Our readers may probably have from time to time read allusions to
'Sailors' Homes,' without precisely understanding the nature of these
institutions. They are based on the fact that sailors, as a class, are
little better than children when ashore, and require to be providently
cared for, to save them from imposition and misery. The seaman when
afloat is so thoroughly accustomed to obey orders, and to be directed
and instructed in everything, that he never thinks for himself, and
never acquires the least forethought or capability of guiding himself
in any position apart from the active duties of his profession;
consequently, from time out of mind, he has been especially doomed to
be victimised on the land. No sooner has he been paid off after a
voyage, than he is--at least at all the great ports--beset with
'crimps,' 'runners,' and other land-sharks, who entice him to low
public-houses and lodging-houses, where he is plundered with such
extraordinary dispatch, that he frequently loses the results of many
months of toil in a few days, or even a few hours.
Of all men, seamen have pre-eminently a claim on public sympathy and
protection; no class needs the latter more, and, strange to say, no
class has, until a comparatively recent period, received it less. In
the words of Thomas Clarkson: 'The grievances of mercantile seamen are
a national and crying evil;' and when we reflect on their importance,
both as regards commerce and war, it will be acknowledged that it is a
national duty to do all that is possible to protect them while ashore,
and to ameliorate and improve their lot in every practical way. But
this, like many other national duties, has been left to the voluntary
exertions of a few practical philanthropists. In the words of Mr
Sheriff Alison (now Sir A. Alison), when addressing a meeting at
Glasgow, with the view of founding a 'Home' there: 'The seamen are
placed in very peculiar circumstances--their virtues are exhibited at
sea, and their vices are exhibited on shore. The community is
benefited by the former, and they, the sailors, are the victims of the
latter. It is therefore more incumbent on those who are enriched by
their industry, and protected by their valour, to prevent their
falling into those vices to which unhappily so many of them are
addicted. As had been so well stated, they could do nothing to improve
the character of the seaman without at the same time benefiting all
classes of the community.'
There is weighty truth in the last sentence. Undoubtedly, any and all
improvements, whether of the physical or moral condition of one class
of the community, reacts on all. But especially in the case of seamen,
the result would be beneficial to the nation in an incalculable
degree. Raise the moral character of the sailor, by inducing in him
reformed and provident habits, and he will soon feel that he has a
_stake_ in the prosperity and security of his country; and he will
indeed repay all that has been done for him by his steady industry in
peace, and by his gallantry in war; for we think it is a great error
to suppose, as some do, that a mere reckless outcast will fight more
bravely than a man who feels that he is a responsible and respected
citizen of a great nation, with his own proportionate interests
involved in the results of the conflict.
It is to protect the seaman from extortion and temptation while
ashore, and to elevate him in the social scale, that the excellent
institutions called Sailors' Homes have been projected. Their object
is to insure a respectable and truly comfortable 'home' to seamen, at
an exceedingly moderate rate of payment; together with other
advantages to be hereafter alluded to. An able pamphlet on the
subject, by Mr Montague Gore, has recently been published, and we are
indebted to him for the statistical information we are about to lay
before the reader.
It appears that Captain Elliott, R.N., was the first who conceived the
idea of founding Sailors' Homes. This was in 1828. In 1833, one was
established at Charleston, in South Carolina; but the first in England
was under the auspices of Mr Green, the great shipbuilder and
ship-owner of Blackwall, near London, and he originally designed it
only for his own numerous seamen, although by a recent regulation
others are admitted. Captain Hall, R.N., deserves worthy mention as
one of the first promoters of Sailors' Homes, and he has for years
indefatigably devoted himself to their formation. He recently visited
the chief ports in the kingdom, to observe personally the condition of
seamen ashore, and to advocate the establishment of Homes.
The first public Sailors' Home was that of Wells Street, London. It
was opened in May 1835; and Mr Gore informs us, that from that time up
to December 31, 1851, no less than '54,026 seamen were received into
the institution, of which number 15,055 were old or returned boarders.
Last year the inmates amounted to 4633, and L.25,160 passed through
the secretary's hand of money left in his charge, L.2500 of which was
deposited in the savings-bank. The building in Wells Street is capable
of holding 320 men, each of whom has a separate berth. The terms of
admission are 14s. per week for full-grown men; 12s. per week for
lads; and 10s. 6d. per week for apprentices. For this sum they are
entitled to lodging [washing also], and four excellent meals daily;
the dietary is admirable.... The terms and regulations of Mr Green's
establishment are nearly the same as those in Wells Street. It is
capable of holding 200 men; and here, too, are to be found equally
gratifying proofs of provident habits, instances having occurred of
men having as much as L.100 in the Poplar Bank.'
Good libraries are provided at these Sailors' Homes, and the
morning-prayers of the Church of England are duly read; but the
attendance of the inmates is perfectly voluntary, and no distinction
of religious creed bars their admission. This is as it should be, and
we have heard the Wells Street Home spoken of in terms of praise and
gratitude by seamen who have been boarders there. Seamen of the best
character thankfully flock to the Homes, and, consequently, captains
prefer to ship their crews from them. Mr Gore says, that in one year
112 ships were manned from the Home in Wells Street.
The Portsmouth Home was opened in April 1851, and has been greatly
supported and enlarged by the munificent contributions of the
sovereign and some of the nobility. It receives British sailors at
13s. per week for men, and 10s. for boys and apprentices. Concerning
it, Sir Edward Parry, governor of Haslar Naval Hospital, says: 'The
practice formerly prevalent with the crimps, and other sharks, of
besetting the gates of the Hospital, to waylay and beguile the
invalids on their discharge, is now almost at an end. This is, I
believe, principally to be attributed to our Portsmouth Sailors' Home,
from which establishment a boat is generally sent every discharge-day,
to give the invalids the opportunity of going there without
difficulty--the regulations of the Home being posted up in various
parts of the hospital. I am sure it is a comfort and a blessing to all
who go there.'
A Home was opened in Dublin in July 1848; and at Bristol, Plymouth,
Cork, Dundee, &c., Homes are in course of formation. A magnificent
Sailors' Home has long been in course of establishment at Liverpool;
but it is not yet opened, although nearly finished. Influential
meetings have also been held at Aberdeen, Glasgow, Greenock, &c., to
establish Homes at these several ports. No one can conceive how
absolutely necessary such institutions are but those who, like
ourselves, have seen the way in which seamen are robbed and led astray
ashore. Mr Gore gives the public a little insight into the case. 'I
visited,' says he,' a short time ago, some of the houses at Wapping
and its neighbourhood, into which the sailors are decoyed. These
houses are kept by crimps, who waylay the unsuspecting sailors; they
are by them conducted to these places, where they find music and
dancing going forward; they are induced to take up their abode there,
and are often plundered of every farthing they possess. In some
houses, I saw several foreigners; and in the days when burking was
common, many of these unfortunates were made away with. In Bristol,
when a ship arrives, the sailors are surrounded by a set of
miscreants, who are called "runners," and are taken by them to houses
of the lowest description.... Instances innumerable might be stated of
the horrible state of the dens to which seamen are obliged to resort
for want of more respectable residences; robberies are of frequent
occurrence; and in one, I fear not a solitary case, murder was
committed.'
Our object in giving those extracts is, to shew the vital necessity
for the formation of Homes at all our leading ports. At Liverpool, for
instance, the crimps are so active and speculative in driving their
abominable traffic, that no sooner do they hear of a man-of-war being
paid off at Portsmouth, or any other naval port, than they send their
agents to entice the sailors down to Liverpool. Let us quote one
solitary example of the way in which Poor Jack is plundered. 'When Her
Majesty's ship _Raleigh_ was paid off at Portsmouth, many of the men
were so plundered, that they were obliged to apply to the magistrates
for redress. It appears from the notes of the evidence taken before
them, that seven of these men were charged L.102 for three days'
entertainment at a low public-house, one item being L.6, 2s. for two
hours' ride in an omnibus; and a messmate, who came to breakfast with
them, was compelled to pay 17s. 4d. for two eggs, some salt beef, and
a cup of coffee. It is gratifying to state, at the same time, that
nineteen men of this ship were received into the Sailors' Home,
Wells Street, London, taking with them L.222, besides their
remittance-bills.'
We will make one more extract from Mr Gore's interesting brochure:
'Every seaport has a direct interest in the improvement of the
character of the seamen who frequent it, and whose example must
exercise considerable influence on the rest of the community. To the
ship-owners, as well as to their men, the Homes cannot fail of proving
in the highest degree advantageous. Their ships are now often manned
by men upon whom, when at foreign ports, little or no dependence can
be placed. They care little about the ship in which they sail; they
are heedless as to what port they shall return; but the establishment
of Homes will induce those who have experienced their advantages, to
be desirous of returning to them. It will render the seamen better men
and better citizens, and it will cause them to continue with their
masters.' We cordially endorse these opinions.
One great obstacle to the speedy formation of Sailors' Homes, seems to
be the outlay necessary in the shape of buildings, &c. On this point
we offer, with deference, a suggestion of our own. It is, that hulls
of large old ships be bought and fitted up as _floating-homes_. Such
establishments would accommodate a large number of seamen in a very
comfortable manner, and could be kept up at an exceedingly moderate
annual outlay for repairs. Surely the proprietors of the docks in our
large ports could, and would afford a convenient mooring-place at a
merely nominal rent.
In conclusion, we may mention, that an establishment of a kindred
nature to Sailors' Homes is the 'Asylum for Distressed Seamen' in
London. It is supported by voluntary contributions, and receives
destitute seamen of all nations. It lodges 100 inmates, and provides
them with two good meals daily. It were to be wished that similar
asylums were established at every port in the empire.
The philanthropist, Thomas Clarkson, shortly before his death,
proposed that all public-houses for seamen's lodgings should be
licensed under strict special regulations. This, we think, would be a
step in the right direction; but there is nothing like a regular
Sailors' Home. Nevertheless, even in the large ports, licensed
lodging-houses would be exceedingly useful as auxiliaries to the
Homes.