I have a great admiration for American sailors and the American people
generally. When the Crimean War broke out, in the summer of 1854, the
first soldiers sent out of England were the cavalry regiments, and I
went with them. At that time England had been at peace for 40 years,
and when war commenced the authorities knew little about the transport
of cavalry. We did not go out as a whole regiment in a large liner,
and arrive at our destination without the loss of a horse, as would be
the case now. We were sent out in troops of 40 or 50 at a time, in
small sailing vessels of 500 tons. In the ship in which I sailed the
horses were packed in the hold, and when they got to the Bay of Biscay
a violent gale sprang up. In a few hours half a dozen horses broke
loose and struggled about in the hold. There was only one American
sailor among the crew, and he went down and "calculated" and uttered
dreadful oaths. But he had not been down in the hold half an hour
before he had all the horses tied up again. Ever since then I have had
the greatest respect for American sailors.
_Cardiff Eisteddfod,
August 4th, 1902._