared on inspection; and was also a very
handsome vessel. The most perfect order also prevailed in every part.
The impression which she gave must have been a favorable one; and I
believe that the Delaware, in this cruise, did more towards advancing
the rights of man, than if she had come home with a dozen captures
of bulk and power equal to her own. Around the world the voice of
freedom and of humanity is beginning to make itself heard. In many
places it is only a still small voice, but it is yet heard; and though
people often scarcely know what it means, yet there is a feeling in
their breasts that more or less responds, and tells them that what
it says is the truth. They have heard, too, that there is a republic
somewhere, in a distant land,--a country of free principles and equal
rights. They cannot tell how the system operates; but this system, as
far as they know it, is a beautiful one, and they would like greatly
to know more of it. A ship comes among them from that far country, and
their vague floating visions now take a more substantial form. It is
a vessel bearing signs of wealth and power, marked by good order and
efficiency: the country that has sent out this ship must be wealthy
and prosperous, enterprising and successful. This is the lesson which
is taught by all our ships wherever they go; and taught in a manner
that is intelligible to the lowest capacity.
And to this noble and glorious cause of humanity we bid prosperity
and success. Yes,--may Heaven sustain and bless it! I am not a
politician, but I hope I am a philanthropist; and, next to religion,
I love my country and its institutions, for I believe that in them
is the regenerating principle that is going to awaken and vivify the
world. These plains that we have just been passing over, abounding in
a rich soil and under a prolific sky, why are they not cultivated? But
they _will_ be cultivated, and this people here will be intelligent
and intellectual: the _mind_ will rouse up, and claim its high
pre-eminence; woman will be elevated to her proper, lofty sphere; brute
force will yield to moral power; and smiling plenty, and security, and
happiness, will prevail; and from our country will come the power that
is to effect this mighty change.
It is good sometimes to get far off from our land, so that, as from an
elevated spot, we may look over the whole country; and, away from the
influence of local prejudice, and interest, and alarms, may scrutinize
our institutions, and examine into their permanency, and see what
strengthening and what counteracting influences are at work to promise
them security. For myself, I have no fear for them. They are built on
_knowledge_; and, till we can destroy for ever our printing presses,
and can roll back the age of ignorance, they are safe: they may change
their _forms_, but the substance will remain; and always, and in every
form, will liberty and humanity be secure.
It is good also, sometimes to get away, and to be able to compare our
own country with others, and be able thus to calculate the amount of
prosperity and happiness which we enjoy. In the clashings of enterprise
and rivalship among us, angry feelings sometimes will arise. Europe
is disgorging upon our land the inmates of her prisons, and there
will be crime: the poor, the ignorant, and the oppressed of her
population find refuge here, and abundance; and, in the wild joy at
their newly-acquired comforts and their freedom, they may run into
riots and disorders; but nowhere in the world is so much virtue to be
found as amid our population; and virtue is happiness. We are a nation
but of yesterday; and our railroads, and canals, and steam-boats, and
commerce, are already a subject of astonishment; and what will they
be a few years hence?--and a century after that?--and why may not the
whole world be like it? There is nothing, surely, to prevent this,
except Ignorance, and its twin-sister, Vice; but knowledge, and with
it virtue, are gone forth conquering and to conquer, and their triumph
will be complete. It is a glorious thing to live in such an age as
this.
And now, reader, I turn and offer you my hand, for the time when our
companionship must cease has at length arrived. I hope that we have
been friends during these journeyings, and that we part in kindness.
May Heaven bless you! Adieu!
* * * * *
Transcriber’s note:
Footnotes have been moved to the end of each chapter and relabeled
consecutively through the document.
Illustrations have been moved to paragraph breaks near where they are
mentioned.
Punctuation has been made consistent.
Variations in spelling and hyphenation were retained as they appear in
the original publication, except that obvious typographical errors have
been corrected.
Changes have been made as follows:
p. 160: Goliah changed to Goliath (meet Goliath; I)
p. 232: Coroes changed to Cosroes (608 Cosroes, king)