_From 1797 to 1800—age, 24-7._
Marriage.—Third voyage; visits Spain.—Dangers.—Earl
St. Vincent’s fleet.—Arrival at Cadiz.—Observatory at
Cadiz.—Sails for Alicant.—Passage through the Straits of
Gibraltar.—Privateers; chased by one; anecdotes of Mr. B.’s
love of study shown then.—Hears news of the death of his wife;
consoles himself with mathematical studies.—More troubles with
privateers.—Leaves Alicant.—Advantages derived from his visit
to Spain.—Fourth voyage; to India.—Extracts from Journal on
viewing a ship that was engaged in the slave trade.—Arrival
at Java; introduction to the governor; respect formerly paid
to him.—Anecdote of English navy officers.—Goes to Batavia
and Manilla.—Observations of Jupiter while becalmed near the
Celebean Islands.—Voyage home.
[Sidenote: TRADES FOR HIMSELF.]
[Sidenote: FIRST MARRIAGE.]
During these two voyages, Mr. Bowditch had been engaged in trade for
himself; and having thereby gained a little property, he wished to remain
at home and enjoy the blessings of domestic life, from which he had
been separated at the age of ten years, when he left the abode of his
parents. In accordance with this wish, on the 25th day of March, 1798,
he married an excellent and intelligent woman, named Elizabeth Boardman.
But in a few months he was again called to a seafaring life. His young
and beautiful wife was already beginning to show symptoms of that disease
which eventually removed her from her husband and friends. It was a hard
struggle for the tenderly attached couple to separate; but duty called
the husband, and obedience to duty was always his watchword. Accordingly,
by August 15, 1798, he was prepared for sea, in the same ship, with
the same owner, Captain Derby, and his friend Captain Prince. On this
occasion he went as joint supercargo. It was on the 21st of August—nearly
five months from the date of his marriage—that he bade adieu to his wife.
He never saw her again. Full of devotedness to him, she, however, urged
him to do what he thought right, unconscious that she should never more
embrace him. During his absence she died at the age of eighteen years.
[Sidenote: VOYAGE TO SPAIN.]
One of the objects of the present voyage was to go to Cadiz, the chief
southern port in Spain. It was rather dangerous at this time for any
vessel to sail towards Europe, as the revolution in France had taken
place only a short time before, and most of the nations of Europe were
beginning to rise against that country; but as Spain was united with
France, an English fleet was hovering about the Straits of Gibraltar. The
consequence was, that it was of great importance to avoid all vessels,
for fear of meeting a privateer.
On the 19th of September, after nearly a month’s voyage, they came within
sight of the shores of Spain; and at seven A. M. the next day, they
discovered the English fleet, under command of Earl St. Vincent, several
leagues to the eastward of them. On this same day they were boarded by
the captain of an American vessel, who informed them that the privateers
were very numerous in the straits.
[Sidenote: CADIZ.]
By Mr. Bowditch’s Journal we learn the following:—
“On Thursday afternoon, 20th of September, the winds continued light
and variable to the westward. Captain Prince steered directly for Earl
St. Vincent’s fleet, and at two P. M. the Hector, of seventy-four guns,
Captain Camel, sent his lieutenant on board, ordering us to bear down to
him. Captain Prince went aboard, was treated politely, and received a
passport to enter Cadiz.” On the 21st, at four P. M., anchor was cast in
that harbor.
The state in which poor Spain was at this time was miserable enough.
There was but one newspaper in the whole kingdom, and that was printed at
Madrid. Everything was degraded about that once noble and brave-hearted
people. Upon the appearance of Cadiz the Journal says thus: “The streets
of the city, although narrow, are very neatly paved, and swept every day,
so that they are very clean. They have broad, flat stones at the sides.
All the houses are of stone, with roofs but little sloping. There are
fortifications all around the city.”
[Sidenote: BATTLE OF THE NILE.]
“September 29, 1798. This day news came of the destruction of the
French fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, by Lord Nelson.”[3] Of this
event you will read in history at some future time; but it was deemed
very important at that time by the whole world. It was one of the most
formidable checks received by the French after they had begun to overrun
Europe.
This news, of course, was very interesting to our voyager; but, although
excited by the political and military contests of the day, he did not
forget the subject to which, from earliest years, he had devoted himself.
You will perceive from the following extracts from his Journal, that
he now was studying astronomy. In fact, he had been reading, during
his previous voyages, many of the greatest works on mathematics and
astronomy.
[Sidenote: OBSERVATORY AT CADIZ.]
“November 12. During our residence in Cadiz we formed an acquaintance
with Count Mallevante, who, before the revolution, commanded a French
frigate at Martinico, and at present is a post-captain in the Spanish
navy. He carried us to the New Observatory, built on the Island of Cadiz,
where we were shown all the instruments they had mounted. There were not
any of them very new. The person who went with us was named Cosmo de
Churruca. I promised to send him, on my arrival in America, the works
of Dr. Holyoke on Meteorology. I gave him my method of working a lunar
observation, which he was to print at the end of the Nautical Almanac.”
[Sidenote: FRENCH PRIVATEERS.]
“At half past four P. M., got under way, and beat out of the harbor of
Cadiz, in company with three other American vessels, which sailed under
the protection of the Astræa.” They were destined for Alicante, and
consequently their course lay through the Straits of Gibraltar, up along
the south-eastern coast of Spain. On the afternoon of the 14th, they fell
in again with the English fleet, which, with those under their convoy,
consisted of forty-five vessels. As the fleet was steering in the same
direction, they kept company with it, being all bound for the Straits of
Gibraltar. Next day they saw another convoy of twenty vessels, and two
of those accompanying the Astræa joined it. The Astræa was obliged to
fall behind, because the remaining vessel under its protection sailed too
slowly. On the 18th the whole convoy entered the Straits, except one,
which was chased by French privateers, ten of which could be counted in
full view; but, on the approach of the Astræa, the enemy retreated.
[Sidenote: FEARLESSNESS.]
[Sidenote: DANGERS FROM PIRATES.]
The moon was shining brightly on the night of the 19th of November, 1799.
Many times had the bell broken over the silent sea from the ship’s deck,
telling of the passing hours, when suddenly the crew of the Astræa was
called to quarters, for a suspicious sail was seen bearing down towards
them. The cannon, of which nineteen were on board, were all cleared
for action, and every sailor, placed at his post, watched anxiously as
the privateer came rapidly towards them. Captain Prince assigned to
Mr. Bowditch a station in the cabin, through which the powder was to
be passed to the deck. When all on deck was ready, and that deep and
solemn silence which always comes over every part of a ship that is
just approaching the enemy, was beginning to creep over those on board
the Astræa, the captain stepped for a moment into the cabin to see if
everything was in order; and “there sat Mr. Bowditch at the cabin table,
with his slate and pencil in hand, and with the cartridges lying by
his side.” Entirely absorbed with his problem, he forgot all danger,
thus showing that his love of science, even when in imminent peril,
was superior to all feelings of fear. This anecdote, doubtless, will
amuse you. It reminds me of the geometrician Archimedes, who lived two
hundred years before Christ, who, as some of you may know, was slain by
the soldiers of the Roman General Marcellus, when they sacked the city
of Syracuse. Archimedes had labored much for his countrymen during the
siege, but finally, it is said, became so engaged in his studies that
he did not know that the soldiers had taken possession of the town until
they attacked and killed him. Fortunately, in the case of Mr. Bowditch,
no evil ensued. Captain Prince could not restrain himself, but burst into
a loud laugh, and asked Mr. Bowditch whether he could make his will at
that moment; to which question Mr. Bowditch answered, with a smile, in
the affirmative. Captain Prince adds, “But on all occasions of danger he
manifested great firmness, and, after the affair of the privateer (which,
by the by, did not molest us), he requested to be stationed at one of the
guns, which request was granted him.”
[Sidenote: SORROW RELIEVED BY STUDY.]
In this way they continued cruising along the beautiful Mediterranean,
but perpetually exposed to danger. Now they come within sight of the high
lands of Malaga, and shortly they fly away from some pirate on the broad
sea. Now they are quietly sailing along under the warm and sunny skies
of an Andalusian climate, and again, in the course of a few hours, are
driven by the current and tempest far away to the south-west. Finally,
after a tedious passage, the ship was moored, on Friday evening, November
23, in the harbor of Alicante. After considerable difficulty and delay
because the city authorities were afraid of disease being brought into
the place by the crews of the ships, they were at length allowed to go
on shore. Here melancholy tidings awaited our voyager. By a Salem vessel
that had arrived at Cadiz, news came of the death of his wife some time
in the preceding October. He made no complaints, however, but quietly
sought to interest his mind in his favorite pursuit of astronomy. He
always did so whenever any trouble came upon him. In this way he consoled
himself, and was not a burden to others by allowing his sorrows to
disturb them.
[Sidenote: INSOLENCE OF PRIVATEERS.]
January 24, 1799, having finished loading the ship with brandy, they
would have sailed, had not the wind prevented. On February 11th they were
still detained by head winds; but now, to their discomfort, they saw a
French privateer cruising off in the bay at the mouth of the harbor. It
was evidently waiting to intrap some one of the American vessels. On the
next day the daring of the privateer commander arose to such a height,
that he rowed in his barge all around the American fleet, and insulted
some of the seamen. Towards evening of February 13, Mr. Bowditch narrowly
escaped serious difficulty with them, as the privateer barge and the
American boat coming from shore came in contact; but the former received
the most damage, and Mr. Bowditch got safely on board the Astræa. On
the 14th, the brigand of the sea departed, and his ship was soon seen
gradually losing itself in the distance over the blue Mediterranean.
[Sidenote: TO INDIA.]
On the next day the convoy sailed. It consisted of five vessels, and by
twenty-four hours of favorable breezes they were brought within thirty
miles of the coast of Barbary; and, after some trouble in consequence
of being obliged to take in tow those of the convoy which sailed more
slowly, the Astræa was fairly out from the Straits of Gibraltar by
February 24, that is, three days from the time of leaving Alicante.
During half the passage home, some of the convoy were in company with
them. They had rough seas; but on the 6th of April, at ten o’clock at
night, Mr. Bowditch arrived in Salem harbor, having been absent nearly
nine months.
This visit to Spain was of service to him in many respects. He there
obtained many books on astronomy and navigation, and some celebrated
works on history, all of which he studied with care on his voyage home.
He, moreover, had gained some knowledge by his visit to the Observatory.
[Sidenote: STUDIES DURING THE VOYAGE.]
He was not destined to remain at home a long while; but the Astræa having
been sold to a merchant in Boston, Mr. Bowditch sailed with Captain
Prince from that city on the 23d of the following July, bound for India.
It was a long, and to most persons a tedious voyage that he was about to
undertake; but to Mr. Bowditch it was the means of improvement. While
the ship was sailing quietly along, or sinking lazily from one swell of
the sea to another, or being tossed about by the most violent gale, Mr.
Bowditch was still laboring at his books. During this voyage, as during
the preceding, he did not perform much duty, except when in port, and,
consequently, on board ship he had a great deal of time to be devoted
to study. And he worthily filled every moment with reading and study
to improve himself or others. During this voyage, as in previous ones,
he taught the sailors practical navigation. Very few incidents worth
mentioning occurred during the voyage; but on the 15th of September,
1799, we find the following in his Journal: “The ship in sight yesterday
soon proved to be an English Guineaman. As we came up with him he fired
a gun to leeward, which we returned. As we came nearer, he fired one to
windward. We returned the compliment and nearly hulled him. When within
hail, he ordered our boat out, which Captain Prince refused, telling him
to come on board if he wanted anything. Finally, he requested Captain
Prince to haul out our boat, as his was calking, which we could plainly
see. Mr. Carlton went on board with the clearance, and the surgeon came
aboard of us, and, after examining our papers and acting in a manner
becoming a Guineaman, they made sail.”
[Sidenote: SLAVE SHIP FROM GUINEA.]
[Sidenote: ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.]
In order to understand this allusion to the Guineaman, you should
know that, at the time we are reading of, the greater part of English
merchants, especially those of Liverpool, were engaged in the horrid
traffic called the Slave Trade. Immense numbers of vessels were annually
sent from Liverpool and other places in England for the sole purpose of
sailing to the coast of Africa, there to get a cargo of the poor natives,
whom they carried to the West Indian Islands and America, in order that
they might be sold, as slaves, into perpetual bondage. Men, women, and
children, were taken indiscriminately, and crammed together, like bales
of cotton or any other goods, between the decks of the vessels. You may
imagine that those who could engage in such abominable proceedings must
have lost all the feelings of humanity. They were used to blood and
rapine; hence you can understand the reason why Mr. Bowditch uses the
term of reproach that he does. I thank Heaven—and I feel sure you will
agree with me—that, by the efforts of devoted men and women in England
and elsewhere, that trade has been formally abolished by Great Britain,
and that every man who now sets his foot on British soil becomes free.
Thank God, also, that our late civil war has destroyed every vestige of
American slavery, and that we can claim, that no slave can now breathe on
the soil of England or America. But to return to the Astræa.
[Sidenote: BATAVIA.]
On December 17 they arrived at Batavia, the chief city of the Island of
Java. The following will give you some idea of the place and persons in
it:—
“Upon our arrival, after making our report to the custom-house, we
proceeded to the Saabandar, who introduced us to the governor and the
governor-general, who is commander-in-chief, and formerly lived in
all the splendor of an Asiatic monarch. At present the outward marks
of respect are far less than they were twenty or thirty years ago. In
former times he was attended by his guards, preceded by two trumpeters.
Every carriage was forced to stop, and the persons within obliged to
dismount, under the penalty of one hundred ducatoons (about one hundred
and sixty-seven dollars). Captain —— refused even to stop his carriage,
and forced his coachman to drive on. The officers of an English squadron
lying at Batavia, in order to show their contempt of the procession,
formed a party similar to that attending the governor, only, instead
of the aids with their staves, one of the officers bore a staff with a
cow’s horn tipped with gold, and another an empty bottle. The rest of the
officers of the fleet met this procession, and made their respects to
it, as the natives did to the governor. At present, all these practices
are brought into contempt, so that none now stop for any officers of
government.”
[Sidenote: THE PLANET JUPITER.]
The Astræa remained but four days at Batavia, the captain finding that
he could not fill his vessel with coffee, as he intended. Consequently,
after taking a fresh supply of provisions and of water, they weighed
anchor, and bore towards the north, with the intention of visiting
Manilla, as on his second voyage. Traversing the Straits of Macassar,
they passed slowly up through the China Sea, and anchored in Manilla Bay
on the 14th of February, 1800. During this passage we find Mr. Bowditch
still occupied in the study of science. When floating, becalmed, among
the islands, during the quiet night, he is observing the appearance of
the planet Jupiter, and studying the motions of its beautiful satellites.
As he was thus occupied, he thought of the immense power of that Being
who first put the bright planet in its appropriate place, and caused it
to revolve around our sun, while its own little satellites, like four
moons, were to keep it company, silently and grandly, in its mysterious
course.
[Sidenote: DEATH OF WASHINGTON.]
After remaining at Manilla long enough to get a cargo, the ship was
prepared for home. On the 23d of March it sailed, and during a passage
of six months very little occurred to interrupt Mr. Bowditch’s daily
labors. It arrived on the 16th of September, 1800. About a fortnight
before this,—September 2, a ship was observed to windward, which bore
down upon them. By the captain they were informed of the melancholy
news (as Mr. Bowditch says in his Journal) “of the death of our beloved
Washington. Thus,” continues he, “has finished the career of that
illustrious man, that great general, that consummate statesman, that
elegant writer, that real patriot, that friend to his country and to all
mankind!”
During these different voyages Mr. Bowditch gained more property. Having
obtained, likewise, what was much better, a reputation, among his
fellow-citizens, as a man of great learning, perseverance, extraordinary
skill in the transaction of business, and unyielding uprightness, he
determined to remain at home. He therefore bade farewell to the sailor’s
life, as he supposed, forever.